The Ultimate Stringking Metal 2 Lacrosse Shaft Review and Buying Guide

The Ultimate Stringking Metal 2 Lacrosse Shaft Review and Buying Guide

An Overview of the Stringking Metal 2 Lacrosse Shaft

The Stringking Metal 2 lacrosse shaft has quickly become one of the most popular shaft options for elite lacrosse players across all levels. First released in 2018, the Metal 2 took the best features of the original Metal shaft and made improvements to create an incredibly lightweight yet durable carbon fiber shaft optimized for handling, throwing power, and ball control.

Some key things to know about the Metal 2 shaft right off the bat – it comes in a range of flex options to suit all player types and positions, has an innovative multi-shape geometry for added stability and ball control, and utilizes Stringking’s signature matte grip which provides an ideal tacky feel that performs in all weather conditions. The Metal 2 also incorporates strategic string holes and an End Cap 2 end piece designed to optimize pocket function and act as a ball stop.

At just 145 grams total weight, the Metal 2 lives up to its name of being an ultra lightweight shaft, made possible through its 12K carbon fiber construction layup. This keeps the weight low without compromising on stiffness and strength for optimal energy transfer and durability. Many players immediately notice how lightweight yet sturdy the Metal 2 feels in their hands.

When it comes to styling, the Metal 2 keeps the understated, minimalist look that Stringking shafts are known for. The simple matte design lets the performance features shine rather than flashy graphics. For players seeking the ultimate combination of lightweight feel, pinpoint accuracy, and reliability from a high-end carbon fiber lacrosse shaft, the Metal 2 is an excellent choice to consider.

Key Features and Benefits of the Metal 2 Shaft

The Stringking Metal 2 stands out for several innovative features that optimize its performance for elite lacrosse players. Understanding these key technologies and design elements will help players appreciate the engineering that went into this shaft.

One of the most unique features of the Metal 2 is the Multi-Shape geometry used in its construction. This refers to the cross-section design that transitions from an octagonal shape in the upper hand area to a concave rounded shape down low. The octagonal upper area provides 8 points of contact for increased stability when cradling, passing, and shooting, helping to prevent unwanted shaft rotation. The rounded lower section is optimized for clearing checks and absorbing impacts. Together, these two zones give players the best of both worlds – exceptional ball control up top, and smooth handling down low.

The Metal 2 incorporates Stringking’s signature matte grip, using a polyurethane material with a tactile feel. This grip performs well in all weather conditions, providing plenty of tackiness for secure handling without getting overly sticky in humid or wet environments. Players love the grippy yet smooth feel that allows the shaft to rotate in the fingers while retaining control. The grip maintains its quality over time much better than many shafts that use a painted on coating.

Strategically placed stringing holes allow for optimal pocket function on the Metal 2. The top string holes sit flush with the inside upper corners, keeping mesh and leathers hugged tight to the shaft wall for excellent ball retention while throwing. The sidewall holes are slightly beveled to reduce friction on shooters. At the base, the End Cap 2 provides a smooth curved stop to keep the ball in the pocket on shots while allowing easy ball extraction while cradling.

By optimizing the flex profile and carbon layering, Stringking engineers made the Metal 2 incredibly stiff for maximum energy transfer and durability, while keeping the weight extremely low. The U shaped carbon layers wrap around the corners for heightened strength while the 12K carbon fiber weave material contributes to the light yet stiff feel players love. At just 145 grams total, the Metal 2 plays like an extension of your hands.

Comparison to Other Stringking Shafts

With Stringking offering several excellent shaft options, players may wonder how the Metal 2 compares to the other top models in Stringking’s lineup. Looking at the key specs and features of each shaft helps identify the ideal user for each.

The Metal 2 stands out as Stringking’s premium ultra lightweight carbon fiber shaft option. It weighs in at just 145 grams, compared to 159 grams for the Mark 2D and 175 grams for the Mark 1. The incredibly low weight comes from the 12K carbon used on the Metal 2. In terms of handling, it provides the most balanced, smooth feel of Stringking’s shafts.

The Mark 2D is the latest update to Stringking’s original Mark 2 release. It uses a combination of 12K and 24K carbon fibers to deliver an intermediate weight shaft with a slightly stiffer flex profile that’s ideal for defenders. The Mark 2D promotes quick, snappy passes and checks. Offensively, it provides good power on shots.

The Mark 1 is Stringking’s stiffest shaft, utilizing rugged 35K carbon fiber to deliver an exceptionally rigid feel and deliver maximum torque for powerful checks and shots, while still weighing only 175 grams. It’s designed for aggressive, hard-nosed players who want ultimate stiffness without excess weight.

