Harrow Solo

[Lacrosstitute]

The Solo (http://e-lacrosse.com/2004news208.html)

So what are the ladies thinking of this one? I just stumbled upon the article and thought it was interesting.

[LCNlaxman]

even though i'm not a girl, i think it will be pretty weak. i don't think having a literal "whole stick" is a great idea but who knows. Harrow could've just started a revolution.

[senor_k]

Problem is, if one part breaks, you have to replace the whole thing, and resting it to your liking. So I don't think it would work for men's. but I think it would work for women's just fine.

[sumSum]

Whoa...what happened to all the posts about the Solo, mine included!?!?

[Lax101]

Whoa...what happened to all the posts about the Solo, mine included!?!?
yeah...what happened?

I also wrote a very lenghty post on offset heads yesterday night in the shot speeds thread...which appears to be gone now too.

and in the thread about rehab I left a post and it's gone..

two long posts gone :nofear: :nofear: :argue:

[LaxJax_13]

And the the whole thread on this that was in the general lacrosse section got deleted.

[ljlax]

that stick sounds weird, but i guess it could be good.

um did they get rid of like all the forums in the womens forum so now its like one giant forum and not orangized into like the open forum and stick tech etc? i am so confused about it

[laxbabe42]

The whole "light as a feather" thing doesn't impress me. I actually have a wooden pole and i absolutely love it! I couldn't play with any other shaft. I like my shaft to be heavy, so i know i'm holding something. I have a feeling the stick would jump out of my hands quite a few times.

[CTLaxer]

This is me as a hockey player talking, if it's done properly, this will be a great stick. Their thinking behind the flexing of a one piece graphite design is dead on for hockey. Whether it works with lax is yet to be seen because you don't have the stick being pressed against the ice to help bend/flex the stick during shots. I saw another thread where they said the warranty should be upped from 1 year to 3. I would agree with that statement since most people will be apprehensive about dropping close to $200 on a single stick that has to be replaced with the slightest malfunction or damage. After the stick has been out a while and tested by the masses they could reduce the warranty to save on costs. I do like the innovation and growth the sport as a whole is receiving. Finally tapping other sports and technologies to help our own sport grow and improve. Very cool times we live in as far as lacrosse is concerned.

[LaxJax_13]

I just looked at the preview for it and it looks great even though it has no sidewalls.

[Garor]

My code didn't work. I couldn't see the preview.

[sumSum]

Do you want my code?

I looked at the preview and it did not really say anything or show anything that E-Lacrosse has not already. The idea of the technology impresses me but it does not seem to be so amazing that I'll be "at a disadvantadge" without one, especially at the price of aprx 300$.

Edit: I pressed 3 instead of 2, I meant $200.

[ljlax]

i thought it said that it was gonna sell for around $178 or something. that costs a lott but if u think about it an impulse on a harrow(what im currently using) doesnt cost that much less cuz an impulse costs what 80?90?100? depending on where u buy it and the title IX costs around $85 i think. i cant even remeber (thank u parents) so its pretty close.

but right now i like my stick and its pretty new. maybe i'll wait a few years and wait for the technology to get even better. but if u ask me that stick sounds sick. its like the sickest thing i;ve ever seen. sorry im like freaking out about it.
i showed it to my friend and my sister and my friend was like shutt up i dont care cuz she wanted to watch troy and she thinks im obsessed with lacrosse(which i dont deny) and my sister was right there with me thinking that it was pretty much the awesomest stick we've ever seen. like as far as i can tell theres nothing wrong with it, except that if u break it u have to get a whole new stick (both head and shaft) but not nearly as many girls break their sticks as guys. plus the head is wayy harder than plastic. and obvisousy the shaft is just as hard, and i dont know any girls who have broken their harrows, only guys. im not sure if this idea would work as well for guys but i think its awesome for the womens game.

[sumSum]

costs a lott but if u think about it an impulse on a harrow(what im currently using) doesnt cost that much less cuz an impulse costs what 80?90?100? depending on where u buy it and the title IX costs around $85 i think.

if u ask me that stick sounds sick. its like the sickest thing i;ve ever seen.

Trudat, trudat...my stick probably cost around $100 something but no where near the $200 or so the Solo will cost (dont forget that you've got to pay tax and S&H if you buy if offline). I totally think their idea is great I just feel like its not going to be so amazing that it will make every other stick obsolete. Just as other sticks have their own individual followings the Solo will too. Not everyone (someone else loves wood shafts because she likes her stick heavy) likes the lightness of a stick like the Solo, and maybe some people cant use/dont like the bright colors (ie: me, because my coach wont allow pink or purple, which sucks!), etc.

[celtlax]

unstrung impulse head $60 + harrow title ix $89 = $149.........so it's at least comparable....if the head is like the impulse but much stiffer it may be pretty a decent stick...too bad it's not out now...march may be too late to try a new stick

http://www.harrowsports.com/solopreview
code 7219S8

p.s. is lax is starting to become like golf....my dad is always trying some new club to improve his game...gotta love new tech....

