STX Forward Cant

While the name may appear a little vague, STX Forward Cant is designed to give you a quicker and earlier release of the ball when throwing or shooting.

The word Cant means "a slope or tilt" and as you can see from the photo below, the sidewalls designed with STX Forward Cant tilt from the shaft.

The initial backward tilt of the STX Forward Cant is designed to increase the trajectory of your passes. This means you don't have to take your stick back as far when passing. Less wind up means you pass the ball sooner, thus a quicker release.

But where the technology gets its name is half way up the sidewalls where the lacrosse head tilts forward. The forward cant keeps the ball in the head a bit longer when passing or shooting. Instead of the ball following the offset, it's redirected to the front of the head, giving a slight whip and a little extra speed.

This is different to offset lacrosse heads where the sidewalls extend from the shaft at a slightly lower position. Originally, a lacrosse head would extend directly out from the shaft and not deviate. These type of heads are called onset lacrosse heads.

The STX Forward Cant is also designed to give you better ball feel. The theory behind this is similar to offset heads, even though the technologies are different. Due to the tilted head, the ball in your pocket will sit marginally further away from the plane of the shaft, so when you're cradling you'll place more force on the ball into the pocket. If you're familiar with centrifugal forces you'll know what I mean. The extra force means extra weight, thus better feel.

In terms of innovation, the STX Forward Cant is a great step forward. Lacrosse is a game of inches and any small advantage you can get can make all the difference.