PRODUCT REVIEWED: Warrior Alpha LX Pro
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS: Retail version
SIDE: Left
FLEX: Intermediate 63 (Cut at 58.5")
PATTERN: W28
OPTIONS: Grip
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE STICK:
First of all, this stick feels very stable in the hands. It comes with Warrior's Ergo Shaft shape (rounded corners with concave sidewalls) and Apex Grip Texture which offers very good grip but at the same time, doesn't restrain your bottom hand movements along the shaft.
Something cool about this intermediate stick is that it comes in a 60" length (on 63 and 70 flex models) which is normally the standard senior length. This is a great feature for tall and lightweight players (like me) that prefers a softer flex
Pretty much like all the new high-end sticks out there, the Alpha LX Pro is very lightweight. The weight distribution feels well balance throughout the whole stick. It doesn't feel blade light like low kick models normally do but feels more like a mid-kick type of stick.
VISUAL ASPECTS OF THE STICK:
Personally, I really dig the graphics. It's just enough flashy without being too loud. The silver, black and neon yellow colors blends well together. Taking a closer look, the stick construction is clean. There’s no bumps, small air holes on the blade or anything like that. The shaft and blade junction are perfect. This is the type of finish I’m expecting from a high-end stick like this one.
OVERALL PLAYABILITY:
STICK HANDLING:
The stick handling was my favorite thing about this twig. The puck sensation throughout the shaft is remarkable. It probably comes a bit from the Apex Grip Texture. This grip finish creates miniature gaps between your bottom hand and the stick so this enhances the very small vibrations felt on the shaft from the puck weight. At no moments I needed to look down to know that the puck was on my blade. That felt amazing.
PASSING:
Normally, when the puck sensation is great, the "passing category" has a lot of chances to be great too. Well, this stick does the job for all the type of passes. The blade offers enough dampening to absorb the hard passes preventing the puck from bouncing around. But at the same time, the blade stiffness helps to accurately aim for your target on every pass. I also felt a lot of control coming from the shaft.
SHOOTING:
Warrior is advertising this stick as a "higher low kick" flex profile. Personally, it felt closer to a traditional mid-kick stick. I was really feeling the stick flex more in the middle of the shaft when I was shooting the puck. The shots were coming out with very good velocity but not as quick as a regular Low Kick. I still needed time to load it properly to get the most out of it. This is not negative, it's just not a super quick release type of stick from my perspective. Wristers, slap shots and backhands were all fine. One timer was ok too. This stick performed well for all type of shots. The shooting segment wasn't what really hyped me about the stick. But it was still good.
CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, The Warrior Alpha LX Pro is a very good stick from my standpoint. It looks great and it offers elite level performance in a lightweight and well balance package. The puck feel is sensational. Its overall playability makes it one of the best sticks on the market right now. For those out there looking for a low kick stick with a super quick release, this one might not be for you. It does feel more like a mid kick. But if you are a playmaker that likes to control the puck and deliver a lot of passes to your teammates, then this might just be one of the best sticks available right now on the market for you.
