What gear do top defensemen use to dominate the field. How can the right equipment elevate your defensive game. Which lacrosse items are must-haves for shutdown D-poles.
The Epoch Dragonfly: Revolutionizing Defensive Shafts
The Epoch Dragonfly has quickly become the go-to choice for defensemen looking to elevate their game. This innovative shaft combines cutting-edge technology with practical design features to enhance defensive play in multiple ways.
Key Features of the Epoch Dragonfly
- Signature flex profile for improved control and responsiveness
- Lightweight yet durable aircraft-grade aluminum construction
- Strategic stiff and flexible zones along the handle
- Canted scoop for easier ground ball pickups
- U-channel and V-channel for versatile stringing options
- Weighs just over 12 ounces for effortless maneuverability
The Dragonfly’s unique flex profile is a game-changer for defensemen. How does it improve defensive play? The strategic combination of stiff and flexible zones allows for more precise and powerful checks. This enhanced feel and control can significantly boost a player’s ability to disrupt offensive plays and cause turnovers.
Elevating Your Defensive Arsenal: Essential Gear Beyond the Shaft
While the Dragonfly shaft is a crucial component of a defenseman’s setup, other gear items play vital roles in maximizing performance on the field. Let’s explore some additional essentials that can help elevate your defensive game.
High-Performance Lacrosse Heads for Defensemen
A robust and well-designed lacrosse head is crucial for effective defensive play. What features should you look for in a defensive head? Opt for heads with:
- Wide face shape for improved checking and interception
- Stiff construction to withstand aggressive play
- Reinforced sidewalls for added durability
- Multiple stringing holes for customized pocket setups
Top defensive heads like the STX Hammer 500, Maverik Tank, or StringKing Mark 2D offer these features and more, providing the perfect complement to your Dragonfly shaft.
Protective Gear: Balancing Safety and Mobility
Defensemen often find themselves in high-impact situations, making proper protective gear essential. How can you ensure you’re well-protected without sacrificing mobility?
Gloves: The First Line of Defense
Defensive gloves should offer ample protection for the hands and wrists while allowing for maximum dexterity. Look for gloves with:
- Reinforced padding in high-impact areas
- Flexible palm and finger materials for improved stick control
- Moisture-wicking liners to keep hands dry and comfortable
- Secure wrist closures for a snug, customized fit
The Maverik M5 or STX Shield 500 gloves are excellent options that balance protection and mobility for defensemen.
Arm Guards: Crucial Protection for Defensive Play
While some defensemen prefer minimal arm protection, a well-designed arm guard can provide crucial protection without hindering movement. What should you look for in defensive arm guards?
- Low-profile design for reduced bulk
- Strategic padding placement in key impact zones
- Breathable, moisture-wicking materials
- Secure, adjustable straps for a custom fit
The Warrior Burn Pro or Epoch Integra arm guards offer excellent protection while maintaining a slim profile suitable for defensive play.
Footwear: The Foundation of Defensive Mobility
A defenseman’s ability to quickly change direction and maintain proper positioning is crucial. How can the right cleats enhance your on-field performance?
Key Features in Defensive Lacrosse Cleats
- Lightweight construction for improved speed and agility
- Supportive ankle design to prevent rolling during quick movements
- Durable outsole with aggressive traction patterns
- Comfortable, responsive cushioning for extended play
Cleats like the Nike Alpha Huarache 8 Elite or the New Balance Freeze LX 3.0 offer the perfect blend of support, traction, and comfort for defensive players.
Training Aids: Honing Your Defensive Skills Off the Field
Improving your defensive prowess doesn’t stop when you leave the field. What training aids can help you refine your skills between practices and games?
Wall Ball Rebounder
A quality wall ball rebounder allows you to practice your stick skills, including catching, throwing, and ground ball pickups, in a confined space. Look for rebounders with adjustable angles to simulate various game situations.
Agility Ladder
Defensive play requires quick footwork and change of direction. An agility ladder can help improve your foot speed, coordination, and overall agility, translating to better on-field performance.
Resistance Bands
Strengthening the muscles used in defensive movements can significantly improve your game. Resistance bands offer versatile, portable strength training options for defensemen looking to build power and explosiveness.
The Mental Game: Psychological Tools for Defensive Dominance
While physical gear is crucial, the mental aspect of defensive play is equally important. How can you sharpen your mental game to become a more formidable defender?
Visualization Techniques
Regularly visualizing successful defensive plays, proper positioning, and effective communication with teammates can improve your on-field performance. Spend time each day mentally rehearsing various defensive scenarios.
Film Study
Analyzing game film of both your own play and that of top defenders can help you identify areas for improvement and learn new techniques. Make film study a regular part of your training regimen.
Mindfulness and Focus Training
Developing the ability to stay present and focused during high-pressure situations is crucial for defensive success. Incorporate mindfulness exercises or meditation into your routine to improve your mental resilience on the field.
Maintenance and Care: Extending the Life of Your Defensive Gear
Properly maintaining your lacrosse equipment not only extends its lifespan but also ensures optimal performance during games and practices. How can you keep your defensive gear in top condition?
Shaft and Head Maintenance
- Regularly inspect your Dragonfly shaft for any signs of damage or wear
- Clean your shaft and head with mild soap and water after each use
- Store your stick in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight
- Periodically check and tighten any screws connecting the head to the shaft
Protective Gear Care
- Air out gloves, arm guards, and other protective equipment after each use
- Use antimicrobial sprays to combat odor-causing bacteria
- Wash removable liners and padding according to manufacturer instructions
- Inspect all straps and closures regularly, replacing them as needed
Cleat Maintenance
- Clean cleats after each use, removing dirt and debris from the outsoles
- Allow cleats to air dry naturally, avoiding direct heat sources
- Use a boot dryer or stuff cleats with newspaper to absorb moisture
- Rotate between multiple pairs of cleats to extend their lifespan
By implementing these maintenance practices, you can ensure your defensive gear remains in optimal condition, allowing you to perform at your best on the field.
