Pros/Cons on the STX Contender needed

[laxkeep2008]

I just wanted to know what were the pros and cons of the STX Contender? I was looking at buying one - right now my game stick is a Nemi on a DB803.

Also - what head would go best with it?

[ro.lax|rYaN]

I currently have a guardian on it and it works very well. The contender is a great shaft and no cons as of yet, but have not used it in a game situation. It fits your hand nicely and allows for a amazing grip, control, feel, and hand position.

The guardian seems like it was made for this shaft.

[ML_LAX09]

As you can probably guess, I'm not a fan of the Contender. It's a gimmick in my eyes.

yea it is, im not even a goalie and i can figure that out. Anyway my freind uses a Titan Pro with a Nemises on it

[OldGoalie]

Not a big fan myself either. I also didn't like the feel as you slide your top hand down to throw.

[Garor]

Not a big fan myself either. I also didn't like the feel as you slide your top hand down to throw.

Exactly. If you hold your hand in the correct spot, you will not be able to throw quick passes. Not worth it in my eyes.

[nopain]

Check out the goalieman.com,he loves it!

[Goalie37]

my coach wants me and another goalie on my team to get it because we both have a problem with spinning our sticks too much. getting this shaft won't let you spin your stick as much, which is a good thing.

[big crunch22]

Big con is that it forces you to hold your stick far down from the throat of the stick, which gives you a lower level of control of the head. Think about it...if you hold your stick on the throat, it gives you the greatest level of control of the head. The Contender forces you to hold it lower in order to properly utilize the "improved" shape of it.

I use an Eclipse with a db803/Titan Pro and I always hold it with my index finger on the top of the groove of the throat. If you still need a picture, I can take one but that way it offers the greatest level of control. The Guardian is built so you can hold it on the throat.

As you can probably guess, I'm not a fan of the Contender. It's a gimmick in my eyes.
you can still hold it on the axe part of the shaft.

[EHSLAX12]

i dont like the idea of the contender. i see it as un necessary because it seems to me like it can disrupt your movements because its so different. its a strange grip.

[OldGoalie]

you can still hold it on the axe part of the shaft.

But that's what he's saying. The axe part is where you're supposed to hold it, and since it is formed well below the throat, it forces your hand farther down the shaft, leaving you less control over the head. I agree with that assessment, and also found it awkward to throw quick outlets when your top hand stays near the throat.

[stinisonfire]

my coach wants me and another goalie on my team to get it because we both have a problem with spinning our sticks too much. getting this shaft won't let you spin your stick as much, which is a good thing.


Try and see a film of you in a game. Don't take this the wrong way, but the way my coach broke me of my stick spinning ways was showing me how dumb I looked in cage. Also the 50 pushups everytime I spun it afterwards... which thankfully was only once.

Just do that instead of buying a gimmick shaft. Throw some tape on the top of your shaft and there will be more resistence, which hopefully will make you subconsciously not spin.

[imhungry114]

I have a contender with a guardian on it and I think its pretty nice. I tried my back up goalies stick, which is a brine F15, and I didnt like it as much. I like the grip on the contender more, the only problem I have is cradling with it. Its wierd because you cant hold it as high up on the throat. I think the Guardian is made for the Contender personally, actually the shaft and head weigh the same.