In terms of styling, the Metal 2 sports Stringking’s familiar matte, minimalist look with a glossy Mode logo. The Mark 2D has a matte texture with a raised, ribbed effect for additional grip. The Mark 1 has a shinier gloss finish with bold graphics befitting its nature as Stringking’s “power” shaft.

While all three shafts are made with great attention to detail and premium quality, the Metal 2 stands apart with its ultra lightweight 12K carbon construction. For players that prioritize lightweight feel and handling for quick, accurate passes and shots, the Metal 2 is the top choice.

Ideal Player Types for the Metal 2

With its lightweight 12K carbon fiber construction and emphasis on quick handling and accuracy, the Stringking Metal 2 lacrosse shaft is ideally suited for certain player types and positions.

For offensive players that rely on speed, quick sticks, and pinpoint passing, the Metal 2 is an excellent choice. Attackmen and midfielders who want every extra ounce of quickness in their sticks will love the ultra lightweight feel. The Multi-Shape geometry provides a stable platform for tight cradling and precision passing on the run. The smooth handling and balanced flex profile promote quick release shots with accuracy.

Younger players can also benefit greatly from the Metal 2, as the lightweight build makes it easier for youth players to handle the shaft smoothly. The octagonal upper section promotes proper cradling technique by preventing unwanted shaft rotation during carries. The minimalist matte styling is also popular with younger lacrosse athletes.

Since controlling the Metal 2 requires less strength and energy, it can help players focus on developing proper technique rather than muscling passes and shots. The shaft practically disappears in your hands, becoming an extension of your arms. This allows players to perfect the nuances of cradling, passing, catching, and shooting.

While suited for offensive players first and foremost, the Metal 2 can also work for defenders looking for a lightweight yet stiff shaft for checking. It provides enough stiffness and durability to deliver solid pokes and slashes while maintaining its quick release speed and smooth handling. The grip and shape help retain control when checking.

Goaltenders can also appreciate the Metal 2, as the lightweight feel helps them make rapid stick movements to track shots and clear the ball accurately upfield. The stability is excellent for outlet passes.

Across all positions, lacrosse players that want the lightest possible feel without sacrificing performance will find their perfect match in the Metal 2 shaft from Stringking.

Shaft Flex and Stiffness Options

One of the great benefits of the Stringking Metal 2 is that it comes in multiple flex options to suit players across positions and styles. Stringking offers the Metal 2 in Soft, Medium, and Stiff flex ratings to give players flexibility in fine tuning the feel and performance.

The Soft flex Metal 2 provides the most bend and whip, optimized for offensive players that take a high volume of shots and value maximum ball velocity. Attackmen, middies, and offensive minded defenders will appreciate how the Soft Metal 2 unloads powerful shots with excellent rebound after flexing. It offers the most “give” when cradling to absorb checks.

For players that want a blend of stiffness for passing and shooting power along with some bend and flex, the Medium Metal 2 hits the sweet spot. It offers a moderately stiff feel and an intermediate level of ball speed and rebound off shots. Midfielders who play both offense and defense often favor the Medium, as do multipurpose defenders. This flex provides the best blend of control and velocity.

Players who tend to take lower volume shots and value precision passing and poke checking will love the Stiff rating Metal 2. Long stick middies, close defenders, and face-off specialists gravitate towards the Stiff for its exceptional stiffness and precision when passing, checking, and shooting. It provides accuracy and great feel on shots, passes, and checks alike.

Many elite players actually prefer to play with a Soft or Medium for field play, along with a Stiff as a backup for heavy shooting situations like man up or sudden victory. The ability to swap shafts to fine tune the flex and feel is one advantage of the Metal 2’s modular design.

No matter your position or style, the right blend of flex and response can be found in the Metal 2 lineup. Stringking took great care to offer stiffness options to suit all types of lacrosse athletes.

Weight and Balance of the Metal 2

One of the standout features of the Stringking Metal 2 that contributes to its popularity is the incredibly lightweight feel in the hands. Weighing in at just 145 grams, it is one of the lightest composite lacrosse shafts on the market.

The lightweight build comes from the 12K carbon fiber material used in the construction of the shaft. 12K carbon is an ultra high modulus carbon fiber known for itsexceptional strength-to-weight ratio. By strategically layering the carbon sheets, Stringking engineered a shaft that feels almost weightless yet remains stiff and strong.

By getting the shaft weight under 150 grams, Stringking achieved a true featherlight feel that allows players to whip their sticks with minimal fatigue. The lighter swing weight makes it easier for players to quickly change direction for dodging, keep their sticks moving for protecting the ball, and unleash faster shots.