Customization: Tailoring Your Defensive Setup for Peak Performance
Every defenseman has unique preferences and playing styles. How can you customize your gear to maximize your on-field effectiveness?
Stick Customization
Experiment with different stringing patterns and pocket depths to find the setup that best suits your playing style. Consider factors such as:
- Channel width for improved ball control
- Pocket placement for optimal checking and throwing
- Mesh type and tension for desired feel and performance
Don’t be afraid to seek advice from experienced stringers or teammates to fine-tune your stick setup.
Tape and Grip Modifications
Customizing your shaft’s grip can significantly impact your control and comfort. Experiment with different taping patterns or grip products to find what works best for you. Some popular options include:
- Traditional athletic tape for a classic feel
- Hockey grip tape for added tackiness
- Silicon grip sprays for a non-slip surface
- Rubberized grip sleeves for enhanced control
Protective Gear Adjustments
Take the time to properly adjust all straps and closures on your protective gear. A well-fitted setup not only improves protection but also enhances mobility and comfort during play.
By tailoring your gear to your specific needs and preferences, you can create a defensive setup that feels like a natural extension of your body, allowing you to focus on dominating between the pipes.
Epoch Dragonfly: The Gold Standard for Defense Shafts
As a lifelong lacrosse player and coach, I’ve seen all kinds of gear come and go. But few pieces of equipment have had as big of an impact on defenseman play as the Epoch Dragonfly shaft. Since its debut just a few years ago, it has quickly become the gold standard for D-poles looking to lock down attackers with precision and power.
So what makes the Dragonfly such a game-changer? For starters, it features Epoch’s signature flex profile that gives you more control when poking, slapping, and throwing big checks. The flex comes from the combination of lightweight yet durable aircraft grade aluminum construction with strategic stiff and flexible zones along the handle. This lets you feel much more connected to the head through your checks, giving you the split-second responsiveness needed to disrupt dodges and cause turnovers.
And even with that tuned flex, the Dragonfly still maintains a rigid stability and strength that can stand up to the physicality of defensive play. Epoch figured out how to bake cutting-edge flex technology into a pole built like a tank. As someone who’s seen too many flimsy shafts snap, I appreciate the Dragonfly’s unrelenting durability in the trenches.
Beyond the flex profile, Epoch packs this shaft with customized features to make life easier on defensemen. The canted scoop helps you get lower and pick up ground balls more cleanly. The U-channel and V-channel allow versatile stringing options to dial in your ideal setup. At just over 12 ounces it plays lighter than it looks, giving you effortless movement covering dodgers and clearing the ball.
Simply put, the Dragonfly is one of the biggest evolutions in defensive lacrosse shafts I’ve encountered. It raises the bar to new heights, cementing Epoch as the leader in engineering high performance lacrosse gear.
Why the Dragonfly Changed the Game for Defensemen
In talking with players and coaches over the years, there’s no question the Dragonfly has had a major impact on defensive play at all levels. Here’s why it’s been such a game changer:
- Gives players more control and responsiveness when poke checking and slapping – the key actions to disrupting an offense.
- The canted scoop allows for quicker ground ball pickups, helping you gain possession.
- Lightweight yet extremely durable construction stands up to routine abuse.
- Strategic stiff and flexible zones provide the ideal flex profile for defense.
- U and V-channel stringing options let you customize your setup.
- Significantly amps up a defenseman’s checking power and accuracy.
I’ve seen players improve exponentially after switching to the Dragonfly because it makes such a big difference in their fundamental defensive skills. Their poke check success rate goes way up. They scoop ground balls cleaner. Their checks have more disruption power. Simply put, it’s easier to play lockdown defense with the Dragonfly in your hands.
Lacrosse’s Most Trusted Brand Delivers Again
Epoch lacrosse entered the gear market just a few years ago, but they’ve quickly gained a reputation for innovation and quality. The fact that their shafts and heads are trusted by pros like Lyle Thompson speaks volumes about Epoch as a newcomer in the lacrosse world.
With the Dragonfly, Epoch took the sports engineering chops they honed making golf club shafts and applied it to lacrosse equipment. The result is a shaft designed from the ground up to boost a defenseman’s performance. From years of playing and coaching, I’m blown away that a newer company like Epoch can create such a game-changing piece of gear. It shows their commitment to continuously improving the player experience through thoughtful design.
Add More Disruption Power to Your Checks
While the Dragonfly excels at just about everything, it’s those poke checks that really set it apart for me. The strategically tuned flex profile just makes the shaft feel alive in your hands – you gain so much more feel and control compared to a stiff, static d-pole. Now you can deliver poke checks with surgical precision and power.
I recommend every defenseman try it for themselves to experience the difference in check responsiveness. You’ll be hooked from the first poke or slap check. Nothing else gives you that sensation of the shaft loading up then springing forward as you deliver a check. It becomes addictive once you feel how much the flex profile adds to your checking game. You’ll wonder how you ever played defense without it!
A Must-Have for Serious Lacrosse Players
I’ve been around lacrosse long enough to know game-changers when I see them. The Dragonfly is one of those innovations that forces every defenseman to step up their game. With this shaft in hand, you’ll play faster, smarter, and more disruptive defense each time you take the field.
So if you’re serious about performing at an elite level on defense, the Dragonfly needs to be in your stick bag. Considering its impact on fundamental defensive skills, it’s easily one of the most important advances in lacrosse gear that I’ve seen. Trust me, your defense and entire team will reap the benefits of you controlling the field with an Epoch Dragonfly.
Master the Position: Dragonfly Pro Combo
For the total package, I recommend pairing the Dragonfly shaft with the Dragonfly Pro head. You get the ideal flex profile combined with Epoch’s high performance shape designed specifically for defense. It’s the elite setup for completely dominating between the pipes.
Stringing up a Dragonfly shaft and Pro head combo lets you engineer the perfect pole from top to bottom. You gain total control over your stick’s performance characteristics. The Dragonfly brings the flex and responsiveness through the shaft, while the Pro offers you an aggressive head optimized for today’s defensive needs.
