Maverik’s New Rail Sidewall Technology Revolutionizes Lacrosse Shaft Performance
One of the most exciting innovations in the new Maverik Critik lacrosse shaft is the proprietary Rail Sidewall Technology. This groundbreaking engineering completely reimagines the sidewall design to optimize stiffness, reduce weight, and improve ball control. So how does it work exactly?
Traditional lacrosse shafts use a uniform sidewall thickness throughout the entire structure. This adds extra material and weight in areas that don’t need reinforcement. The Critik’s Rail Sidewall Technology strategically tapers the sidewalls. Thicker rails line the top and bottom edges, delivering tremendous rigidity and stability for superior ball handling. The middle portion of the sidewalls feature a feathered profile that removes any unnecessary mass.
By focusing stiffness where it’s needed most and eliminating extraneous material, the Critik achieves an incredible strength-to-weight ratio. At only 5.0 ounces for attack and midfield versions, it’s a true featherweight performer. You’ll notice the reduced inertia immediately when moving the stick through quick stick passes, tight dodges, and blistering shots.
Maverik pairs the Rail Sidewall Technology with premium materials like carbon fiber and EnduraForm to create the ideal blend of responsiveness and durability. The stiff rails guide your throws with pinpoint accuracy. The cored-out middle allows just the right amount of strategic flex to cushion passes and add some whip to your shots.
During testing, Maverik engineers discovered that the Rail Sidewall Technology offers up to 15% more stiffness than competing shafts while shaving off unnecessary weight. By thinking outside the box on sidewall construction, the Critik delivers extraordinary performance improvements you have to experience firsthand. Expect better ball control, faster feeds, and more power across the board.
Customizable Stringing Options Give You Ultimate Control Over the Critik’s Pocket
One of the key features that makes the Maverik Critik lacrosse head so unique is the customizable stringing options. Maverik engineered the head with strategic stringing holes that let you easily customize pocket depth, ball retention, and throwing release to match your exact preferences.
On many lacrosse heads, the stringing holes are fixed in place, limiting how you can string the pocket. But Maverik gives you total control over the Critik. The head has horizontally-aligned stringing holes that you can set to wider or narrower positions. This lets you control pocket width and adjust hold for more whip or improved ball control.
Additionally, the Critik head incorporates Maverik’s new Quick Release Technology by angling the sidewall stringing holes upward. This angle allows the pocket to open up more when passing and shooting, creating a faster release. If you like a bit more ball hold, you can simply use a traditional straight sidewall stringing pattern instead.
No matter your preference, the Critik lets you string your ideal pocket easily. Attack players who like a narrower channel and quicker release can dial that in. Field players wanting more ball retention and control can achieve that too. You can even adjust the top stringing to control pocket depth and fine-tune hold across different weather conditions.
With many heads, you’re limited to the pre-set stringing options and positions. But with the Critik’s advanced yet intuitive stringing system, you have the versatility to customize your pocket performance exactly how you want it. Spend more time playing and less time trying to tweak a sub-optimal pocket setup. The Critik truly delivers the best of both worlds – total adjustability paired with Maverik’s precision injection molding process for consistent stringing and throwing game after game.
Hyperbolic Sidewalls Give the Maverik Critik Head Superior Ball Control
The Maverik Critik lacrosse head utilizes an advanced sidewall design called Hyperbolic Sidewalls to optimize ball control and guidance. This innovative engineering sets the Critik apart from other heads on the market.
Traditional lacrosse heads have flat sidewalls that connect the scoop to the throat. While simple in concept, flat sidewalls can cause erratic ball movement, especially on off-center shots. The ball hits the sidewall at an angle, resulting in poor guidance and unpredictable bounces.
The Critik’s Hyperbolic Sidewalls solve this problem through an elegantly curved profile. As the ball rolls from the scoop down to the pocket, the pronounced curve better cradles and guides its path. Maverik carefully modeled the sidewalls’ shape to match the ball’s natural arc for seamless control.
