Warrior Ritual V4 Goal Stick Review
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Time to read 5 min
The Warrior Ritual V4 is the latest evolution of one of the most-used goalie sticks in the NHL. With over 24% of NHL goalies opting for a Warrior Ritual stick, it's safe to say Warrior has earned its place as a top-tier choice between the pipes.
With the Ritual V4, Warrior has made a handful of meaningful upgrades — all while maintaining the familiar feel and performance that’s helped make the Ritual line so popular.
Warrior Ritual V4 RTL
Flex Profile
The Ritual V4 features a mid-kick flex profile, giving goalies the ability to easily load the stick and generate power on clears and breakout passes. Compared to other high-end goalie sticks, the V4 sits on the stiffer side — perfect for goalies who are confident stopping rims and making hard passes.
Minimus Carbon 25
The V4 stick is constructed using Minimus Carbon 25, Warrior’s high-performance carbon fiber weave. It’s built to be light, strong, and durable, with a design that resists damage and cracking by reducing fiber crimp and deformation over time.
This helps keep the stick light in your hand, without sacrificing long-term durability or puck feel — a tough balance that Warrior continues to dial in well.
Asymmetrical Shaft Geometry (ASG)
One of the most unique features on the V4 is Warrior’s Asymmetrical Shaft Geometry — also known as ASG . Toward the top of the shaft, the stick transitions into a rounded triangular shape. This subtle design tweak boosts control, accuracy, and leverage for your bottom hand, and adds noticeable durability when absorbing high-impact shots.
Personally, I really like how this shaft feels when playing the puck — my glove wraps around it more naturally, and it gives me a bit more control when gripping and ripping a pass.
Vibex Technology
Vibex is Warrior’s internal vibration dampening system. It absorbs impact and reduces the amount of feedback you feel from puck contact, helping goalies control rebounds and make clean saves without excess rattle in the hands.
This is one of the key reasons behind the V4’s popularity. Whether you’re taking a shot off the blade or the paddle, the Vibex tech helps deaden the impact and keep your grip steady.
Hi-Fused Construction
Warrior uses Hi-Fused Construction to give the V4 a well-balanced feel. The result is a stick that moves naturally during blocker saves and poke checks, with a smooth swing that doesn’t feel blade-heavy or awkward in motion.
TwinSpar Paddle + Blade Reinforcement
The TwinSpar design strengthens the paddle and blade with internal supports. This added reinforcement improves the stability of the stick on hard passes and shot blocks, giving you a consistent feel and better control when reacting to unpredictable puck movement.
Slide Grip
One of the more subtle but appreciated features on the Ritual V4 is Warrior’s Slide Grip. Designed to give goalies traction in their stance while still allowing easy movement, Slide Grip combines a lightly textured feel with targeted grip zones. The result is a stick that feels locked-in when you need it — like when holding your stance — but still allows your blocker hand to slide smoothly up the shaft for poke checks or puck plays. It’s a nice balance between control and mobility, and it feels especially natural when moving around the crease.
Warrior Ritual V4 Weight
We weighed each V4 goal stick in store using a 25" paddle to compare each model.
Ritual V4 RTL
The V4 RTL model weighed in 615 grams, making it a great, lightweight option. While not the lightest stick on teh market, Warrior has a strong reputation for durability and I am confident in the Ritual V4 RTL to hold up.
Ritual V4 Pro
The Ritual V4 Pro weighed in a 646 grams, comparable with most other goalie sticks at a similar price point. At 646 grams, the stick is still relatively lightweight and comfortable to hold.
Ritual V4 Senior
The base Ritual V4 senior model weighed in at 716 grams, tying for the heaviest goalie stick in our store. This stick can still be a great, budget-friendly option for goalies who prefer Warrior sticks.
Warrior Ritual V4 Models
Ritual V4 RTL
The Ritual V4 RTL is Warrior’s top-tier model, featuring the best blend of weight, feel, and tech. It’s the lightest stick in the lineup and offers a noticeable step up in balance and responsiveness over the previous V3 model.
Ritual V4 Pro
The Ritual V4 Pro features nearly identical tech to the RTL — including ASG shaft geometry, Vibex vibration dampening, and Slide Grip — but comes in roughly 30 grams heavier . The main difference lies in the materials, with the Pro using a slightly lower-grade carbon fiber compared to the RTL.
Ritual V4 Senior
The base Ritual V4 model is a great entry-level option that still incorporates key Warrior tech like ASG and Vibex , but skips features like the textured Slide Grip. It’s also considerably heavier, weighing around 70 grams more than the Pro , which is noticeable in the hand. Still, for goalies on a budget, it delivers solid performance and value.
Overall Thoughts
Impressions
Right out of the gate, I was impressed by how light and well-balanced the Ritual V4 RTL felt. It meets the expectations for a top-end composite stick, and the balance made it easy to control throughout a full session. I’m also a fan of the matte finish — it offers a consistent feel and helps my blocker hand move smoothly when needed. The Slide Grip adds a tactile feel in the right spots, without getting in the way of puck handling.
Testing
When testing, I noticed that the stick had a stiffer profile than some competitors. That said, the mid-kick flex made it easy to load power into breakout passes, and I found it offered excellent consistency in both power and accuracy. The ASG shaft geometry likely plays a big part in that accuracy, providing great bottom-hand control when playing the puck.
Who is This Stick For?
The Warrior Ritual V4 is ideal for goalies who want a lightweight, durable stick with a stiffer flex profile. It’s a strong choice for those who frequently play the puck and need consistent performance on stopping rims and making short passes. If you value a controlled, connected feel in the hand with a bit more stiffness than most elite sticks, the V4 delivers on all fronts.
Final Thoughts
The Warrior Ritual V4 is a smart and well-rounded evolution of an already trusted line. It improves on durability, feel, and control while keeping the weight competitive and the performance consistent. With features like ASG shaft geometry, Slide Grip, and Vibex, it’s easy to see why Warrior remains a go-to for so many elite-level goalies.
Whether you’re a long-time Warrior user or considering a switch, the V4 is absolutely worth testing out. It plays confidently, controls pucks cleanly, and gives you the tools to make the puck-handling part of your game a real strength.