Together they form a potent combination that will have you playing lockdown defense in every part of the field. Scooping, poking, slashing, picking off passes – everything gets an upgrade with this dream pair. I love being able to customize my pole’s flex and head shape to perfectly match my defensive style.
Gear Up and Get Ready to Lock It Down
The Epoch Dragonfly shaft changed my defensive game for the better, and I’m confident it will do the same for you. So give your stick bag a major upgrade this season with one of the most innovative lacrosse shafts ever made.
Once you experience the Dragonfly advantage of added check control and disruption power, you’ll wonder how you ever played defense without it. Dominate the field and be the shutdown defender your team needs with this essential piece of gear engineered for today’s lightning quick game. Just get ready for more caused turnovers, looser offense, and more wins!
Dragonfly’s Signature Flex Profile for Superior Checking
In lacrosse, a solid defensive game starts with disruptive poke checks and slaps. As a crease defender, your job is to fluster dodgers and force turnovers with perfectly timed checks. But not all poles are created equal when it comes to delivering checks that consistently bother offenses.
The Epoch Dragonfly stands head and shoulders above other shafts thanks to its unique flex profile. The strategically tuned stiff and flexible zones give you maximum feel and control when poking, slapping, or throwing big hits. When your shaft flexes and rebounds, it allows you to “load up” power in ways that static poles simply can’t match.
Quite simply, the Dragonfly gives you superior poke check performance compared to traditional stiff shafts. The flexible yet robust design acts like a spring, letting you feel the shaft load up energy before unleashing it through a check. That transfer of energy adds some serious pop to your pokes!
I’ll never forget the first time I threw a check with the Dragonfly – it felt like the shaft was doing half the work for me. My poke checks had more precision and disruption coming off the flex profile’s responsive snap. It was a total game-changer for how I could bother dodgers. My check success rate skyrocketed after switching to the Dragonfly.
How Flex Adds Poke Check Power
Here’s exactly why the Dragonfly’s tuned flex profile lets you rip off poke checks with enhanced speed and pop:
- The strategic stiff and flexible zones “load” power as the shaft flexes.
- You feel the shaft rebound and release energy right as you deliver the check.
- Gives you superior control and responsiveness through the check motion.
- Transfers more energy into the ball for disruption on contact.
- Similar to a golf club flexing before impact for extra power.
- Take advantage of the “flex factor” that other rigid poles lack.
You really need to experience the ball-rattling power of a Dragonfly poke check to appreciate how revolutionary the flex profile feels. Nothing else gives you that sensation of energy channeling through the flex right into the ball. It takes poke check disruption to the next level!
Engineered for Checking Excellence
The Dragonfly demonstrates Epoch’s engineering savvy and focus on player performance. As a newer brand in lacrosse, they’re not afraid to challenge conventional design thinking and build gear that improves fundamental skills.
Epoch realized the benefits flex added in other sports like golf and tennis, where flex profiles boost swing/impact power. By essentially translating that technology to lacrosse, the Dragonfly’s flex unlocks new poke check capabilities for tenacious defenders. It’s the type of outside-the-box thinking that leads to real performance gains.
Beyond the flex profile, the Dragonfly also boasts awesome features like an angled scoop, lightweight durable alloy construction, and U/V channels for versatile stringing. Everything about the shaft is designed to boost a defenseman’s ability to dominate between the pipes from all angles.
Experience the Dragonfly Difference
Seeing is believing when it comes to the Dragonfly’s poke checking prowess. Once you feel that first flex-powered check, you’ll be hooked like I was. The shaft almost unleashes the check for you – it just snaps off the poke before you know it.
My advice is to try it in your next practice. Grab a buddy’s Dragonfly and take a few pokes to experience the flex factor firsthand. Nothing else transfers power into poke checks quite like this shaft. You’ll be snagging balls left and right thanks to the amped up disruption.
The second you sink a poke and feel the ball shudder off the flex-charged impact, you’ll be scheming up ways to get your own Dragonfly asap. Your future of dominating dodgers depends on it!
Own Your Defensive Domain
As a seasoned defenseman, I’m stoked whenever an innovation comes along that makes my job easier. The Epoch Dragonfly does exactly that by letting me play quicker and more aggressive D.
With the flex profile dialing up my poke checking prowess, I own more ground around the cage and constantly harass anyone looking to dodge. My poke checks come faster, snap harder, and make dodgers more hesitant knowing they’ll feel some serious flex-powered disruption.
Simply put, the Dragonfly lets me rule my defensive domain in a way no other pole can match. Thanks to Epoch’s game-changing design, I now have the ultimate tool for playing lockdown, smothering defense game after game. What more could a d-pole ask for?
Unmatched Durability From Aircraft Grade Aluminum
In the fast-paced, physical sport of lacrosse, durability is a non-negotiable for equipment. As a defenseman disrupting plays and throwing checks, your gear takes a beating game after game.
That’s why hardcore d-poles choose the Epoch Dragonfly shaft – it’s crafted from tough-as-nails aircraft grade aluminum forged to stand up to the rigors of elite lacrosse. We’re talking military-spec aluminum that can survive abuse that would snap lesser shafts in half.
While the Dragonfly flexes for superior poke checks, the unrelenting alloy construction keeps it stable and indestructible. Epoch designed the shaft not just for performance, but for the long haul through grueling high school, college, and pro seasons.
Simply put, no other defense shaft combines tuned flex with hardcore durability like the aircraft grade aluminum Dragonfly. It’s built for battle and delivers the confidence to play physical, disruptive defense every single game.
Why Aircraft Grade Aluminum Rules
Here’s what makes the Dragonfly’s aircraft aluminum so ideal for withstanding lacrosse warfare:
- Extremely high strength-to-weight ratio
- Lighter than steel but just as tough
- Alloyed and heat-treated for max durability
- Won’t permanently bend or dent like lesser metals
- Corrosion resistant even with routine abuse
- Trusted by the aerospace industry for resilience
- Military-spec material made for extremes
Simply put, this isn’t flimsy aluminum like you find in beer cans. Aircraft grade alloy is hardened and engineered specifically for high stress applications. It’s perfect for the daily wear and tear of high level lacrosse.
