Fischer SX3 Hockey Stick Review

We have previously written reviews on Fischer hockey sticks. We have reviewed their SX 1, SX 5 and their top-end SX7 sticks in recent months. This review will round out the 2012 lineup with the SX3.  Fischer has a long history of manufacturing hockey equipment in Europe, where they are one of the best in the hockey and ski industries. They aren’t widely known in the United States, but they are well on their way into making their mark in the North American hockey market share.

Specs: Fischer SX3, 90 flex, matte finish, #9 curve

Modifications: Cut 1 inch off the butt end of the stick

Design and Construction:

The stick is designed with a carbon shaft and blade. The materials used makes it one of the better sticks I’ve had the opportunity to demo. For a stick designed to be a mid-range stick in terms of price point, it plays and feels like a much higher level stick. One feature I love is the dull, matte finish. While some sticks are shiny and feature a lot of tacky grip, this stick is coated in a matte finish that removed the shine and tacky grip. This allows me to move my hands up and down the shaft without interruption with the grip.

One of the coolest features with the design (as seen in the picture) is the ability to create your jersey number on the shaft. Simply take a sharpie marker and shape the provided numbers into your jersey number and you’re set. It’s a nice custom touch not seen in sticks made by Bauer, Reebok, CCM and others.

Weight and Balance:

Again, I don’t have the weight specifications to compare to other brands’ sticks, but the Fischer SX3 is slightly top-heavy. One would think the matte coating would add significant weight to the stick, but I felt this was as light if not lighter than other sticks I have used. For it being a little top-heavy the balance is pretty solid. I’ve had friends and teammates who have never heard of Fischer take a few shots with it and they liked the way the flexed and balanced with the puck.

The Fischer SX3 stick

Stick Handling/Feel:

With some other sticks, I’ve found there is an adjustment period to get used to the new stick. With the Fischer SX5, I felt very comfortable with the stick in my hands from the beginning with little to no adjustment period to get used to the stick. Again, being a bottom-heavy stick, I was pleasantly surprised how quickly I warmed up to the stick.

Surprisingly, stick handling may be my favorite thing about the stick. For being heavier toward the bottom of the stick, I’m actually really impressed with the feel for the puck that the blade provides. For both ice and roller, the Fischer SX5 offers very good control and a solid feel for the puck.

Shooting and Accuracy:

The way I have been able to shoot the puck is my favorite feature of this stick. When we did our stick testing when I first received this stick, this stick performed as well if not better than other sticks I had the chance to use and test. When taking wrist shots, it performed on the same level as two of the other three sticks I’ve used. It could have exceeded the competitors if I had not hit the post a couple times. I’ve scored many passes in the couple of inline leagues I play in with a hard, accurate wrist shot.

I’m not the best at taking slap shots in a game-situation, but when we tested the stick in a slap shot environment, this was the best-performing. As a matter of fact, Matt (SX7) and I recorded the best results when using the Fischer sticks compared to EB and Chris. When using it in game situations, I have been able to generate a lot of power, even when not taking a full back swing. A lot of my shots have been on-target, leading to a few goals from the point in addition to several assists due to deflections or rebounds.

I’ve had the opportunity to use this stick in many games and it’s been one of the most comfortable sticks I’ve used in a game-situation. It’s been a stick I’ve been able to use while playing forward and defense and it stick handles very well. My passes have been very accurate and have a good amount of pop on them when creating a breakout situation. Receiving passes is fairly moderate. Sometimes a pass would rebound off my blade but not to much that it made receiving passes impossible.

Durability:

After a couple months of play, the SX3 has been a tank with durability. It’s one of the most durable sticks I have used. Because of the matte finish, it has very little chips and missing paint compared to other sticks. The coating has created a good buffer barrier to take a beating in the slash zone and other parts of the stick. I have slammed it against quite a few panes of glass and a post of two and it has yet to crack, chip or break. There was one place where the matte coating seemed to wear off and that was towards the blade. This happened after 8-9 games used.

Just like Chris, I noticed a distinct rattle inside of the shaft. After taking out the stopper I also found a small chip. Mine happened much later and after more uses than Chris. I wouldn’t be too worried as this is not the first time I have heard this happen to a composite stick.

Overall Impressions:

When I first received this stick, I didn’t know what to expect. After using it for several weeks I am very impressed with their product. For a mid-tier stick it could compete with those from major North American manufacturers if the hockey playing public is willing to ditch their current stick and try something new. This is a perfect stick for rec league players or players who can’y justify dropping over $220 for a major brand stick.

Interested in purchasing the Fischer SX3? Check them out online at www.fischer-hockey.com

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