New for 2019 from Warrior is the Ritual V1 line. The V1 line is the successor to the popular CR line, and in it, we see some new technology and materials to boost performance. This year Warrior will be expanding to four different price points, the V1 Pro+, the V1 Pro, the V1 Sr+, and the V1 Sr. Below I will go over the features of the sticks, as well as provide some insight to which model will be the best for you.
The primary construction material of the stick is Minimus Carbon G 1200, an upgrade from the Minimus carbon 1000 used in the CR1. The new carbon has two goals: reduced weight and durability. Warrior’s refinement of the Minimus Carbon material has been noticeable over the years both in the player and goalie categories. Small tweaks can have a major impact, and the G 1200 is the lightest we’ve seen.
VibexLite is Warrior’s vibration dampening technology; it’s a carry-over from the previous Ritual sticks. Due to the construction of composite sticks, uncomfortable vibrations that run through the stick can be quite annoying. VibexLite technology is basically a gel insert within the composite that absorbs the vibration. This insert has been refined over the years does a phenomenal job of dampening puck impacts, making it a favourite at the NHL level.
A redesigned feature for the V1 Pro+ is the SlideGrip technology. Warrior added more surface area to the grip zone allowing for more grip than the previous CR models, while still having the gaps in the grip to ensure no restriction when moving your hand. Again, featured is the slide zone, the clear matte finish, combined with the ribbed texture ensures the fastest sliding possible.
Warrior again sticks with the HiFused Construction. HiFused Construction fuses the paddle and shaft in a perfect location to resist against twisting and create an extremely well-balanced stick.
14K Carbon Weave is a military grade carbon fibre and is a new feature to Warrior goal sticks. By adding 14K to the stick, they have immensely increased the tensile strength. What this means is the stick is more resistant to breaking when under tension.
The V1 Pro+ contains some other smaller features to improve the longevity and performance of the stick. Longevity wise you will see the Impact Fiber Layer used to protect the shaft, and you will see the clear gloss coating covering the paddle to combat chipping. On the performance side of things, we see Warrior once again using TwinSpar paddle reinforcement, engineered to enhance shooting; it reinforces the flex point of the stick, so the stick whips through returning to its original form.
Below will be a little guideline to help you choose the best-suited stick for you.
If money is not an issue, then I would definitely go with the V1 Pro+, being it’s the highest price point for the Ritual sticks it will have the best performance. The stick will provide you with truly elite performance. The stick will be one of the stiffest on the market rivalling pro sticks from other top brands. The build of the stick is extremely solid with the use of Minimus Carbon G 1200 and 14k Carbon Weave throughout the stick. If you are looking for a top of the line performance stick, look no further than the Ritual V1 Pro+.
A slight step down in price is the Ritual V1 Pro. If you’re someone who is not exactly looking to break the bank, while still picking up an elite stick this may be the perfect stick for you. The stick has many of the same features as the V1 Pro+ such as VibexLite, TwinSpar Technology, ImpactFiber Layer, HiFused Construction and SlideGrip Technology. What's missing is the 14K Carbon weave as well as the use of Minimus Carbon G 1200 instead, Minimus Carbon 1000 is used which was seen in the Ritual CR1 in the previous Ritual line. The V1 Pro is a phenomenal stick for being a second price point if your budget is a little shy for the V1 Pro+.
At the next price point is the Ritual V1 SR+, this stick is a great option for those who don't want to drop the money on a pro level stick but would like an upgrade from the entry level stick. The V1 SR+ retains the same pro features seen in the V1 Pro. Although the V1 SR+ uses Minimus Carbon 800 instead of 1000 causing it to come in at a higher weight.
The V1 SR is the entry-level model stick for the Ritual line. Again, the stick has a lot of the pro features seen in the other sticks in this line, although we see Minimus Carbon 600 used again to make the stick slightly heavier as well missing on this stick is the SlideGrip Technology. This stick is a good option for those who don't want to break the bank while purchasing their stick.