Confidence in a Shaft That Won’t Quit
After breaking one too many shafts in my career, the Dragonfly’s ruggedness gives me peace of mind. I never have to worry if a hack, slash, or collision will compromise the integrity and performance of my pole.
No matter how physical the game gets, I know the Dragonfly has my back. It quietly handles the abuse while I focus on smothering their offense. And it still maintains the ideal flex and balance through all the action.
That indestructible feel gives me the confidence to play relentlessly aggressive defense. I can go 100% every possession without a second thought about my shaft. When your gear is that rock solid, you become a better player.
Built for the Long Haul
While the Dragonfly performs like a dream right out of the wrapper, its long term durability really shines after you log some miles on the shaft.
Month after grueling month, it retains the same flex profile and feel. Through hundreds of ground balls, checks, and games, aircraft grade aluminum makes sure the shaft stays in the fight. The military-spec alloy treatment ensures no amount of action can bend this beast out of shape.
Considering the abuse a top-tier defense shaft endures over a whole college or pro season, uncompromising reliability is a must. Thankfully the Dragonfly exceeds expectations and keeps on going strong even after a year of battle scars.
Superior Today, Superior Tomorrow
As players and gear improve each year, it’s good to know the Dragonfly will still bring elite performance for seasons to come. While the competition plays catch up, Epoch already perfected the blueprint for unbeatable durability.
Thanks to smart materials choice and engineering, the Dragonfly will be dominating between the pipes long after today’s rookie class graduates. Its resilience ensures you get max value out of one of the best lacrosse shafts ever conceived.
Consider the Dragonfly an investment in your defensive domination for the long run. You’ll reap the benefits of aircraft grade aluminum long after other poles have waved the white flag. Go ahead and put a beating on your Dragonfly – it will beg for more!
Agile and Responsive With Ultra-Lightweight Design
As a lacrosse defenseman, quick feet and active sticks win the day. You need lightning fast agility and responsiveness to lock down dodging offensive players. A pole that’s too heavy in your hands will only slow you down.
That’s why the Epoch Dragonfly continues to revolutionize defense – its ultra-lightweight alloy construction gives you effortless movement and quick-reacting poke checks. At just over 12 ounces, it plays faster and quicker than traditional heavyweight metal and composite poles.
By shaving critical ounces off without losing strength, the Dragonfly promotes the agile footwork and hand speed needed to smother opponents anywhere on the field. You simply can’t move and react as nimbly with a heavy, sluggish shaft.
Dominate the Dodging Game
Here’s how the Dragonfly’s featherlight design gives you a major edge containing and disrupting dodges:
- Faster footwork to mirror and stay in front of dodgers
- Quicker rolls, splits, and change of direction
- Less fatigue means more active defense late in games
- Swifter poke checks and slap checks
- Allows you to play smarter, not harder defense
- Greatly improves your ability to recover from fakes
- Less weight makes it easier to switch hands on checks
At the end of the day, playing lockdown defense is a game of inches and split seconds. The ultra-responsive Dragonfly gives you that split-step advantage to dictate the dodging game on your terms.
Maneuverable Like a Midfielder’s Pole
As a former middie turned defenseman, I love how the Dragonfly retains that maneuverable feel I’m used to. It almost dances in my hands, giving me the dexterity of a smaller pole while still providing necessary defensive stiffness.
No longer do I have to choose between poke check control and ground ball scooping ability. The Dragonfly masterfully balances both, encouraging my best defensive footwork and hand skills.
Quite simply, it’s the first true crossover pole built for the fast-paced athletic demands of the modern game. Epoch designed a pole ideal for defenders who want to play like aggressive and agile midfielders.
Responsive Checks All Day
While ground ball scooping and footwork get easier with a lightweight design, the main benefit is quicker poke check reaction times. You simply can’t deliver the same snappy, disruptive pokes with a heavy d-pole.
The Dragonfly promoted rapid fire checking right from your first session with it. My pokes come off noticeably faster and with more control. My hands and wrists feel bouncy rather than bogged down.
This leads to more mistakes and turnovers from dodgers who can’t handle the supercharged disruption. The Dragonfly is always one step ahead, waiting to pick the ball free.
Why More Poles Will Go Lightweight
Based on the Dragonfly’s wild success, I predict more pole makers will embrace ultra-lightweight designs in the future. The performance benefits are just too significant to ignore.
As offensive players get quicker and dodging techniques more complex, defenders need poles that promote fast reaction times. The Dragonfly points to the future of shutting down offenses with agile, hyper-disruptive defense.
Just like how middie shafts have dropped weight in recent years, expect defensive poles to head in the same high speed, low drag direction. The Dragonfly is just the cutting edge of where defensive gear engineering is headed next.
Customizable Stringing Options With U and V Channels
As a lacrosse player, the way you string your head is a major part of your identity. An offensive player wants a different setup than a lockdown defenseman. Custom stringing lets you tailor the pocket to your position and playing style.
That’s why diehard d-poles love the Epoch Dragonfly shaft – it offers fully customizable stringing via U-channel and V-channel options. You can dial in the exact pocket traits and handling for dominating between the pipes.
The U and V stringing channels allow for personalized pocket depth, hold, and whip. As your game evolves, you can tweak the stringing to match. The Dragonfly puts you completely in control of turning your shaft into an extension of your defensive skill set.
Find Your Ideal Setup
Here are some of the key stringing traits the Dragonfly’s U and V channels let you customize:
- Pocket depth
- Hold
- Whip
- Release speed
- Scooping mechanics
- Quick stick skills
- Check reactions
- Ground ball control
With so many adjustments possible through stringing, you can continually modify your pole setup as your game evolves. Tweak the pocket until you find your defensive stick nirvana!
Own Your Defensive Domain
Owning your defensive domain starts with owning your pole. I love the total control and customization the Dragonfly offers through versatile U and V stringing channels.
