STX Hammer 1K Lacrosse Head Review
STX's elite defense head: very stiff, very durable and built for the take-away defender. Here's how it plays and what to buy at BattleLax.
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Overview
STX's elite defender head. It's very stiff and durable, perfect for the take-away defender.
Coach's note: Every great close D I've coached, from upstate New York to Virginia Beach, wants the same thing out of a head: no flex on the check and a wide face to jump passing lanes. Ontario box defenders want it even stiffer, because they're cross-checking all night. If your head folds on a lift check, you're playing from behind. The Hammer line has always been built to hit.
Heads up: BattleLax doesn't carry the Hammer 1K right now. The closest stiff defense head in stock is the StringKing Mark 3D Unstrung Head ($119.99).
Shop the StringKing Mark 3D at Battle Lax ($119.99)
Key Details
- Brand
- STX
- Position
- Defense
- Level
- Intermediate to advanced
- Legality
- All levels of play
- Weight
- About 5.6 oz
- Cost
- $99.99 at launch
- Released
- 2023
- Colors
- White
Shape, Material and Scoop
The Hammer 1K is a defensive head through and through. It's a real departure from the Hammer 900, with struts that add more support toward the lower end of the head. STX was able to add stiffness, which is huge for defenders. The face is wide to give you as much area as possible for picking off passes.
At about 5.6 oz, it's a pretty standard weight for a defensive head. The EnduraForm plastic is very durable and holds its shape well. The struts are in good spots to keep the head stiff, an improvement over the Hammer 900, where the struts weren't in great places and stiffness suffered.
The Speed Scoop is decent but could definitely use some work. It didn't perform as well at higher angles as some other heads, mainly the StringKing Mark series. But it still does very well at most other angles.
Shop men's heads at Battle Lax
Stringing
The head is built for a mid-high pocket. Defenders usually like a mid-high pocket for ground balls, so the ball gets into the pocket quickly.
With 6 top string holes, 16 sidewall holes per side and 4 bottom string holes, it has a lot fewer stringing holes than other elite defense heads, but it doesn't give you many problems stringing. More holes would be nice, but it's not a deal breaker.
All the holes are fairly big, so you won't have trouble getting string through. That can affect the pocket, though, since the string has a lot of wiggle room in each hole. Grab some ECD Hero 4.0 Semi-Hard Mesh ($24.99) and dial it in.
Aesthetics
It isn't the prettiest head, but what it lacks in looks it makes up for in function. It only comes in white, which is a little unfortunate but not a big deal, especially since a lot of players dye their heads.
The struts are in good spots for stability, and it's a beefy head. The throat looks decent and is smaller than on previous Hammers. I'm not sure why, since defenders don't usually put their hand near the head unless they face off, and this is definitely not a faceoff head. Maybe it has to do with cracking, but I'm not sure.
Pros & Cons of the Hammer 1K
- Durable: The EnduraForm plastic holds its shape after many games and checks.
- Stiff: The head is very stiff, an upgrade over the Hammer 900.
- Needs more sidewall holes: It could use more, smaller sidewall holes.
- Colors: More color options would be nice, but white is the only one.
Shop the StringKing Mark 3D at Battle Lax ($119.99)
Who is the Hammer 1K for?
The Hammer 1K is best for any defender. D-middies and LSMs can definitely use it, but I'd recommend a slightly more offensive-minded head for them, since there are plenty on the market built for that, like the Maverik Tank 2.0 Head ($109.99).
Pair your D head with a sturdy pole like the Maverik A7 350 Defense Shaft ($129.99). See our best defensive heads, plus our ECD Delta review, for more options.
Shop defense heads at BattleLax
BattleLax doesn't carry the Hammer 1K, but these stiff defense heads and add-ons are in stock.
| Gear | Why it's here | Price |
|---|---|---|
| StringKing Mark 3D Unstrung Head | Stiff defense head | $119.99 |
| Maverik Tank 2.0 Head | Two-way D head | $109.99 |
| ECD Delta Unstrung Head | ECD defense head | $109.99 |
| ECD DNA 2.0 Head | Budget D head | $99.99 |
| ECD Hero 4.0 Semi-Hard Mesh | Mesh | $24.99 |
| Maverik A7 350 Defense Shaft | Defense shaft | $129.99 |
People also ask
Is the STX Hammer 1K a good defense head?
Yes. It's very stiff and durable, with a wide face for picking off passes, which makes it a top-level head for take-away defenders.
How much does the STX Hammer 1K weigh?
About 5.6 oz, which is pretty standard for a defensive head.
What pocket is best for the Hammer 1K?
It's built for a mid-high pocket, which most defenders like for quick ground balls.
What colors does the Hammer 1K come in?
Only white, though it's easy to dye.
Does BattleLax carry the STX Hammer 1K?
Not right now. The closest defense heads at BattleLax are the StringKing Mark 3D, Maverik Tank 2.0 and ECD Delta.
Conclusion
The Hammer 1K is a defensive head through and through. It has great stiffness and should hold up to a ton of checks. It's not the best-looking head, but it's very functional and a top-level defensive head. The scoop could be a little better, but it'll get the job done. I'd definitely recommend it to any defender. Want a stiff D head you can grab today? Go with the StringKing Mark 3D Unstrung Head.