Despite its lightweight design, the Metal 2 retains a solid, balanced feel thanks to the symmetrical geometry and strategic carbon layering. There are no oddly distributed weight points that lead to an imbalanced swing weight. It provides the positive of minimal mass without the drawback of a nose heavy or butt heavy feel.

The octagonal upper section promotes a centered feel in the top hand for confidence during cradling and passing. The smooth, rounded lower shape balances cleanly in the bottom hand. Together, these elements come together to yield a shaft with stunningly light yet balanced dynamism.

For players looking to experience the performance edge that comes from minimizing mass while maintaining balance and control, the Metal 2 hits the mark. The ultra lightweight 12K carbon construction leads to quicker hands, faster shots, and reduced fatigue through four quarters of play.

Durability and Strength

While designed as an ultra lightweight shaft, the Stringking Metal 2 also delivers excellent durability thanks to its high-grade carbon fiber construction and reinforced design elements.

The 12K carbon fiber material itself provides a strong foundation, as the long carbon fiber strands woven together offer impressive strength-to-weight characteristics. 12K carbon rates as an ultra high modulus fiber, considered the highest quality and performance variant of carbon fiber.

Stringking strategically lays up the carbon sheets to reinforce the areas most susceptible to checks, slashes, and impacts. The U-shaped wraps around the corners stiffen the sidewalls to resist warping or denting. Additional carbon at the throat protects against face-off damage.

The End Cap 2 strung hole plug provides a solid base that absorbs ball and ground impacts while stopping the ball cleanly on shots. The curved shape deflects glancing blows whether you’re clearing through traffic or diving for a ground ball.

The Multi-Shape geometry also contributes to durability by transitioning from the octagonal upper section to the smooth rounded lower area. The flatwalls up top resist twisting forces while the rounded walls down low allow the shaft to flex and absorb hard checks.

Field tested by elite lacrosse athletes, the Metal 2 holds up impressively even under rugged play. While no shaft lasts forever, players report the Metal 2 shows minimal wear even after extensive use. For those looking for a lightweight yet resilient shaft, the Metal 2 checks all the boxes.

Grip and Throwing Feel

One of the standout features of Stringking shafts is the excellent grip, which provides ideal tackiness and tactile feel for confident handling in all conditions. The Metal 2 lacrosse shaft incorporates the brand’s signature grip material and texture.

The grip uses a polyurethane material applied directly onto the shaft, rather than a painted-on coating that can wear over time. This matte grip offers impressive tack and friction to ensure the shaft won’t easily rotate or slip in the hands during play.

While grippy, the texture doesn’t get overly sticky like some rubber grips. Even in rainy or humid conditions, the grip retains a positive feel without bogging down in the fingers. Goalies appreciate the ability to swiftly rotate the stick while retaining control.

The grip features lightly textured contours that promote consistent hand placement for confident cradling, passing, and shooting. Small bumps and ridges help index the fingers and reinforce proper hand position time after time.

Many players love the minimalist look and feel of the matte grip. The understated texture provides function without flashy cosmetic effects. The grip extends fully from end to end, maximizing contact points for the top and bottom hands.

For players that rely on positive grip for accurate passing and shooting, the Metal 2 delivers excellent control and tactile feedback. The grip transitions smoothly to the shaft walls, promoting easy swiveling in the fingers to reposition the pocket. Throwing feels intuitive with no sharp edges digging into the hands.

Pocket and Ball Control

In addition to its lightweight feel and smooth handling, the Stringking Metal 2 also provides excellent ball control and pocket performance thanks to its strategically designed stringing system.

The top string holes are precision drilled to sit flush with the upper inside corners of the head. This allows mesh and leathers to hug tight to the walls for excellent ball retention during passing, catching, and shooting motions.

The sidewall string holes use a beveled edge to minimize friction on shooters as they release from the pocket. This promotes smooth, consistent shot velocity and ball spin out of the pocket.

The End Cap 2 strung hole plug provides the ideal curved shape to cradle shots cleanly while keeping the ball in the pocket. It acts as a smooth ball stop down low in the head while clearing cleanly on ground balls.

The grip extends nearly to the throat of the head, allowing players to choke up for added whip and control on shots and passes. The octagonal upper section minimizes unwanted rotation for confident cradling through traffic.

During playtests, players consistently reported excellent ball control and shot performance from pockets strung on the Metal 2. The pocket breaks in evenly for consistent shooting and throwing over time. Ground balls are cleanly funneled into the pocket off exceptional scooping.

For midfielders, attackmen, and offensive minded players that value ball retention, crisp passing, and pinpoint shooting, the Metal 2 delivers the goods. The pocket performance matches the smooth handling for complete offensive prowess.