Now I can adjust my pocket and handling characteristics on my terms, not just work with what preset factory stringing gives me. The ability to experiement with depth, hold, and release speed helps me dial in the optimal setup.
Thanks to the Dragonfly’s stringing flexibility, I made my pole an extension of my defensive game. My poke checks, ground balls, and clears all improved after finding my ideal pocket configuration.
Crank Up Your Game
Don’t settle for cookie cutter factory stringing – take control and unleash the high performance beast within your Dragonfly!
I realized big gains in my checking accuracy, ball control, and confidence after taking the time to incrementally test different Dragonfly setups. Small tweaks make a big difference.
With the U and V channels, you have unlimited options to crank up your defensive capabilities. Find new levels of disruption, ground ball dominance, and clearing confidence when you customize your stringing.
String It Your Way
The Dragonfly’s U and V channels accommodate any stringing you can imagine. I love seeing how creative players get with these fully customizable pole setups.
String traditional mid/low pockets. Create unique double pockets. Go pinpoint tight. Let your imagination run wild and stand out from the crowd with your own signature stringing flow.
While other players are stuck with stock stringing, you engineer the perfect configuration to complement your defensive game. The Dragonfly empowers you to string it your own way.
Take pride knowing your unique pocket setup gives you an edge over defenders relying on factory stringing. The Dragonfly allows you to redefine what a defensive pocket can achieve.
Canted Scoop for Easier Ground Ball Pickups
In lacrosse, ground balls are a scrappy defender’s best friend. Nothing fires up your team like a ground ball monster dominating possession time.
That’s why the Epoch Dragonfly’s angled scoop is a game-changer for tough nosed d-poles. The canted scoop allows you to get lower and pick up grounders with ease compared to straight scoops.
By improving your ability to vacate balls off the turf, the Dragonfly makes you a ground ball machine. The canted head gives you a leveraged advantage swallowing up loose balls before they even settle.
Scoop and Dominate
Here’s how the angled Dragonfly scoop translates into ground ball dominance:
- Get lower faster to beat opponents to grounders
- Pick up ground balls cleanly instead of bobbling
- Quickly transition from scoop to clear
- Increased control bringing the ball into your stick
- Reduces overrunning ground balls
- Snags high momentum grounders other scoops miss
- Vacuum up grounders like a beast
While straight scoops force you to work harder, the Dragonfly does the dirty work for you. Its canted profile makes winning loose ball battles effortless.
Gear That Promotes Grittiness
I love how the Dragonfly’s angled scoop caters specifically to scrappy defenders. Epoch designed this pole from the ground up with the gritty details of playing lockdown defense in mind.
The canted scoop shows their commitment to building gear that fits a tenacious d-pole’s game. Any advantage in gobbling up ground balls leads directly to more possessions and opportunities for your offense.
Whether it’s on face-offs, caused turnovers, or batting out failed clears, that angled scoop ensures you emerge from scrums with the ball. The Dragonfly helps transform ground balls from a 50/50 proposition into a dominant part of your game.
Owning the Loose Ball Game
As a player who takes pride in outworking opponents for ground balls, the Dragonfly is my ideal partner in crime.
Every game, the canted scoop gives me an edge securing possession when the ball hits the deck. It almost feels like cheating slurping up grounder after grounder.
By getting to more ground balls before my matchup, it puts constant pressure on the opposing offense. I own the loose ball game and force them to play on their heels.
Build a Possession Bully Culture
The canted Dragonfly scoop isn’t just effective on game days – it promotes a possession-focused mentality every practice too.
When your whole defense runs Dragonfly poles, ground balls become an expectation. You build a unit of ground ball bullies who afford your team’s offense extra opportunities to score.
The angled scoops let you institute a scrappy, possession-hungry style of play. Your entire defensive culture shifts to one of ground ball dominance and winning dirty ball battles.
Build bullies on the backline who feed off outworking opponents for ground balls thanks to their Dragonfly advantage. Your defense dictates the possession game.
How the Dragonfly Changed Defenseman Games
As a lacrosse obsessive, it’s rare to see a piece of gear truly transform how a position is played. But that’s exactly what the Epoch Dragonfly shaft did for defensemen in the sport.
This high-tech pole didn’t just offer incremental improvements. It fundamentally changed how defenders could check, scoop, move, and dominate games. The Dragonfly overhauled their capabilities from the ground up.
By combining a flex profile, canted scoop, lightweight design, and customizable stringing, Epoch engineered the blueprint for reinventing defenseman play. The Dragonfly proved lacrosse gear could still evolve in game-changing ways.
Superior Checking Capabilities
The Dragonfly’s flex profile and lightweight build improved poke check disruption exponentially. Defenders could deliver quicker, more accurate checks with added power. Their poke check success rate skyrocketed thanks to the tuned flex loading energy through each poke.
With these newfound checking abilities, the Dragonfly forced offensive players to rethink dodging on defenses anchored by it. The threat of getting the ball jarred free put attackers on their heels.
Dominating Ground Balls
The angled scoop on the Dragonfly let defenders get lower and pick up ground balls easier than ever before. They could gain possession off of checks, face-offs, and loose balls more consistently.
This ground ball dominance afforded their offense more opportunities to score. The canted scoop established defensemen as possession bullies who could single-handedly shift games through scrappy loose ball play.
New Levels of Maneuverability
Traditional poles were tanks – stiff and heavy by nature. But the Dragonfly’s lightweight alloy and strategic flex zones gave defenders a maneuverability never before seen.
They could change direction quicker, react faster, and stick with dodgers like never before. The Dragonfly promoted footwork and hand speed that allowed defenders to mirror talented offensive players.
Custom Tuned Performance
U and V-channel stringing options on the Dragonfly let each player customize their pocket mechanics to fit their game. Defenders could dial in precision setups to enhance checking, scooping, passing, and more.
This custom tunability optimized the Dragonfly’s performance for exactly how each player defended. The ability to engineer your dream pole was a game-changer.
By combining all these advances into one shaft, Epoch transcended traditional pole limitations and propelled defensemen’s play to the next level. The Dragonfly will go down as a landmark innovation that redefined defensive lacrosse capabilities.
