All the way from stringing to shape to finish we want our sticks to provide players with exceptional feel. In this video Ryan talks about the importance of a tight fit at the connection point where the head meets the handle.
For years we have used sticks that have a loose fit and force you to either apply tape or learn to deal with that annoying rattle. Although it may seem like a minute detail, the fit at the connection point is something that we focused on with the Pioneer™ design. We have noticed that a loose fit not only puts more stress on the plastic but it creates inconsistencies in the release point as well. From our research we noticed that heads with a loose fit have a higher break rate in the throat region, which was most noticeable when catching a hard pass. It puts a heavy load on the plastic surrounding the screw hole causing the plastic to fail.
So, in short, yes the Pioneer™ has a tight fit and does require a bit of elbow grease to get set up properly. However, once its dialed in we believe it will provide a more consistent release and ultimately a better feel. Not to mention, you can forget about that whole tape thing.
