Primo Obsidian Goalie Shaft Review

In this post we will be reviewing the Obsidian lacrosse shaft from Primo Lacrosse.

When it comes to lacrosse shafts there are 4 main things that I think are important to evaluate: Weight, Durability, Feel and Price.

The best lacrosse attack shafts in the game all come from vendors that have made an investment in advanced technologies and grips that are lightweight and can withstand the impacts that a shaft can endure throughout a lacrosse season.

A shaft is no longer just a shaft these days. However, it can be difficult to deal with the rising prices of lacrosse equipment and that’s where Primo Lacrosse comes in. 

Primo Lacrosse was founded by Dave Monroe. As a former collegiate lacrosse player and current coach, frustrated with the inadequate lacrosse gear being sold at increasing prices and after snapping and denting countless $140 lacrosse shafts, that carry a laughable warranty policy, Dave felt there had to be a better way.

After researching the market, and realizing many of the big brand names in lacrosse are utilizing the same manufacturing processes to produce their product and discovering the actual cost to produce these products was far less than one might assume, Dave, set out to create a business model that is more customer-focused and allows Primo to bring a more competitively priced product without sacrificing quality. 

Primo’s lean, direct-to-consumer approach, allows us to reduce costs often associated with the typical lacrosse company’s distribution model. In turn, we pass those savings along to our customers. 

So, can this shaft compete with the other companies on the market at a more affordable price for consumers? Continue reading for our review of the Primo Obsidian Shaft to learn more.

Primo Goalie Shaft: Weight

Primo uses the highest quality carbon fiber from Toray available for sporting goods applications to compete with other brands on the market.

The Obsidian goalie shaft weighed in at 165 grams.

To give you a comparison the recently released STX Sci-Ti Goalie shaft comes in at 185 grams and the STX Composite Pro Goalie Shaft weighs in at about 162 grams. Meaning that the Obsidian Shaft does compare well to its competitors on the market.

Also, for those goalies like myself who prefer using an attack shaft, the attack shafts come in three different options 135 grams, 155 grams, and 200 grams.

The shaft does feel a tad bit heavier compared to other shafts I’ve used. However, the weight distribution felt great and the shaft was relatively light, allowing for good mobility and strength.

Primo Goalie Shaft: Durability

Primo incorporates a proprietary non-woven thermoplastic material in the outer layers to promote vibration dampening and improve the fracture toughness of the shaft without adding additional weight. 

The Obsidian shaft has been tested against 4 other major lax brands’ composite shafts in our internal 3-point bend test and Primo has found that their shaft is stronger than many of the other guys for ~40% less in price.

When you get this shaft in your hands you really do feel the strength in the shaft. When tested on the field it does stand up very nicely as well. From stick checks to hard shots, to post taps, this shaft hasn’t dented a bit and only has a few scratches to show. 

Compared to other high-end goalie shafts, I’d say this shaft competes with them all at a fraction of the price. I look forward to seeing how long the lifespan of these shafts will be.

Primo Goalie Shaft: Feel

One of the cool things I really like about the Obsidian shaft line is the options that are available for feel in the shaft.

The attack length shaft is available in two different shape profiles (E – Ergo Grip – Extreme Concave & C – Classic Concave). 

The 30″ shaft has the E shape profile and the 36″ shaft has C – Classic Concave Profile.

Additionally, the shafts feature a soft tack finish, which is a subtle rubberized finish that provides grip without tearing up the palms of your gloves. I really like the feel of the soft tack finish in my hands with or without gloves. It has a nice smooth feeling to it but also provides more than a sufficient amount of grip. 

However, if the soft tack finish isn’t your thing Primo also can produce a Fine Texture (Slight Sandpaper Grip) if that’s is more your preference.

Primo Goalie Shaft: Price

Primo is a company that is focused on providing a quality product for lacrosse players at a fair price point.

The Primo Obsidian Goalie Shaft isn’t yet available for purchase yet. I did speak with Dave the owner and he expects the goalie shaft to come on the market in the first quarter of 2022 at under $100 in price.

However, you can purchase the attack length shaft on their website. The shaft’s price ranges from $85 – $105 depending on the weight of the shaft you choose.

For comparison, the STX Sci-Ti comes in at $110, while the String King Composite Pro Shaft comes in at $120. So, the Obsidian shaft does come well under the market price of its competitors.

Click here to buy a Primo Shaft

Video Review of the Primo Shaft

Evan and I posted a video review of the Primo Shaft on the YouTube channel:

Conclusion

When it comes to lacrosse shafts, I don’t find that I’m the most overtly picky person.

I’m mainly looking for a shaft that is relatively lightweight, is going to last a couple of seasons, and has a good feel.

In my opinion, the Primo line of shafts checks all of these boxes and at a really inexpensive price compared to its competitors in the market.

Not to mention the minimalist design of the shafts makes for a cool all-white or all-black look to line up with the color of your goalie’s head.

The only thing I didn’t like about this shaft was that in the attack shaft the screw holes didn’t line up with my STX Eclipse II Head. Also, I’m not a huge fan of the large rubber butt-ends and instead prefer some of the more modern butt-ends you see with other shafts on the market. But I think that’s more of a personal preference thing than a knock of this shaft.

In conclusion, I think the Primo Shaft is an excellent product in the lacrosse shaft market which provides a high-quality product without having to break the bank.

You can purchase a Primo Shaft of your own today by visiting their website.