Not everyone has a friend, neighbor, or sibling with a good lacrosse stick laying around to loan out or hand down. If a kid wants to start playing lacrosse, mom or dad goes to the big box store to find an overwhelming range of choices and prices. How much to spend? What if she only plays one season? Is this a good stick? What’s the difference? The end result is most kids end up with the economical, all in one, STX Starter Pack.
Lacrosse gear is just like any other consumer product. Manufacturer’s develop and market a product line(s) with good, better, best quality and price points. Then after a few years a new and improved series of models comes out. Is the new model really better? Sure, a little, but it doesn’t make the older model(s) inferior options.
A parent’s best bang for the buck is older model advanced level sticks. These can be found brand new on clearance racks or eBay. Not only can you find a great stick for a fraction of the original price, but actually less than a poor quality starter stick at a sporting goods store.
As an example, my daughter’s first really good stick was an STX AtTak I bought for $190 (including handle) in 2012; one of the best on the market at that time. More recently, I bought a couple STX AtTak heads for $18 each and sent them to Taylor D’Amore Stringing to string the pockets. For the cost of beginner stick, I have a head / pocket setup equivalent to what a NCAA Division I player would have used not that long ago.
Here are some examples:
Complete Sticks (Meaning Pocket and Handle Together):
STX Rave 10 (Universal) – Originally $200 in 2012; found online from $59 – $75 with handle.
STX AtTaK (Designed for Attackers) – Originally $190 in 2012; found on eBay for $59 with handle ($23.00 head only).
STX Tilt2 10 (Universal) – Originally $150 in 2011; found online for $54
STX Ntrance (Designed for Defenders) – Found on eBay for $39 with handle ($21.00 head only)
A parent should expect to spend at least $50 to $80 for a first lacrosse stick. However, rather than settling for the “beginner” stick that will be difficult to use and have a short life, it is possible to find a great older model in that price range.