Styles and Lengths Available

The Stringking Metal 2 lacrosse shaft comes in a range of lengths, colors, and customization options to suit players. Currently, it’s offered in attack, midfield, and defense lengths to fit players across positions.

For attack, the Metal 2 comes in 30″, 42″, and 60″ lengths. Attackers focused on quick sticks and tight dodges prefer the 30″ length. The 42″ and 60″ lengths work for attackmen that play deeper and farther from the goal.

In the midfield, players can choose from 60″, 72″, and 90″ lengths. The 60″ and 72″ shafts work for players that stay between the boxes, while longer stick middies and faceoff players opt for the 90″. The 90″ length also suits close defenders focused on pokes and checks.

For defenders, 60″, 72″, and 90″ lengths are offered. Long stick middies use the longer options, while close defenders tend to like 72″ for mobility and poke checks.

In terms of color, the Metal 2 comes in a slick Matte Black finish. For players that want to customize their look, Stringking offers an additional 10 grip colors that can be interchanged by sliding on a new grip sleeve.

With multiple lengths dialed to common player positions and the option to customize colors, players can get the exact Metal 2 configuration that suits their style and role on the field.

Pros and Cons of the Metal 2

As with any piece of lacrosse gear, the Stringking Metal 2 has both advantages and downsides to weigh. Looking at the key pros and cons helps identify if this shaft is the right choice.

On the positive side, the incredibly lightweight 12K carbon fiber construction leads the list of pros. The low 145 gram mass makes the Metal 2 a standout for quick handling and fast shots.

The Multi-Shape geometry adds stability up top while smoothing out handling down low. The grip provides excellent tactile feel in all conditions for confident cradling and passing.

Multiple flex options in Soft, Medium, and Stiff allow players to fine tune the best blend of flex and response. The pocket stringing optimizes ball control and retention on passes, catches, and shots.

In terms of downsides, the biggest knock is the premium price tag. As a top-tier carbon fiber shaft, the Metal 2 retails for $150 or more. For players on a tight budget, it represents a significant investment.

While durable, it can’t match metal alloys for sheer ruggedness in the sidewalls. Some defenders may find the handling too smooth and prefer a grippier texture.

Overall, for players seeking the pinnacle of lightweight carbon fiber performance, the Metal 2 provides an exceptional on-field experience. While not cheap, it competes well with other elite composites at the top end of the market. The pros seem to outweigh the cons for most players.

How the Metal 2 Compares to Competitor Shafts

The lightweight carbon fiber lacrosse shaft market is competitive, with brands like Maverik, Epoch, and Warrior also offering premium composite shafts. So how does the Stringking Metal 2 compare to the top models from other brands?

Against the Maverik Hyperlite shaft, the Metal 2 has a slight weight advantage at 145 grams versus 150 grams for the Hyperlite. Both offer ultra lightweight performance but the Metal 2 ekes out the lowest mass. It also has a slightly smoother feel in the hands versus the grippy Hyperlite.

Compared to the Epoch Dragonfly line, the Metal 2 has very similar featherweight mass but is a bit stiffer and more rigid. Epoch offers more flex options but some players find the Dragonfly shafts almost too flexy. The Metal 2 strikes a great balance of responsive bend and stability.

Versus Warrior shafts like the Burn and Aero, the Metal 2 excels in the pocket and stringing system design for better ball control and consistency. It also has a more neutral, balanced feel compared to the biased handles on Warrior models.

Across the board, the Metal 2 holds its own against the top composite shafts from other elite manufacturers. Given Stringking’s dedication to research and testing with pro players, it’s built to compete head to head with any brand. For players able to demo different shafts, the Metal 2 is definitely one that deserves consideration.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Metal 2

For players considering the Stringking Metal 2, there are a few common questions that arise. Here are answers to some of the FAQs about this shaft.

What is the warranty period? Stringking offers a 1-year warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship. Normal wear and tear from use is not covered. But this protection ensures you get a full season of play without material issues.

Can I customize the graphics? While the default color is Matte Black, you can customize the look by buying different grip sleeves from Stringking. There are 10 grip colors to mix and match.

What head compatibility does it have? It fits universal heads with a tapered shape. Specific heads with a straight, uniform taper like the Stringking Mark 2F work optimally, but any pinched head will fit fine.

Does Stringking offer shafts for goalies? Yes, they offer a goalie-specific Composite Pro shaft in 60″ and 72″ lengths optimized for goal sticks.

How do I choose the right flex? Soft benefits shooters wanting max whip, Medium is great all-around, and Stiff is ideal for elite passers and defenders. Try out different flexes to see what feels best for your game.

At around $150, the Stringking Metal 2 represents an investment. But for players seeking the lightest, best handling composite shaft, it delivers excellent performance from a proven brand.