Because the Hyperbolic Sidewalls hug the ball through its entire movement, you get much more accurate passing and shooting, even when dodging and throwing on the run. The ball exits the head on the trajectory you intend instead of deflecting off the sidewalls.
The Hyperbolic Sidewall’s curvature also maximizes the sweet spot for crisp catches. You’ll snag more passes all over the head – high, low, and on each sidewall’s edge. No matter where the ball contacts the Critik’s head, these sidewalls put you in control.
Through extensive player testing, Maverik refined the specific degree of the Hyperbolic Sidewall’s bend to optimize ball handling. The resulting design delivers unprecedented control, feel, and high-performance. Take your precision passing and pinpoint shooting accuracy to the next level with the Critik’s game-changing sidewall technology.
Canted Sidewall Rails Give the Maverik Critik Superior Ball Control
In addition to the innovative Hyperbolic Sidewalls, the Maverik Critik lacrosse head utilizes another breakthrough technology in its sidewall design – canted sidewall rails. This unique engineering further enhances ball control, feel, and pinpoint passing and shooting.
On a traditional lacrosse head, the sidewall rails that connect the scoop to the throat run in parallel straight lines. However, Maverik discovered that angling or “canting” the sidewall rails outward optimizes the head’s ball handling capabilities.
As the ball rolls from the scoop down through the pocket, the canted rails better cradle and guide its movement. The outward angle creates more overall contact with the ball, resulting in superior control, especially around the edges of the head. You’ll notice much more precise passing and shooting accuracy.
The canted rails also increase the head’s effective sweet spot for catches. With more rail surface area angled in the ball’s direction of travel, you provide a larger and more forgiving catching zone. Scooping up ground balls is easier too thanks to the widened head shape near the throat.
In essence, canting the sidewall rails allows for more consistent contact with the ball across the head’s entire surface area. The Critik gives you complete command over the ball through cradling, passing, catching, and shooting. Maverik fine-tuned the specific degree of canting through extensive testing with players at all levels to ensure maximum performance benefits.
These canted sidewall rails work hand-in-hand with the Critik’s Hyperbolic Sidewalls to take ball control to the next level. You’ll boost your consistency and lacrosse IQ by always knowing exactly where the ball will go when it leaves your Critik head.
Precision Injection Molding Makes the Maverik Critik Ultra Consistent
One of the key engineering processes that makes the Maverik Critik head stand out is Maverik’s precision plastic injection molding technology. This manufacturing innovation results in a head with unmatched consistency in performance and durability.
Many lacrosse heads utilize lower quality molten plastic injection processes that lead to slight variances in head shape, stringing hole placement, sidewall thickness, and rail alignment. Small inconsistencies then get amplified through stringing and use, meaning each head acts a little different.
But for the Critik, Maverik leverages an advanced injection molding system to eliminate variabilities. They strategically control flow paths, gate placement, cooling rates, and clamp processes to optimize the precision of each molding cycle.
This cutting-edge process ensures that every Maverik Critik comes out of the mold with exact same shape, curves, hole placement, and sidewall dimensions. When you combine that consistency with the innovative Hyperbolic Sidewalls and canted rails, you get a head that performs exactly as engineered – no surprises.
The precision injection molding also allows Maverik to manufacture the Critik heads with a tighter overall tolerance. There are no sloppy openings or wiggle room that could impact throwing mechanics. You’ll notice how solid and sturdy the Critik feels right out of the package.
And because each Critik starts out identical, the consistency remains long-term through stringing and use. You can replace the original mesh and strings without worrying about performance changing over time. Expect the same precise passing, shooting, and scooping game after game, season after season.
Maverik’s strict tolerances and premium molding give you confidence that your Critik will execute exactly as you need when the game is on the line. Take your consistency and control to the next level with this engineering marvel.
Reinforced Scoop Improves Ground Balls with the Maverik Critik
Having the skills to scoop tough ground balls is a huge advantage at any level of lacrosse. The Maverik Critik head gives you an edge here through its reinforced scoop and carbon pro throat.
