Longpole5435
05-26-2007, 04:14 PM
Background:
I've used this head for an entire 16 game season of varsity lacrosse. As TLFers (surprise alert!) will see in the coming months, I play defense aggressively and powerfully. My Helix really has been through the rigors of play.
Weight:
The Helix weighs in at 4.8 ounces, unstrung, which makes it very light compared to most heads. It kept my KPro pole from being top heavy, a problem I had experienced in the past with heads such as the E3.
Pinch:
This was the main selling point of the Helix. I can honestly say no head has a pinch that remotely resembles this. The upper portion of the head has a flare much like the Razer. This makes catching with the Helix a breeze.
Right below the flare, the head reaches its tightest point, in about the place where a high mid pocket would sit. Because it is the tightest segment of the head, the ball is naturally draw here, especially if strung with a bag. For me, this was a large advantage, because it seemed to be right where I wanted my pocket anyways.
Finally, at the bottom of the head, is the unique reverse flare. Initially, it is very pronounced, though I didn't notice very many real benefits to it, except to ensure the ball sat higher in the head. Over time, my reverse flare has actually disappeared to the point where it is very subtle. I actually like my Helix more now than when I got it because of this change. However, if you string your Helix with a low pocket because of the reverse flare, this change would not be good for you, potentially eliminating a reason for buying it.
Scoop:
This is just a solid scoop, nothing radical, though it is nice and thin so that you can get under GB's with ease. Not much to say, it pretty much parallels all of the other Warrior '07 scoops like the Revo and Evo 2.0's.
Durability:
I haven't broken mine, which certainly says something, as I have been notorious for breaking my heads. Nor have I heard many reports of other people breaking theirs, which is always a good sign. However, it will lose a good deal of its stiffness, especially with repeated faceoffs. Mine is to the point where it is no longer a viable FO head because it is too flexible. This loss of stiffness is also incurred because of the nature of my defense, so use as a short stick could change this dramatically. Despite the loss of stiffness, it remains strong enough to be my game head.
Stringability:
At first, I had trouble getting a good pocket with this head. It seemed I had to have it at an illegal depth to get the hold I needed. This is mainly due to the strange placement of stringing holes. However, after a bit of experimentation, I was able to find a suitable solution. 1-1-2-2-2-1-1-1 for sidewalls worked well for me to create a nice bag, though pocket placement is preference. You can get a pocket where you want it in this stick, it just may take a bit of trial and error.
Facing Off:
I take FO's for my team, and this is a less than ideal head to take them with. The reverse flare works against you, and as I mentioned, it loses stiffness. It is passable as a faceoff head, but I certainly wouldn't recommend it for a FOGO. There are simply better heads out there.
Looks:
For those who care, the Helix is a very pretty head. I have gotten numerous compliments on my stick because of it. This category though, is all personal taste.
Review approved by Orange
I've used this head for an entire 16 game season of varsity lacrosse. As TLFers (surprise alert!) will see in the coming months, I play defense aggressively and powerfully. My Helix really has been through the rigors of play.
Weight:
The Helix weighs in at 4.8 ounces, unstrung, which makes it very light compared to most heads. It kept my KPro pole from being top heavy, a problem I had experienced in the past with heads such as the E3.
Pinch:
This was the main selling point of the Helix. I can honestly say no head has a pinch that remotely resembles this. The upper portion of the head has a flare much like the Razer. This makes catching with the Helix a breeze.
Right below the flare, the head reaches its tightest point, in about the place where a high mid pocket would sit. Because it is the tightest segment of the head, the ball is naturally draw here, especially if strung with a bag. For me, this was a large advantage, because it seemed to be right where I wanted my pocket anyways.
Finally, at the bottom of the head, is the unique reverse flare. Initially, it is very pronounced, though I didn't notice very many real benefits to it, except to ensure the ball sat higher in the head. Over time, my reverse flare has actually disappeared to the point where it is very subtle. I actually like my Helix more now than when I got it because of this change. However, if you string your Helix with a low pocket because of the reverse flare, this change would not be good for you, potentially eliminating a reason for buying it.
Scoop:
This is just a solid scoop, nothing radical, though it is nice and thin so that you can get under GB's with ease. Not much to say, it pretty much parallels all of the other Warrior '07 scoops like the Revo and Evo 2.0's.
Durability:
I haven't broken mine, which certainly says something, as I have been notorious for breaking my heads. Nor have I heard many reports of other people breaking theirs, which is always a good sign. However, it will lose a good deal of its stiffness, especially with repeated faceoffs. Mine is to the point where it is no longer a viable FO head because it is too flexible. This loss of stiffness is also incurred because of the nature of my defense, so use as a short stick could change this dramatically. Despite the loss of stiffness, it remains strong enough to be my game head.
Stringability:
At first, I had trouble getting a good pocket with this head. It seemed I had to have it at an illegal depth to get the hold I needed. This is mainly due to the strange placement of stringing holes. However, after a bit of experimentation, I was able to find a suitable solution. 1-1-2-2-2-1-1-1 for sidewalls worked well for me to create a nice bag, though pocket placement is preference. You can get a pocket where you want it in this stick, it just may take a bit of trial and error.
Facing Off:
I take FO's for my team, and this is a less than ideal head to take them with. The reverse flare works against you, and as I mentioned, it loses stiffness. It is passable as a faceoff head, but I certainly wouldn't recommend it for a FOGO. There are simply better heads out there.
Looks:
For those who care, the Helix is a very pretty head. I have gotten numerous compliments on my stick because of it. This category though, is all personal taste.
Review approved by Orange