Lacrosse’s Most Trusted Name Raises the Bar Again
In the lacrosse world, Epoch burst onto the gear scene just a few years ago. But in that short time they’ve quickly become one of the most trusted and innovative brands for elite players.
Epoch reached the pinnacle so quickly because they never settle for incremental improvements. They focus on total game-changers like the Dragonfly defense shaft that raise performance to unprecedented levels.
Other companies tweak and polish their staple gear. Epoch flips the script and engineer equipment like the Dragonfly that sets new standards for excellence. They aim to shake up the status quo, not maintain it.
Pole Innovation for Modern Athletes
The creators of the Dragonfly realized lacrosse was evolving faster than gear could keep up. They saw elite players’ speed and skills outpacing conventional equipment.
Epoch engineered the Dragonfly from the ground up to give athletes a pole that matched today’s athletic demands. Other poles were constrained by legacy designs rather than a blank slate focused on performance.
By questioning pole conventions, the Dragonfly delivered on innovations like flex profile checking, canted scooping, and customizable stringing. Epoch wasn’t afraid to shatter norms if it elevated players’ game.
Rising Expectations
After the Dragonfly, players’ expectations totally changed for what a lacrosse pole could achieve. Epoch raised the bar so high that “good enough” gear no longer cut it for elite competitors.
Thanks to Epoch, other companies now had to rethink poles from scratch just to compete. The Dragonfly created a rising tide that lifted the entire gear game to new heights.
Rather than benchmark against niche competitors, Epoch was thinking years ahead. The Dragonfly embodied the future of integrated design before others even conceived it.
Innovation That Ups Everyone’s Game
While the Dragonfly caters to defenseman, its impact improved the sport overall. The checking, scooping, and handling advantages it provided on defense forced offensive players to adapt and grow their skills.
In a sense, the Dragonfly’s abilities raised the level of competition. It compelled offense and defense alike to expand their game and unlock new potential.
This rising competitive tide benefited players of all positions – a testament to Epoch’s commitment not just to equipment innovation, but to growing the sport holistically.
Epoch and the Dragonfly remind us that game-changing lacrosse gear still exists. For driven players and brands, there will always be room at the top to take the sport to the next level.
Put More Power Behind Those Checks With the Dragonfly
In lacrosse, a tenacious defense starts with solid poke checks and slaps. As a defender, rattling dodgers with ball-dislodging disruption is your bread and butter.
But not all lacrosse shafts are created equal when it comes delivering checks with real power. Most d-poles feel stiff and static, choking your checking prowess.
That all changed with the Epoch Dragonfly. Its revolutionary flex profile adds snappy power to your poke checks, letting you inflict some serious pain on attackers. The Dragonfly turns your poke into a weapon of mass disruption.
Load Up Energy Through Flex
The Dragonfly flexes on checks then rebounds with purpose, unleashing stored energy at the ideal moment. This flex-and-release sequence becomes a force multiplier for pokes:
- Load power as the shaft flexes back
- Feel the stored energy right before release
- Time the rebound flex to connect with your check
- Deliver the ball-jarring blow as the flex recoils
- Maximize control and point of impact accuracy
With other poles, the check is powered by your hands and wrists alone. The Dragonfly flex adds snappy amplification right when you need it.
Feel the Disruption Amplification
The second I threw my first check with the Dragonfly, I was hooked. You feel the shaft flexxing, gathering energy, then violently uncoiling it through the ball.
Pokes feel snappier and deliver a whip-like explosion on contact. Checks disrupt sticks and jar the ball loose with authority. It’s a night and day difference I never experienced before the Dragonfly.
Once you poke with that extra flex power, you’ll be scheming new ways to unleash it on dodgers. The boost in check force is addicting.
Striking Fear into Attackers
After defenders on my team swapped to Dragonfly poles, our opponents definitely took notice. Suddenly their dodges were getting disrupted left and right by our amped up poking.
The added flex poke power had attackers second guessing driving against us. It delivered a psychological edge on top of better physical defense. The Dragonfly let us dictate entire games through active sticks.
With the Dragonfly’s check stopping mojo in your hands, you take away opponents’ willingness to challenge you. Its poke force field flusters their offense all over the field.
Put the flex profile power of the Dragonfly behind your poke checks and watch dominant defense become second nature. The shaft gives you an built-in edge that attackers won’t forget.
Give Attackmen Fits With This Lockdown Defender
As a lacrosse defenseman, your top priority is making life miserable for opposing attackmen looking to dodge and score. A lockdown D-pole turns confident scorers into frustrated turnover machines.
That’s why the Epoch Dragonfly shaft strikes fear into the hearts of attackers everywhere. This pole gives you the tools to smother dodges, jar balls loose, and generally wreck offensive game plans.
From lightning quick poke checks to unmatched ground ball scooping, the Dragonfly transforms you into a shutdown beast between the pipes. Unleash this weapon and watch attackers quiver.
Flex-Powered Poke Check Barrage
The Dragonfly’s flex profile allows for poke checks with unprecedented disruption force. Load up energy through the flex, then explode it through the attacker’s stick on contact.
That poke check Gatling gun has dodgers hesitant to even start their moves. The threat of your disruptive flex-powered pokes forces them to dodge wider and less aggressively.
Thanks to your poke barrage, attackers think twice about trying to take you 1-on-1. Your fatal poke flex gives them nightmares.
Snagging Ground Balls Like Candy
The Dragonfly’s canted scoop allows you to vacuum up ground balls before desperate attackmen can even react. Winning scrappy ground ball battles makes their life difficult.
When you own the ground ball game, you dictate possession time and tempo. The Dragonfly’s superior loose ball skills let you prolong their torture.
Watch the frustration build as you swallow up grounder after grounder that they have no chance of beating you to.
Maneuvering Like a Midfield Hawk
Traditional d-pole? More like a lumbering dinosaur. The Dragonfly’s lightweight design gives you unmatched foot speed and maneuverability to blanket attackers.
