STX Sc-Ti Alloy Lacrosse Shaft Review
STX's scandium-titanium alloy attack and midfield shaft, in 5 shapes (X, R, S, O and X+), each with its own weight, so you can match the handle to your position.
LaxDrip take: a good, stiff alloy shaft for the price, with a shape and weight for every position. Tape the glossy finish and pick your shape by position.
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Overview
The STX Sc-Ti is STX's alloy attack and midfield shaft. It comes in 5 shape options, each with its own weight, plus 5 colors.
Picking a handle by position is something I preach to every player I coach, from youth programs in upstate New York to high school teams in Virginia Beach and the box kids in Ontario. A 12-year-old attackman and a 200-pound D-middie shouldn't be carrying the same shaft, and the Sc-Ti's lineup actually lets you match the handle to the job.
Key Details
- Brand
- STX
- Position
- Attack/Midfield
- Level
- Intermediate to advanced
- Legality
- All levels of play
- Material
- Scandium-titanium alloy
- Shapes
- X, R, S, O, X+
- Colors
- Platinum, Black, Gunmetal, Blue Steel, Copper
- Cost
- $109.99
- Year released
- 2023
Battle Lax doesn't carry STX shafts. For a similar high-end alloy attack shaft, look at the Warrior Alchemy STZ Attack Shaft 30" ($124.99), Warrior's scandium-titanium-zirconium handle, or the Maverik Mag-TI 145 Lacrosse Shaft ($129.99). On a tighter budget, the Maverik A7 175 Lacrosse Attack Shaft is $99.99.
Shapes, Material and Weight
The shaft shapes are:
- Extreme Concave (X): 140 g
- Ridge (R): 150 g
- Shift (S): 160 g
- Octagon (O): 170 g
- Extreme Concave + (X+): 195 g
I've tried the X and O shapes and like them both. From what I've seen, the other shapes look like they'd be comfortable to hold too.
Each shape has its own weight, so you can't buy an O-shaped shaft at 150 g. That makes sense, but it would be nice to have the option. It's convenient that STX made a heavier X shaft in the X+, since the regular X is so light. That said, the X+ is on the extreme heavy end, which I don't think many players will want. It's good for defensive middies, but that's really the only position I can see using it (unless you play box).
The scandium-titanium alloy is a good, strong material. I don't know the shaft's break rate, but I'd guess the lighter the shaft, the more likely it is to break. It has a glossy feel that gets very slippery when wet, so I'd recommend taping it. Anybody who's played a sideways-rain April game knows a slick handle is a turnover waiting to happen.
Flex and End Cap
As an alloy shaft, it has no flex at all. That can be good or bad depending on your preference.
Flex causes inconsistency, and because of the way we shoot in lacrosse, it doesn't make a shot faster. The shaft never recoils (the thing that would add speed) until the shot is finished, so it stays flexed through the release. Even if it did recoil, it would be inconsistent and make your release point hard to predict. Bottom line: this shaft is great if you don't like flex. (Want the hardest shot you can get? Read about the fastest lacrosse shot.)
No flex, no surprises. You know exactly where the ball is coming out every time.
These shafts come with STX's new elite end cap. I like it, but it can only sit at the bottom of the shaft. Many players like to artificially shorten the shaft with a tape ring near the end, or use a plastic or rubber ring that slides, which other companies put on their shafts (the Maverik A1 and ECD Carbon 3.0 are good examples). The end cap itself is durable, a good weight and a good ring size. I just wish you could adjust it along the shaft.
Pros and Cons of the STX Sc-Ti Alloy Shaft
- Cost: fairly low compared to other elite shafts
- Variety of options: lots of choices in shape, weight and color
- No flex: consistent release for players who don't like a whippy handle
- Shape and weight are tied together: you can't pick them separately
- Glossy finish gets very slippery when wet, so plan on tape
- End cap can't slide up the shaft
- Not sold at Battle Lax
On picking shape and weight separately: I'm sure that would be expensive to make. The shapes are also probably determined by how much material is in the shaft, with some shapes needing less material because of their structure, but that's just speculation.
Shop the Warrior Alchemy STZ View all men's shafts on Battle Lax
Which Shape Should I Buy?
The shape you buy mainly depends on your position and the weight of the shaft.
- Younger players: consider the X, since it's very lightweight. I wouldn't recommend it for older players (13+), since shafts this light tend to break more easily, though some attackmen may like it for the weight. (See our best youth sticks too.)
- Attackmen and goalies: the R or S is ideal. Both need a lighter shaft for more stick speed.
- Offensive, two-way and faceoff middies: lean toward the S or O. They have more material, so they're less likely to break when checking, but aren't heavy enough to slow your shot.
- Defensive and two-way middies: consider the O or X+. Shafts at this weight are less likely to break and give you more force when checking.
Not sure where you fit? Check our lacrosse positions guide, and see our best attack and midfield shafts to compare.
Conclusion
Overall, this is a good shaft, especially for the price. It gives you lots of color and weight options, so there's a good choice for every type of player. It's relatively inexpensive, so if you're looking for a good shaft at a lower price, this is definitely the shaft for you.
Shopping at Battle Lax? The Warrior Alchemy STZ Attack Shaft 30" and Maverik Mag 165 Lacrosse Attack Shaft ($114.99) are the closest alloy options in stock. For lighter options, see our list of the lightest lacrosse heads and shafts.
See it live
Want a closer look at the shapes?
More Sc-Ti videos:
Battle Lax: Warrior Alchemy STZ Attack Shaft 30"$124.99
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