STX Hammer 700 Goalie Head: Verdict Up Front

The STX Hammer 700 goalie head is a legitimate piece of equipment — well-constructed, forgiving on wide shots, and built to take punishment. It’s not the flashiest option on the market. But it does its job without asking you to babysit it every season.

Who This Is For

The STX Hammer 700 goalie head is squarely aimed at the serious high school or mid-level college goalie. Solid reliability without the premium price tag. At roughly $60–$80 depending on retailer, it sits in the sweet spot between entry-level garbage and the top-end heads that run $100+. If you’re a club or travel goalie who goes through gear fast, this is your head. If you’re an elite D1 starter who demands every marginal advantage, you’re probably already looking elsewhere. But you’d be fine gaming this too.

What Works

Throat Width: The Hammer 700 runs with a wider throat opening than most competitor heads in this class. That’s exactly what you want at the goalie position. The extra width means the ball doesn’t have to thread a needle to find leather. That gives the STX Hammer 700 goalie head more flexibility in pocket setup and makes it more forgiving on low shots that want to sneak under the frame.

Pocket Options: STX designed this head to be pocketable in multiple configurations without fighting you. A mid-low pocket strings up cleanly, the sidewalls have enough reinforcement to hold tension without warping, and the shooting strings sit naturally. You’re not constantly re-stringing after every practice because the mesh has shifted. For goalies who change their setup seasonally or experiment with pocket depth based on weather, the Hammer 700 accommodates that without drama.

Durability: This is where STX earns its keep. The STX Hammer 700 goalie head is built from a harder plastic compound that handles repeated stick checks and pipe shots without cracking. The scoop is solid and the throat doesn’t flex under pressure. After a full season of use, it still looks and performs like it did in week two. Goalie heads take more abuse than any other position. You’re blocking 90 mph shots, getting checked clearing, and occasionally using your stick as a brace in traffic. The 700 handles all of it.

Weight: For a head in this durability tier, it’s not heavy. STX kept the wall thickness reasonable so you’re not swinging a boat anchor. Clears feel natural, and outlet passes have enough zip behind them.

What Doesn’t Work

Top Rail Profile: The top rail on the Hammer 700 is on the wider side, which helps with coverage. However, it can work against you on reaction saves where hand speed is everything. Elite goalies may feel like the STX Hammer 700 goalie head is slightly in their way on upper-corner shots. It’s a minor complaint, but it’s real.

Stringing Options for Advanced Setups: Running an aggressive high-pocket setup or a very deep mesh configuration? The sidewall hole placement on this head is decent but not optimal. You’ll get it where you need it. Still, a more experienced stringer might need to work around the factory design rather than with it. Not a dealbreaker — just worth knowing before you hand it off to someone who charges by the hour.

Aesthetics: The colorway options are limited compared to what Warrior or Epoch are putting out. The Hammer 700 looks like a workhorse because it is one. But if your goalie cares about gear matching the team’s color scheme down to the exact shade, your options are more constrained here.

Price vs. Value

At $60–$80, the STX Hammer 700 goalie head is one of the better value propositions in goalie equipment. You’re not paying for marketing or a signature line — you’re paying for a functional, durable head that does the job. Compare it to the Warrior Nemesis Pro or the Epoch Optik X at $90–$120 and the Hammer 700 holds up. It doesn’t beat them across the board, but the gap isn’t $40 wide. For a club program equipping multiple goalies, or a player who’s still developing their setup preferences, the price-to-performance ratio is hard to argue with.

Bottom Line

Buy the STX Hammer 700 goalie head if you want a durable, pocket-friendly option that won’t fall apart on you and won’t empty your wallet. It’s the right call for serious high school and club-level goalies. Also a legitimate option for college players who prioritize reliability over marginal performance gains. That said, it’s not going to revolutionize your game — but goalie heads don’t need to be revolutionary. They need to be there when the shot comes, and the Hammer 700 will be there.