Your nimble agility smothers their dodging angles and hips. There’s no free space for them to operate. You shadow their every move thanks to your midfielder-like mobility.
The Dragonfly lets you take away what attackers want most – room to operate. Stick to them like glue and eliminate any easy looks at the cage.
Start a Defensive Dynasty
Build a legacy of defensive dominance by putting Dragonfly shafts in the hands of your whole back line. Give your squad the tools to evolve into shutdown monsters.
With an arsenal of poking, scooping, and disruption capabilities, your entire defense can play fast, menacing defense together. Dragonfly domination becomes your calling card.
Rise up as an impenetrable unit that attackers simply can’t crack. Let your Dragonfly flex profile and canted scoops fuel a defensive dynasty for years to come.
Why the Dragonfly Belongs in Every Serious Lax Player’s Bag
In my decade coaching lacrosse, few gear innovations impressed me as much as the Epoch Dragonfly shaft. It cemented itself as an essential piece of equipment for any committed player striving to reach the next level.
Simply put, the Dragonfly overdelivers performance gains in all facets of the game. It makes you a better baller, period. This pole belongs in every serious player’s bag who wants to unlock new potential.
Keep reading to understand why this shaft separates the serious players chasing greatness from casual athletes satisfied with mediocrity. The Dragonfly is a true game-changer.
Serious Players Want Serious Results
Casual athletes play for fun and fitness. Serious players have a burning drive to excel and win. The Dragonfly satiates their hunger for results by making them demonstrably better.
It delivers advantages in key areas like poke checks, ground balls, clears, footwork, and handling. You feel yourself leveling up with tangible skills rather than just having the latest gear.
These performance gains matter greatly to serious players. For them, lacrosse revolves around a constant pursuit of improvement – the Dragonfly accelerates that.
Serious Gear for Serious Athletes
Great athletes know great gear amplifies their abilities. The Dragonfly is engineered for committed players who put in the work.
Its flex profile, canted scoop, lightweight build, and tunable stringing reward high effort. Casual athletes won’t tap into everything this elite pole offers.
The Dragonfly gives serious players a tool worthy of their word ethic. Unlock its full potential through dedicated training and reps.
Take Your Game to the Next Level
Serious players always hunt benchmarks to exceed. The Dragonfly provides that next plateau to strive for.
Once you experience the poke check prowess and ground ball ease it provides, a new standard is set. Your previous abilities feel inferior in hindsight.
This constant upward trajectory is what fuels driven athletes. The Dragonfly serves as a gateway to newfound skills and performance thresholds.
Leave Nothing on the Table
Truly committed players never settle and wonder “What if?”. They attack all avenues of improvement.
Owning the Dragonfly ensures you leave nothing on the table when it comes to gear enhancing play. Its across-the-board benefits make it impossible to ignore.
Let the Dragonfly help eliminate doubt and maximize your potential. Its comprehensive performance improvements check every box for tapping your full abilities.
Dominate Between the Pipes With Superior Shaft Technology
Owning the cage starts with owning your pole. As a lacrosse defenseman, your shaft is your Excalibur – the weapon that enables total defensive domination.
But not all poles are created equal when it comes to delivering high-performance technology tailored for lockdown D. Most get stuck in dated designs that hinder your potential.
Enter the Epoch Dragonfly. This groundbreaking shaft leverages cutting-edge tech to provide the ultimate competitive edge between the pipes. Outclass the competition with defense-driven innovation.
A Pole Engineered Just for Disruption
The Dragonfly isn’t just another universal shaft with generic features. Epoch engineered it from the ground up specifically for lights out defense.
The tunable flex profile enables active stick checks with unprecedented control. The canted scoop allows you to vacuum up ground balls with ease. The lightweight alloy construction gives you unmatched footwork speed and quickness.
Every design element focuses on giving lockdown defenders more weapons to deploy. This pole becomes an extension of your defensive prowess.
Superior Materials and Construction
Epoch harnessed tech from leading industries like aerospace and motorsports to build the Dragonfly. This bleeding edge construction ensures elite-level durability and performance.
The flex profile provides precise energy transfer you can’t get from other materials. The aircraft grade alloy offers strength without excess weight. And the shaft geometry delivers quick-reacting handling.
When your defense depends on a pole, you need construction that won’t fail. The Dragonfly delivers thanks to superior materials and machining.
Owning the Evolution of Defense
The creators of the Dragonfly understand how athleticism and strategies evolve positional play. They built a pole to match the changing landscape of defense in the sport.
While others play catch up, the Dragonfly keeps you on the cutting edge of disruption technology with the most responsive checks, confident clears, and complete control. Stay ahead as the game progresses.
Let Epoch do the forward thinking so you can focus on using the shaft to reach your peak. They have the next generation of defense already figured out.
Step Up or Get Left Behind
Don’t let rivals gain a gear edge with superior technology. Bring the innovation advantage to your team with the Dragonfly.
The shaft’s tuned construction makes good defense easier. But more importantly, it empowers great defenders to become elites.
Grab the pole engineered to help you dominate the cage. Don’t settle for “good enough” and get stuck playing catch up. Grab the Dragonfly and step up to the next level today.
Engineer the Perfect Pole: Dragonfly Pro Head & Shaft Combo
As lacrosse players, we obsess over finding the perfect pole setup tuned to our game. But with most equipment, we’re forced to compromise by mixing and matching heads and shafts.
Epoch eliminates the guesswork by offering the Dragonfly Pro package – the signature Dragonfly D-pole shaft paired with the Dragonfly Pro defensive head. It’s the fully integrated elite pole engineered for total domination.
By designing the head and shaft in tandem, Epoch unlocks peak performance. The Dragonfly Pro setup becomes greater than the sum of its parts – a fully optimized weapon to anchor defense.
Custom Built for Disruption
Rather than adapt offensive heads to defense, Epoch crafted the Dragonfly Pro head from square one for impenetrable defense. Its wider profile gives superior ball control while a reinforced sidewall and scoop withstand abuse.