On ground balls, a head’s scoop takes a beating as it digs into the turf and clashes with opponents’ sticks. Many heads eventually deform along the scoop, making ground ball pickup more difficult. You have to work harder to get under the ball for a clean scoop.
But Maverik built the Critik for ground ball excellence even after heavy use. The head incorporates a Stiff Carbon Pro material around the entire scoop and up through the throat. This high-grade composite offers tremendous rigidity to resist warping from ground ball wear and tear.
The stiff carbon fiber maintains the scoop’s original shape game after game. You’ll notice how easily the Critik slides under ground balls right off the turf for quick control and possession. Maverik strategically angles the lower throat area too so you can really get underneath errant passes and wide shots.
During development, Maverik put prototypes through extensive scooping tests to determine the optimal carbon composite formula. The result is a ground-scooping machine ready to gain possession off even the hardest turf conditions.
Having a head like the Critik that holds its scooping performance over time gives you an advantage securing 50/50 balls. And gaining more possessions ultimately leads to more time of offense and more goals.
Whether battling for a crucial ground ball or picking up a tough pass, you can rely on the Maverik Critik’s reinforced scoop and throat to grab it cleanly. Dominate possession time and get your team running in transition quickly.
Customize Your Maverik Critik’s Flex Profile
One of the most customizable aspects of the new Maverik Critik lacrosse shaft is the ability to choose your ideal flex profile. Maverik offers the shaft in multiple stiffness options so you can get the perfect blend of responsiveness and durability for your game.
Many shafts only come in a single stiffnesss profile, which may not optimize your particular throwing mechanics and preferences. But with the Critik, you can select from three flex options: Low Flex, Standard Flex, and Stiff Flex.
The Low Flex model provides the most bend and whip for wind-up power shots, quick stick throws, and excellent vibration dampening. Midfielders and attackmen who want maximum finesse will love this flexible feel.
For a balance of stiffness and flex, the Standard Flex Critik gives you some bend but plenty of stability for consistent performance. It’s the most versatile across all positions.
Finally, face-off players, defensemen, and power shooters will appreciate the Stiff Flex Critik that minimizes bend. The exceptionally rigid feel maximizes energy transfer for ripping shots and provides extra durability when jousting.
All three shaft options utilize the same lightweight Rail Sidewall Technology and premium materials like carbon fiber and EnduraForm. The only difference is fine-tuning the layup and thickness to achieve the desired flex. No matter which you choose, expect incredibly fast throws, pinpoint passing, and a smooth consistent release.
Being able to tailor your Critik’s flex profile is a game changer. You get a high-performance shaft optimized specifically for your position and playing style. Experience the unprecedented feel that finally matches your needs.
Lightweight Yet Durable EnduraForm Material in the Maverik Critik
The Maverik engineering team selected premium EnduraForm material to craft the Critik’s head and shaft for an unbeatable strength-to-weight ratio. This advanced polymer gives you lightweight performance that lasts.
Many lacrosse sticks utilize lower-grade plastics and composites that add extra weight without boosting durability. They also degrade over time from UV light exposure and temperature changes, causing the materials to weaken.
But the EnduraForm polymer used in the Critik provides an elite combination of responsiveness, resilience, and longevity. The high-end carbon fiber-reinforced material offers a superior strength-to-weight profile. It also withstands heavy stresses from checks, slashes, and shots without compromising.
EnduraForm retains its integrity and performance better than most composites after extensive use and weathering effects. Maverik optimizes the polymer matrix with proprietary additives to prevent sunlight degradation over years of play.
And by leveraging EnduraForm in key areas like the head, handle, and sidewalls, Maverik removes any non-essential material to keep weight low. Don’t let the feather-light feel fool you though – the Critik can handle the rigors of elite play.
