F.A.Q.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Warranty?
A: Please see the Warranty page.
Q: Return Policy: If I buy online at Hammer Lacrosse.com what is the return policy?
A: Hammer has a 30-day return policy on all unused, undamaged equipment.
Q: If I buy from an Authorized Hammer Dealer and I have a problem with my Hammer shaft what should I do?
A: Contact us at www.customerservice@hammerlacrosse.com to discuss the issue.
Q: Normal Wear and Tear: Are surface cracks and chips covered under warranty?
A: Surface cracks, chips and bruises are normal for composite shafts, just like dents in alloy shafts; they are not covered under warranty. We hear all the time from players that their stick actually plays better the more beat up it gets, they just tape up the battle scars and play on.
Q: What’s the difference between the AX3045, AX3045-K and the Ao30-K?
A1: The 30” men’s AX3045 has a Carbon/Kevlar shell which has great flex and quick response but is simply not durable enough for aggressive full contact play. It features a T300 35x45mil carbon “X” internal spar configuration which is great for Attack but not durable enough for middie/defense.
A2: The 30” men’s AX3045-K has an all-Kevlar shall which is 80% more impact resistant than its Carbon/Kevlar sibling. It also features an upgraded T700 35x45mil carbon “X” internal spar configuration which is 44% stronger but still tuned for Attack. It has a great feel, speed and control but if used heavily for defense, repeated off-access impacts can weaken the spars and cause eventual failure.
A3: The 30” men’s Ao30-K has an all-Kevlar shell with tapered T700 carbon tube internal spar, engineered for maximum durability and performance. This Middie/Attack/box shaft is engineered for full field performance. Extensive player testing has approved the Ao30 to replace the AX3045.
Q: Kinetic Linking: We got a call from a coach recently with a very good question. He said his two top players use Hammer shafts and they throw so much harder and with better accuracy than the rest of their teammates. He said he has been really studying them trying to figure it out, is it them or is it the shaft?
A: It’s the result of kinetic linking, the perfect flow of energy through the entire body; the shaft has a highly engineered biomechanically correct flex that allows the athlete’s body to move naturally, they no longer have to compensate for a rigid shaft. The flex is the complex result of a system of components working together, it’s not just a simple rigid tube, also the more play time it gets the better it tunes to your style of play, and players regularly report that the more beat-up it gets, the better it plays. It’s a paradigm shift in performance for all skill levels.
Q: Why Kevlar?
A: Kevlar provides durability and flex, carbon does not. Carbon and fiberglass composites become brittle, while aramids like Kevlar and Zylon have the unique ability to remain inherently flexible and fibrous in the melded state. The aramid ballistic fabric shell behaves like a fibrous muscle, providing flex and strength.
Q: Is the Kevlar shaft unbreakable?
A: No, you can break ANY shaft over your knee. Our test facility is full of broken alloy, and composite shafts. We use Kevlar because in the final composite form it remains flexible unlike carbon or fiberglass. Also it’s very durable, surface cracks, chips and dents don’t diminish the shaft’s performance.
Q: Do they come in different colors?
A: We no longer produce Hammer shafts in team colors, we learned that the coloring agents change the performance of the Kevlar. So now the sticks are only available in the natural Kevlar and Zylon color. Players buy Hammer for performance, so it hasn’t really been an issue.
Q: Why did you discontinue the Carbon/Kevlar hybrid weave on men’s shafts?
A: The carbon in the shell is brittle and does not stand up to full contact play. The carbon fractures and eventually gives in.
Q: How does the Hammer shaft behave when it breaks?
A: The Hammer shaft is engineered to fail safe. The ballistic fabric shell coupled with the carbon-spar laminated structural foam core fails safe, when pushed to the point of failure, it safely folds like a stiff rubber hose. Breakage due to over-bending is not covered by warranty.
Q: How do Hammer shafts compare to other sticks?
A: The Hammer shaft has highly engineered biomechanically correct flex; we invite you to visit the player reviews for actual player feedback. The PowerShaft is a tuned system of carefully engineered components working together. It starts with a seamless, biaxial-weave, ballistic aramid (Kevlar, Zylon) fiber shell that is pressure infused with high-impact epoxy. Unlike carbon and fiberglass composites, which become brittle, aramids have the unique ability to remain inherently flexible and fibrous in the melded state. The aramid ballistic fabric shell behaves like a fibrous muscle, providing flex and strength. The integrated core of the PowerShaft consists of laminated, aerospace-grade, T700 high-modulus carbon fiber spars, fused with a custom engineered micro-honeycomb shock and vibration damping structural foam. The combination of these components, working together as a system, delivers a biomechanically correct flex that is engineered to uniquely scale with athletic ability. The Hammer shaft utilizes the same complex design principles that reshaped tennis, golf, and skiing. Hammer’s Ultraflex power control technology delivers a paradigm shift in performance and safety. The vibration-damping PowerCore (Dynamic Recoil System) provides unrivaled energy return and indescribable shock absorption.
Q: What if the black end-cap comes off?
A: The black ABS end-caps are designed to be replaceable if broken or lost. Contact us at www.customerservice@hammerlacrosse.com and we will send you a replacement end cap. You can use crazy glue to reinstall a loose cap.
Q: What if the grip surface chips or peals? Is it covered under Warranty?
A: The grip surface is an aerospace-grade multi-layer polyurethane coating. It’s tough; however, it can nick or chip from normal play. The coating does not change your shaft’s performance. We recommend taping over any battle scars. The Hammer shafts are coated on the same production line, with the same material used to coat the Hubble Telescope, Bradley Fighting Vehicle, Patriot Missile System, and many other battlefield ready industrial and military components. The grip coat is not covered under warranty.
Q: Can the shaft be cut down (shortened)?
A: Yes, you can cut down your shaft with a sharp hacksaw blade, without changing the structural integrity of the shaft. Note, however, modifying the stick voids the warranty.