Combined with the flex profile and lightweight responsiveness of the Dragonfly shaft, the Pro head completes the elite defensive package. Shaft and head work in harmony as a singular disruption machine.
Mixing random heads and shafts can’t replicate the integrated advantage of the Dragonfly Pro setup. The shaft brings the transition game, the head brings the lockdown D.
Dialed In from Day One
The Dragonfly Pro combo removes the tedious guesswork involved with traditional mix-and-match setups. Epoch engineers the flex profile and head shape in tandem to complement one another seamlessly.
This precision matching allows the Pro to sing right out of the wrapper. No tweaking or stringing adjustments needed – the performance and feel are dialed from day one.
While your opponents experiment with mismatched poles, gain the advantage of a turnkey setup meticulously designed for disruptive defense.
Adapt and Advance Your Game
The Dragonfly Pro grows with you over a season and your career. Start with a balanced medium setup then tweak stringing and stiffness for your evolving game.
Crank up whip and hold for more active sticks as footwork improves. Dial down pocket depth for quicker ball handling. Modify it as you gain experience.
Having full control over your setup through an integrated pole is a game changer. The Pro allows constant evolution to stay sharp.
Owning Your Defensive Destiny
Take command over your defensive domination by engineering the Dragonfly Pro for your exact game. Achieve defensive stick nirvana on your terms.
Between the proven Pro head shape andCOND RAT the unmatched Dragonfly shaft, you dictate the tactics and style of your lockdown prowess. Own every inch of your defensive domain.
Why settle for generic setups? Engineer the high performance pole that unleashes your untapped potential. Build your dream with the Dragonfly Pro.
Shut Down Scorers & Control the Clears Like a Pro
Owning the middle of the field starts with owning your pole. As a lockdown defenseman, your shaft is the key to stifling dodges and controlling clears.
Most poles fail to deliver the elite level performance needed to Corral scorers and ignite fast breaks. But the Epoch Dragonfly changes the game for dominant defenders.
With the Dragonfly as your weapon, shut down their hottest scorers and initiate picture perfect clears. This pole empowers defenders to control transitions and dictate flow.
Smothering Scorers With Disruptive Checks
The Dragonfly brings unmatched poke check prowess thanks to Epoch’s flex profile technology. Load up energy through the flex, then explode it through your checks for added disruption.
When you can rattle and disarm their most dangerous scorers, their entire offense loses confidence. Take away their top weapons and watch their offense unravel.
The constant poke check threat makes attackmen second guess dodging you one-on-one. Let your poke flex terrify and frustrate them into sloppy play.
Scooping Ground Balls to Ignite Clears
The Dragonfly gives you superior ground ball skills thanks to its canted scoop design. Get lower and gain inside position on grounders before the offense can react.
When you own the ground ball game, you own the transition. Gobble up a grounder and ignite instant fast breaks the other way after caused turnovers.
With the Dragonfly as your outlet, turn scrappy loose ball wins into clears that devastate defenses. Go from shutdown D to starting a break in a flash.
Activating Your Entire Defense
The Dragonfly allows you to play fast, aggressive defense that forces the action and sets the tone. Your active play motivates the whole backline.
When you’re all over attackers and clearing the ball smoothly, your defense feeds off that energy and disruption. The Dragonfly sparks domination across the field.
Rise up as the two-way monster that ignites your team’s lethal transitions. Own the middle and let your active defense demoralize their offense.
Complete the Elite Defender’s Kit
To hit your defensive peak, surround the Dragonfly with complementary lacrosse gear like protective gloves, arm pads, and team bags. Engineer the total package.
With the right supporting gear, the Dragonfly rips poke checks and scoops with reckless abandon. Build out your arsenal and leave nothing on the field.
If your mission is relentlessly aggressive defense and smooth clears, the Dragonfly delivers. Unlock shutdown abilities you never thought possible and control the field.
Gear Up and Get Ready to Anchor Your Team’s Defense
Elite defenders choose their gear carefully. As the anchor of your team’s backline, you need poles and pads designed to withstand the trench warfare of lockdown D.
Most equipment can’t withstand the rigors of dominating the middle of the field possession after possession. Tools that work for casual play fall apart at the highest level.
That’s why hardcore defenders run the Epoch Dragonfly shaft. This high-performance pole brings theelite-level durability, disruption, and skills needed to own your defensive domain for four quarters and beyond.
Strength and Power To Survive the Trenches
The Dragonfly is constructed from industrial grade materials designed for extreme applications. Aircraft aluminum offers hardcore strength at featherweight levels.
This potent alloy composition ensures the shaft withstands endless hacks, slashes, and collisions. Battle after battle, it emerges unscathed and ready for more.
When your team’s defense revolves around you, your gear better hold up. The Dragonfly brings the mil-spec durability to thrive in the trenches.
Own Your Zone With Confidence
The Dragonfly delivers the complete package of checking, scooping, clearing, and footwork that lets you rule your domain with confidence. This pole becomes an extension of your shut-down abilities.
Knowing your equipment empowers your elite play breeds confidence. You play without limitations trusting your Dragonfly to deliver in the clutch every single possession.
Why play tentative defense when your gear gives you every tool needed to dictate play and overwhelm offenses? Let the Dragonfly unleash your disruptive instincts.
Take Your Team’s Defense to New Heights
Anchor your backline and elevate your entire team’s defense to the next level this season. The Dragonfly makes playing air tight, coordinated defense second nature.
As the heart of your defensive unit, your pole sets the tone. When you run the Dragonfly, your active stick and ground ball dominance become contagious.
Establish your defense’s championship pedigree by gearing up with poles built for the highest levels of play. The Dragonfly spearheads smothering, intimidating defense across the field.
Step Into the Anchor Role
Don’t wait for someone else to dictate your defensive destiny. Grab the Dragonfly and own your role as defensive anchor right now.
This shaft unlocks the elite play that ignites top-tier defense. Seize the opportunity and responsibility to shut down offenses and fuel your team.
Gear up with the Dragonfly and step into the anchor role your team needs. Let your pole spearhead a defensive renaissance that takes your squad to new heights.