[sumSum]

New pictures of the Solo from E-lacrosse.

http://www.e-lacrosse.com/2005/solo/index.htm

Nice colors.

[lilaxgurl23]

Nice colors indeed but hopefully they will make a choice of having the shaft tapered or un-tapered. But this has got me thinking, this will really not be a good stick for those who like to have a certain head or shaft. I mean a person could love the head but absolutely hate the shaft, then what? They wouldn't buy it. I know a lot of girls that hate the tapered shaft, or the feel of a certain shaft . Also, the sidewalls look low or something, maybe it's because they don't have holes in it, i don't know. Would that make for a deeper pocket though?

[ljlax]

yeah i think that ur supposed to be able to have a deeper pocket.
i read that they changed the rules for how low ur side wall can be and harrow is pretty much the only company to know this in time to come out with a stick for this season with that low of a side wall.

[sumSum]

Allright girls, I've got an update on the Solo for ya.

Today one of the girls on my teams at LNE try outs had the Solo. She plays midfield/attack and hates it. The only good things she could say about it were that it has a good shot and catches the ball well. Other than that she said she wouldn't buy it again if given the chance.

I tried it out myself and it was not nearly as light as I was expecting it to be. It felt about the same weight as my Impulse on db803. The shaft also had a really weird feeling to it. It was similar to some other Harrow shafts (it has a taper, etc) but absolutely NO grip at all. My hands were sliding all over the place on the shaft. It is also kind of long (IMO) and you can't cut it. Aside from that, it is VERY top heavy. It feels weird when shooting but the girl said you get used to it. She also said that ground balls are horrible with it (the scoop did look very thick) and that she hates checking with the stick.

So IMO...spend your money elsewhere.

[ladylaxer18]

I agree with sumSum. My coach bought one a few weeks ago and has let us use it in practice. I tried it once and immediately disliked it. Like sum said, it is top heavy with a poor scoop. It also seems very long to me and I personally hate the way it throws/catches.

[ljlax]

we sell them at a lacrosse store that i work at. the pocket doesnt seem that great. and i agree its top heavy. also the head being so stiff seems annoying. i dont know anyone that actually uses it. but i played against a team whose center used one. it seems like it would be good for draws cuz its so stiff. well she was really good at winning draws and stiffer heads are good for draws right?

[ques]

My team just got done demoing a Solo. They liked they way it caught, throwing was different it seemed to throw high but you can get used to that. As far a ground balls if you are used to getting down for the ball it will be tough to get the ball. If you use the Solo you don't have to get the handle down as far (changes your form) it was great for digging the ball out of deep grass. It weigh 10.2 and it is light but there are other combos that are just about as light. I would wait and see what others do with a one peice when they come out with them or Harrow redesigns the Solo. Remeber the first generations of wire goggles they got much better after a couple of years.

[ljlax]

it doesnt seem as light as it supposively is. i dont think there would be a a huge difference.

[ladylaxer18]

Well a girl on my team came to practice with one that she bought over the weekend. She is also our center and says that she can't wait to use it for draws, thinking that the stiffness will be good. I still don't know about it though. I think I'll wait a while until it gets redesigned like ques said.

[ljlax]

i was thinking the same thing. plus i dont need a new stick for atleast a year or two. so there should be some cool new stuff out by then. a better solo, or something different

[laxbabe]

:love: got a solo, love it, superior handling, better throw control and has been stepped on, slashed, and no alteration in performance, paid 232 Canadian, best stick I've ever used

[laxfolife24]

my friends have it and its pretty sweet, but i dont like the head and it is kinda heavy. but really good idea.

[ilaxitup007]

i dont like the flex point...my old title IX had aflex point and i hated it and i got a straight one this season which i love....

so do you thinkthey will make the solo with a straight shaft...ever or soon?

[CTLaxer]

Saw this photo from saturday's vail games. Theories about stiffness is better on draws is correct. This is a perfect example of why, as well as would make a great ad for the solo. Check it out:

http://www.vaillacrosse.com/2005/pictures/ABS_06-25/pages/ABS_029.htm#here

[lilaxgurl23]

Ouch, that sucks. It kind of looks like the the solo shaft part is a little bent, but maybe that's just the angle.

[ilaxitup007]

wow thats insane. hah

[ques]

As for the Solo and ground balls you have to change your form a little. You dont have to have the back hand as low to the ground and you don't have to bend over as far. Once you try it like that you see that it does work for ground balls. As some one else said even in deep grass.

[CTLaxer]

Ouch, that sucks. It kind of looks like the the solo shaft part is a little bent, but maybe that's just the angle.

That would be the flexpoint system in action. My guess is a split second after this photo was taken, the ball flew back to wherever that girl with the solo wanted it to. The flex point in the photo is flexing, and as soon as that mangled apex is off the stick and the pressure back to normal, it'll help fling the ball back. Course, just a guess as there is no follow up picture, but I highly doubt I'm wrong on this one.