Together with the shaft’s Rail Sidewall Technology, you get a stick with exceptional shot speed, control, and durability. The premium EnduraForm polymer allows for thin, lightweight sidewalls without sacrificing stiffness and strength. Take your game to the next level with this advanced material technology.
Adjustable Head Positioning with Maverik’s SlideTrax
One innovative feature that makes the Maverik Critik shaft unique is the integrated SlideTrax technology. This allows you to easily adjust the head’s positioning to customize balance and feel.
On standard shafts, the head gets fixed in a single position during stringing. But your grip position, throwing motion, and personal preference may benefit from adjusting the head placement. Without restringing though, you’re stuck in that static setup.
Maverik’s SlideTrax breakthrough gives you dynamic control over the Critik’s head positioning. The technology incorporates a track system within the shaft that lets you slide the head back and forth.
Simply loosen the shaft bolt, reposition the head in the SlideTrax track, then tighten it back down. You can move it closer to the handle for a bottom-heavy balance favored by close-attacking players. Or shift it farther down for a neutral balance and quicker release.
Being able to tweak the Critik’s balance on the fly lets you adapt to different game situations too. You can set up a quicker release for tight playoff games or move the head lower for more power and control in wet weather.
Maverik optimized the SlideTrax track length to offer about an inch of overall adjustability. This keeps the head from positioning too close to the shoulders during cradling. The track also prevents unwanted loosening or slipping during play.
Don’t settle for a “one position fits all” setup with your shafts. Take advantage of Maverik’s SlideTrax system to get the Critik dialed in for your personal style. The ability to tweak and optimize balance gives you an immediate, customizable performance advantage.
Unleash Blistering Shots with the Maverik Critik’s Catapult Pocket
The Maverik Critik lacrosse head incorporates an advanced pocket technology called the Catapult that gives you serious power on shots. This stringing system works hand-in-hand with the Hyperbolic sidewalls to generate maximum velocity.
On typical lacrosse heads, inefficient energy transfer leads to slower shot speeds and less accuracy. Energy bleeds off through the sidewalls and top strings before reaching the ball. You have to overpower throws to compensate.
But Maverik engineered the Critik’s Catapult pocket to directly funnel momentum down the optimized Hyperbolic sidewalls into the ball. This results in extremely efficient energy transfer and lightning-fast throws.
The Catapult pocket works by focusing the main mesh diamonds in a tighter configuration near the throat. This positions the lowest diamond right at the ball’s contact point for immediate power transfer. Upper diamonds stay wider to allow deep pocketing.
Through extensive testing, Maverik refined the Catapult’s stringing angles and diamond shapes to maximize ball acceleration. Pro players reported average shot speed gains of 10-15 mph during early prototyping – a game changing improvement.
Maverik also optimized the Hyperbolic sidewalls to work synergistically with the Catapult pocket. Their increased curvature mirrors the launch angle to guide shots with precision.
Unleash the most blistering passes, feeds, and shots of your career with the Maverik Critik. The integrated Catapult pocket technology will leave goalies shaking their heads and teammates asking what just happened.
Faster Throwing and Catching with Maverik’s Quick Release Tech
The Maverik Critik lacrosse head features an advanced stringing system called Quick Release technology to give you faster, more accurate throws and catches. This unique engineering focuses on optimizing the sidewall stringing angles.
On traditional heads, the sidewall strings connect to holes in a perpendicular, straight-across orientation. However, Maverik discovered angling the sidewall strings upward opens up the pocket for quicker throwing and catching.
As you cradle and wind up for a pass, the upward-facing sidewall strings gently open the pocket for earlier ball exposure. This allows the Critik to launch the ball sooner for increased velocity and a tighter spiral.
The angled sidewalls also give you more accuracy by better guiding the ball’s initial trajectory. You’ll notice your feeds hitting teammates perfectly in stride. Shooting aims tighter corners too.
On catches, the Critik’s Quick Release pockets gives the ball extra exposure for securing off-target throws. The upward sidewall angles create a large, forgiving sweet spot to snag passes across a bigger zone.
