In the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, the two primary weapons you receive early on are the Kokiri Sword and the Deku Stick. Though they are wooden, Deku sticks are notably more damaging against enemies than the metal Kokiri sword, even though they can break should they hit an immovable object such as a wall.
From an out of universe perspective, I can see the value of a gameplay mechanic where the player has an option between a shorter, less damaging weapon, and a longer, more damaging weapon which has the potential to break, and of which they have a limited supply.
Is there an in-universe explanation for why Deku sticks are more effective against enemies, even though they are less physically strong?