[lilaxgurl23]

Sounds like good explanation. So that would really make a good ad as you mentioned. Not only do you get the stiffness, but the action of the flexpoint system.

[CTLaxer]

A thought just occured to me. If the solo does prove to be a dominant draw stick, to the point of using anything else is almost useless (big stretch I know), it could change the women's game in a sense. We might see a FOGO type role on a team start to emerge. If money is no concern, I can see a draw girl buying a solo and using it solely for draws. For those of you not familiar with the term FOGO it's from the guys game and it means Face Off and Get Off. A girl could take the draw with a solo, and then sub after possesion has been called, come to the bench and get her regular stick and then be subbed back in.

The Solo could lead to more specialization in the women's game in that sense. Whether that's good or bad is beyond me, but it does open the door to some interesting changes in the women's game seeing how it's progressing a little towards the men's game these days.

Any thoughts on this idea/concept?

[Garor]

I saw a solo snap. So much for super strength. It snapped right at the throat going for a ground ball. I wouldn't buy one.

[WHEELAX2]

even though i'm not a girl, i think it will be pretty weak. i don't think having a literal "whole stick" is a great idea but who knows. Harrow could've just started a revolution.


not quite a revolution.. kinda moving backwards. the first lacrosse sticks were one piece.. all wood... not all that revolutionary of a concept..

[LCNlaxman]

not quite a revolution.. kinda moving backwards. the first lacrosse sticks were one piece.. all wood... not all that revolutionary of a concept..


What i mean is, they could've started a movement where ALL sticks (women's, possibly mens?) went back to that one-piece style.

[laxfolife24]

That would suck, they seem like strong sticks though. But I don't think I would ever get one.

[slinkyspine]

Im a guy but i tihnk it could be great or horrible. I have a howtizer which i love which is a on peice with the buttend strongest stick ever. So who knows they make a beefyer version for the mens game

[Texlax13]

i know a friend who has one, and likes it. She plays well, and has a pretty fast shot, but she is older than i am and amazing at everything else, so i dunno if its her or the stick. I personally think its kinda ugly and like my shaft and head combo just fine.

[sumSum]

FYI, They are coming out with a new Solo. All I know so far is that it'll have an improved scoop.

[laxfolife24]

thats good for the people that have them, a lot of girls at camp were complaining about how it was harder to get ground balls. i still don't think i would buy one though.

[RYU]

Saw this photo from saturday's vail games. Theories about stiffness is better on draws is correct. This is a perfect example of why, as well as would make a great ad for the solo. Check it out:

http://www.vaillacrosse.com/2005/pictures/ABS_06-25/pages/ABS_029.htm#herehttp://www.vaillacrosse.com/2005/pictures/ABS_06-25/images/ABS_029.jpg

A photo only captures a split second of action, so obviously, we don't know what happened immediately before & after what's shown in the photo. But judging by how mangled that Apex is and how hard both centers are pulling, I suspect a 'failure to draw up & away' foul on both players (which would go to a throw). A legal draw is required to propel the ball "up & away" in one very quick & smooth motion. If there's some hesitation to get the ball in the air b/c of head getting caught on each other (as it appears to me in the photo), then it's an illegal draw.

I'd like to hear Lax-Umpire's opinion on this.

I agree that the Solo's stiffness can be an advantage in draws, but not to nearly the extent you theorize. Just as not all mlax face-off specialists prefer the stiffest heads, not draw controllers may want something as stiff as the Solo.

Also, the flexpoint system is only an advantage when the top hand is held below the flexpoint. In the photo, the center has her top hand well above the flexpoint by the throat, so I fail to see how the flexpoint would do any flinging.

As for FOGOs in wlax... I don't see it happening unless the rules are changed to allow more variation in draw technique. I think the amount of technique & skill involved is close to what's called for in ice hockey. On a hockey team, you'll have a few designated face-off men, but there aren't too many different things they can do, and the skill is pretty low on the scale of what a hockey player gets recruited for.

[CTLaxer]

Jeez RYU, was just thinking outloud and theorizing, don't need to tear me a new one!

Just kidding, I knew it was a stretch, just trying to do something with my mind while there's no local lacrosse.

[laxgirl0108]

^^same here, unless the improved solo proves to be awesome!

[flyshyelacrosse]

[COLOR=YellowGreen]i tried the stick out a couple months ago at a tournament. can't say i am a big fan, it just seems so impractical. also, i'm from ohio but go to school in CA, so i have to take my stick apart to fly "because it's a weapon". i don't think a one part stick will become a lacrosse revolution.

[Laxordie24]

I agree with everyones complaints on groundballs. A friend of mine plays with one and since there is no give in the head groundballs prove to be difficult. It is fairly lighter then my Impulse on a Matrix shaft but throws about the same IMO. As for the drawing... that brings up an interesting point about the draws, I'll have to try it on the draws to see if it makes that big of a difference but so far i wouldn't invest in it.