SHOWING YOUR METAL

The large majority of lacrosse shafts are made from metal alloys.  An alloy is basically two or more kinds of metal that are combined in process to make one final product. Aluminum is pretty much always one of the metals used. There are also non-metal handles out there that are made from composite carbon based materials and contain no metal at all.  These handles are extremely light but they break much more easily than metal, and this is punctuated by the fact that virtually no company manufactures a composite long or defense-length pole. The composites also tend to be quite expensive.

Different metals have different weights and varying degrees of what is known as strength to weight ratio.  To simplify what that means is that lighter and stronger pretty much adds up to better, but usually also at a higher price.

There are several aluminum alloy combinations that are routinely used in making lacrosse handles. In general, but not always, the higher the number a company puts on the shaft, as in C405, 555, etc., the higher degree of strength to weight ratio for the metal used. 

CLASH OF THE TITANS

Titanium makes for the highest quality alloy.  It is the strongest shaft metal on the market, and of course, it can make the handle cost a little or a lot more.  The titanium shafts can actually be a little heavier than some of the others they have now come up with, but never much, and having titanium in the composition is always a good thing.  It tends to give the user a great feel for the ball in the pocket, etc., and as a bonus ‘titanium’ handles make a great, full sound when checking the other guy’s pole.  Checks thrown with titanium are more convincing.

There really is no such thing as a pole that won’t bend or break under extreme force or pressure, but titanium comes closest. 

YOU LOOK MAHHHVELOUS

Shafts often have stunning graphics and designs sublimated onto them these days, but don’t forget to take into account that sometimes that fancy or cool look you are getting can add as much as an ounce to the weight of the handle.  That is a significant amount when you are talking about something that can weigh as little as six or seven ounces to begin with.

TOUCH IS ALWAYS GOOD

The texture of the surface on a shaft is also something to be considered and many companies offer all kinds of texture options these days.  Back in the day the basic aluminum shaft was smooth for the most part, and players just put a little tape on the areas of the handle that they wanted to grip better or most often.  Now manufacturers attempt to do all that for you with built-in texture, or texture on only part of the handle, etc. 

The knobs or end caps in some cases are even being manufactured right into the shaft.  The feel a player has for the very end of his stick is very important.  Most players want a narrow strip built up fairly high to keep their bottom hand from sliding off the end of the shaft while allowing the grip spot to still be very close to the end of the pole.  Many players continue to achieve this very simple thing by using narrow athletic tape strips that they put on themselves.

SHORT POLES

Short poles by rule must make the lacrosse stick measure at a minimum of 40 inches and a maximum of 42 inches from the top of the scoop part of the head down to the bottom end of the shaft.  Defensive short stick specialists often want that overall stick length to approach the 42” max for ‘shorties’, while most shooters want to be right at or close to the minimum measurement of 40” to allow for the lightest possible weapon. 

At any rate always measure your stick when it’s new or when you are making a change of handle or head. You want to make sure that your stick is within the legal limits.  Remember that a stick that is measured by a referee as even a tiny bit less than 40” will cost your team a three-minute, non-releasable penalty on YOU, and is a penalty that can have a chilling or even killing effect on your team’s chances of winning a game.

A FEW OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS

Many players insist on having only the strongest and lightest handle possible.  We would never discourage that, but since you can get a basic aluminum shaft for as little as about $15, or you can pay well over $200 for the top of the line models, and with the real differences sometimes almost minimal, the handle choice can be very important.

Most of the currently available shafts are reviewed and described in the “Handles” section of the Rock-it Pocket web site to help players make informed choices. We do want to point out a few of them that we think have good bang for the buck or that we especially like. 

The Warrior Kryptolite series handles go for only about $80 for attack length, and the C405 it is made of does carry an excellent strength to weight ratio.  The Kryptos are light and strong at a reasonable cost.  The Krypto has a traditional feel with its fairly smooth edges and its octagonal shape.

The Gait DB805’s are in the $80 range, too, similar to the Kryptolites in price, and they are very light, but perhaps not quite as strong and durable.  The handle shape is similar to the old Brine Powergrip.  The surfaces are ‘concaved’ a little for players that like that kind of a feel. The edges are not quite as rounded as they are on many of the other handles available.

The Brine Swizzle Scandium is another short shaft that we like.  It has a slightly textured surface and in the $115 price range it is a fairly affordable choice.  Scandium is a popular alloy that is very light and pretty durable.

LONG POLES

We like the regular Warrior Kryptolite long poles, and they retail at only about $100.

If you can spend a little more, the Warrior Dolomite is a great option for the long shafts. The Dolomite combines the lightness of Kryptolite with the durability of titanium in a hybrid metal that we think works great for the long poles.  It is also quite a bit less expensive than some of the high quality long poles that use more titanium.

In general long poles of any brand that have the word titanium somewhere in the name or description remain a really good choice for defenders.  These are the most durable. We like Warrior titanium the best.  After all, they started the whole titanium thing.

FITTING IN

The exterior shape of the handle is fairly universal.  A player could couple an STX handle with a Warrior head for example, but he should always check ahead to make sure that the handle makes a good fit going into the head.

Always remember to have the head all the way onto the shaft.  Heads break much more readily when this is not done properly, and also, although it might sound ‘so simple why say it’, don’t forget to always have a metal screw in place and holding the headpiece tightly onto the handle.

ONE MORE THING

Be sure to check those company warranties when purchasing the shaft component of your stick.