Everyone knows the benefits to a wood shaft over a metal or carbon one. Wood shafts are way more durable, absorb checks, they give your stick a more balanced feel, have a small amount of flex and are more true to the roots of the game. But, the big disadvantage for most in using a wood stick is the weight. Until now, the options for wood shafts were pretty much limited to either heavy hickory or the slightly lighter, yet slightly less durable ash wood. Blackfeet Lacrosse recently introduced a new line of wood shafts that are definitely different than the rest.
The new shafts from Blackfeet Lacrosse are beautiful shafts made of ash wood but what really sets them apart is the different weight options. These shafts are bored out on the top and bottom of the shaft, making them a significant amount lighter than most other wood shafts on the market, while still being very strong especially in the middle of the shaft which gets the most checks and impacts on a regular basis. The shafts are available in a wide range of weight options spanning between their lightest shafts at 7.7 ounces, which is only a bit heavier than a metal or carbon shaft and their heaviest box shafts around 11.5 ounces, similar to most other ash shafts. All of these different weights give an option for everyone at all levels to use a wood shaft. The shaft that I tested was a MaxLight model that weighed in at only 7.7 (which is etched on the shaft) and I was amazed by how light, yet how sturdy it felt. The shafts feel very nice in hand with a standard octagonal shape and smooth finish.
The Blackfeet shafts look beautiful and are available in a range of different stained colors. The dark color of the shaft I tested matched great with the LaxRoom dark brown oil tanned leathers I had in the head I used with it. These shafts also all come with a really cool hand carved wooden butt end, in a different finish than the rest of the shaft (which matched great with the bootlace in the pocket).
I also got a few of the separate butt ends that Blackfeet Lacrosse sells and they look really cool. These could add a nice looking end to other metal shafts you might have.
The Blackfeet shafts, even at the lowest weight which I tried out, are quite durable. Blackfeet does give a decent six month warranty on these shafts so it will definitely last you for at least a season with no issues, although I’d suspect it will last much longer than that. The come in at a decent price point, much cheaper than lots of metal and composite shafts but a bit more than a standard wood shaft.
Overall, I really liked the shafts from Blackfeet Lacrosse. I love that a company took something seemingly as “simple” as a wood shaft and innovated it for today’s faster, modern game. I’d recommend these shafts to anyone looking for a lighter, more modern, wood shaft.
In 2009, Adam O’Neill, Harry Alford and Thomas Alford launched Lacrosse Playground as the preeminent site for lacrosse gearheads. For years Lacrosse Playground provided lacrosse fans with tutorials and tips on how to string a lacrosse head, up-close looks at the gear the top players used and sneak peeks at equipment and uniforms before they were released. More than 10 years and millions of visits later, Lacrosse Playground has relaunched with a focus on storytelling. Our mission is to provide comprehensive coverage of the latest lacrosse news, share insights into the sports betting and fantasy lacrosse world and showcase the lifestyles and personalities of the sport of lacrosse through articles, videos and podcasts.
Oliver Marti: Starting an NLL Team in Albany and Investing in the PLL and Epoch Lacrosse (Pro Lacrosse Talk Podcast #130)
byPro Lacrosse Talk
On this episode of the Pro Lacrosse Talk Podcast, Hutton Jackson and Adam Moore are joined by three-time All-American at Brown University, investor in the PLL, and the newest NLL owner Oliver Marti. He discusses moving the New England Black Wolves franchise to Albany, New York, why the city of Albany was chosen and share his thoughts on the team’s potential new identity. He also discusses his time playing for Dom Starsia at Brown University, playing for the New York Saints in the MILL, starting the Connecticut Box Lacrosse League, investing in the Premier Lacrosse League and equipment manufacturer Epoch Lacrosse, and his opinion on the current state of pro lacrosse.
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Pro Lacrosse Talk is the flagship lacrosse podcast of the Lacrosse Playground network covering all three professional lacrosse leagues (NLL, PLL, Athletes Unlimited). Each week throughout the season we’ll recap the games, provide analysis on the teams and feature exclusive postgame and off-the-field interviews with professional lacrosse players, coaches and executives. If you’re a fan of lacrosse podcasts like the Unbuckled Chinstrap, The Inside Feed, Lacrosse Classified or The Crease Dive, then give us a listen.