2019 Warrior Alpha DX Hockey Stick Review
The Warrior Alpha DX was built for the player who can score from anywhere.
New for 2019, the Elite level Warrior Alpha DX Grip Senior Hockey Stick is a forgivable, quick release hockey stick. Warrior has incorporated 4 technologies into this year's Alpha stick; Sabre Taper, FuelCore Blade, Minimus Carbon 1400, and True 1 Phantom Feel. All of this wrapped into one stick makes this one of Warrior’s most responsive and lightweight sticks to date.
Warrior VIP Program - I am not one of hockey’s most elite shooters, but I was able to get an early release of the DX stick courtesy of Warrior’s VIP program and I’ll mix in some first-hand thoughts. The Warrior VIP program is a phenomenal offering from Warrior and does a terrific job creating buzz and building loyal customers. Be sure to check the program out for prior to Warrior’s next launch to take advantage.
Dynamic Strike
Scoring goals is what the Alpha DX is all about. It’s always nice when I can make a bit of sense out of a model’s name and in this case we can. DX represents the ‘Dynamic Strike’ characteristics built into the stick and the type of performance you can expect on the ice. The idea is that the stick is built such that it allows players to score from anywhere in any situation.
Sabre Taper
Let’s start with the Sabre Taper shaft technology. We live in a period where the majority of NHL players grew up using a composite stick, and we’ve seen a transition in how the most elite snipers shoot the puck. They know they can let the stick do the work for them and they want a stick that’s responsive.
Balanced Mid-Low Flex Profile
The Sabre Taper is a mid-low kick flex profile to create this responsive easy loading feel. What makes the Alpha line different than the low kick Covert line is the torsional stiffness of the taper. The Sabre Taper’s geometry prevents the shaft from twisting during shots, which shaves off a bit of pop, but adds some power to the release.
Pinpoint Accuracy
For backdoor one-timers and off-balance snapshots the taper stiffness helps improve accuracy. The blade doesn’t twist at impact so you can feel better about picking the short side corner. What makes the mid-low kick profile so great is that you can just as easily rifle a rising snapper from the point as you walk the blue line to find a shooting lane. Having this extra power from a long range is something I typically miss when using a true low kick stick.
FuelCore Blade
Having tried the Alpha QX - and listening to feedback from our customers - one of the common observations was that the QX blade had a softened feel. For a true mid-kick stick you do want that softened blade to maximize power, but for quick snapshots, you lose some pop. Warrior found that with a mid-low kick like the DX it’s better to stiffen the blade a bit and that’s exactly what they did with their FuelCore blade.
Enhanced Durability
The FuelCore blade has typical characteristics we would expect from the mid-low stick - soft enough to enhance puck feel without sacrificing pop for quick release shots. The core is a lightweight polymer that provides awesome puck feel. Composite layering wraps the core to stiffen the blade and enhance durability.
Outstanding Playability
I’m certainly not an expert in carbon layering and I barely know what a polymer is - but what I do know is that the DX blade is much improved over the QX. Puck feel when passing and stickhandling feels terrific and the pop is outstanding with all types of shots. I’ve used the stick about 15 ice times at this point and haven’t noticed any dropoff in pop - which is a huge bonus.
Ergo Shaft Shape
Grip and shaft shape is a huge factor for me when choosing a stick. The DX has what Warrior calls an Ergo shaft design. It’s basically a dog bone shaped profile with concave sidewalls and rounded corners. Typically I prefer a more boxy feel, but the DX found a solid balance where I didn’t feel like the shaft was twisting in my hands.
Apex Grip Texture
Part II is the Apex grip texture. The DX has raised ribs along the shaft to secure your hands without limiting mobility. Overall, the tackiness of the grip version was on the lower end for me. If you like a super tacky finish you might have to candy cane the stick a bit. But if you’re a fan of mild grip then this is a great option. Also, Warrior is offering the DX in a clear finish which these days has become a rarity.
Minimus Carbon 1400D and True 1 Phantom Feel
High-quality carbon composites and a true 1-piece construction have become standard for Warriors elite performance sticks. At this point, we just have to let the technology speak for itself. The Minimus Carbon 1400D is lightweight and responsive and the True 1 Phantom Feel simply means the stick is built from butt end to toe. These are good things.
The Alpha DX - An NHL Favourite
Many NHL players have been using the DX for quite some time. Superstars like Leon Draisaitl, Mark Scheifele, and recent Conn Smythe and Stanley Cup winner Ryan O’Reilly have all been spotted rifling home pucks with the DX. With its comfortable performance and versatility, I think we’ll see tonnes of the DX sticks in NHL hands next season.
Final Thoughts
When choosing a stick it is important to consider your shooting and playing style. If you’re sniping from the slot exclusively then a low-kick like the Covert QRE Fantom is for you. But, if you like to mix in some long-range shots and need a velocity boost to beat the goalie then the mid-low kick will give you that shot versatility. Overall, the DX is a terrific offering from Warrior and is worth taking for a spin. I think the majority of players will fall in love with this stick.
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