STX Duel 3 Head
STX Duel 3 Lacrosse Head
The STX Duel 3 Lacrosse Head builds upon the brand's legacy of crafting high-performance face-off heads. Designed specifically for the face-off specialist or "stay-on" midfielder, the Duel 3 boasts several key features. Reflex™ material offers flexibility and shape retention, allowing players to maintain control during the crucial battle at the X. The slimmed-down Speed Scoop facilitates faster ground ball pickups, while the shorter throat provides increased leverage and control.
Key features include:
| • | Reflex material that holds its shape and keeps you on the field longer. |
| • | Duel flex profile and optimized stiffness for elite face-off athletes. |
| • | Speed Scoop for faceoff flex and faster groundballs. |
Top Competitors
The Duel 3 prioritizes control and clean pickups, featuring a wider face shape and a softer pocket, allowing for easier ground ball scooping and facilitating smooth transitions to offense. With its angled scoop and stiffer construction, the StringKing Mark 2F takes a more aggressive approach, excelling at clamping onto ground balls and overpowering opponents in contested situations. However, it might require more finesse to control and scoop effectively. The ECD Weapon X falls somewhere in between, boasting a mid-stiff pocket and a balanced face shape, offering a blend of power and control for strong clamps and a good ground ball feel in various face-off scenarios.
Progression of the STX Duel 3
The STX Duel lacrosse head series features three models: the Duel, the Duel 2 and the Duel 3. Here's a breakdown of their progression:
- Designed for face-off specialists.
- Original flex profile for face-off movement.
- Standard Speed Scoop design for ground ball pickups.
- Traditional throat profile.
- Designed for elite face-off players.
- Newly-engineered, high-flex profile for improved clamping and control.
- Slimmed-down Speed Scoop design for enhanced ground ball play at the X.
- Shorter throat profile for closer hand placement and increased power/control during face-offs.
- Designed for the face-off, stay-on midfielders.
- Refined high-flex profile for optimal control and feel.
- Slimmed-down Speed Scoop design for efficient ground ball pickups.
- Shorter throat profile for close hand placement and power/control during face-off.
- XT2 sidewall technology for increased stiffness and stability while maintaining flexibility.
- Updated stringing pocket design for improved control and pocket hold.
| 👍 Pros |
|---|
| Great head for faceoffs and midfield play. Versatile *and* durable. |
| Plays well with low, mid, or high pockets. (Even did a trad pocket!) |
| Less warping than the Duel 2. |
| 👎 Cons |
|---|
| Really wide face makes for a weird scoop. |
| Little too stiff for me. Less bend in sidewall than competitors. |
| Some cracking on the sidewalls after extended use. |
The STX Duel 3 is designed for the face-off and stay-on midfielder. This head is made with STX’s Reflex material to help hold the shape a lot longer, so you can continue to use it for offense or defense after the face-off. The top of the head has a slimmed-down scoop that’s designed for face-offs and to make ground balls easier. It has a shorter throat to make the top hand position closer to the ball for more control. It has 4 screw holes on the throat to ensure the head doesn’t rattle.
Allen Melick