Through extensive play-testing and filming, Maverik dialed in the precise upward angle to create the ideal Quick Release pocket. This breakthrough technology delivers a performance advantage you have to experience first-hand.
Give your game faster reaction time and tighter fundamentals with the Critik’s Quick Release system. Take advantage of split second windows to hit cutting teammates and place shots where goalies can’t stop them.
Hybrid Construction in the Maverik Critik Offers a Wood-Like Feel
Maverik engineers developed an innovative hybrid manufacturing process to give the Critik shaft and head a true wood-like feel while still providing the durability of advanced composites. This construction breakthrough sets a new standard for performance.
Many composite lacrosse sticks end up with a rigid, muted feel that reduces ball control and shooting finesse. And while traditional wood sticks offer better responsiveness, their performance degrades over time.
But Maverik merges the benefits of both materials through a hybrid construction process. For the Critik shaft, they integrate strategically-placed vertical wood bands within the composite layup to generate a uniquely smooth yet responsive flex.
In the head, Maverik molds a special linen-based material into key areas instead of standard plastics. This material mimics the soft touch of leather pockets in classic wood heads.
The result is a stick with the durability, consistency, and light weight of advanced composites plus the unmatched feel and control of wood lacrosse sticks. You get the accuracy of threading pinpoint passes through small passing lanes as well as the finesse to shoot around multiple defenders.
During development, Maverik tested over 15 different material variations to perfect the hybrid design. The final configuration delivers pro-level control and unbelievable impact response. The Critik comes alive in your hands.
Experience next-level ball handling with this engineering masterpiece. The Critik gives you that wood-like playability to elevate every aspect of your game.
Optimized Control Across All Hand Positions
The Maverik Critik lacrosse shaft and head deliver optimized ball control no matter where you position your hands for cradling, passing, and shooting. This gives you a huge performance advantage in game situations.
Many stick designs cater to a specific optimal hand position, usually somewhere around the midpoint. But move your hands up or down and the feel and control diminish. You have to compromise certain mechanics.
Maverik engineered the Critik for consistent excellent control with any hand positioning. The shaft utilizes specially configured carbon fiber layups to maintain responsiveness and precision up and down the handle. The smooth contours ensure solid gripping leverage anywhere.
In the head, the Hyperbolic sidewalls and canted rails maintain intimate ball contact whether you choke way up high or position low for power. The pocket retains the same quick release and accuracy from any angle.
Being able to grip and control the Critik anywhere allows you to leverage different passing, feeding, and shooting styles as needed. Move up on the shaft when dodging through traffic for better maneuverability. Choke down low to wind up on a clutch shot. The Critik is with you all the way.
Maverik intensely play-tested the Critik with players of all positions to refine the ergonomics across hand positions. Experience flawless control and response exactly where you need it in the game.
Strategic Venting Boosts Airflow in the Maverik Critik
To help keep players cool and comfortable even during intense summer games, Maverik built strategic venting into the Critik head and shaft. This airflow technology provides improved breathability and moisture wicking.
Many sticks utilize solid-molded plastic heads and shafts that don’t allow air circulation. Sweat and heat get trapped next to your hands and under gloves, leading to discomfort that impacts performance.
But the Critik incorporates airflow channels and ports along the sidewalls, throat, and handle. These openings route air along your hands to accelerate evaporation. You’ll notice the difference in comfort almost immediately.
Maverik strategically designed the vent size, quantity, and placement to optimize natural convection while not compromising durability. Larger ports route air through the Critik’s interior to provide passive ventilation as you play.
During intense summer tournament games or practice sessions, hand fatigue can set in quickly with poorly vented gear. But the Critik’s airflow keeps your hands feeling fresh longer for maintaining elite-level ball control and shooting all game long.
Don’t settle for lacrosse gear that bakes your hands in your own sweat. The Maverik Critik utilizes advanced airflow technology to help you perform at your peak when the game is on the line.