When it comes to the StringKing Metal 3 Pro vs STX Surgeon 700 shaft debate, not everyone is dropping $200 on an Epoch or a Ture — and that’s just reality. The mid-price shaft market — call it $80 to $120 — is where most high school varsity players and budget-conscious college players actually live, and it’s where StringKing and STX have been going at each other for years. The Metal 3 Pro and the Surgeon 700 are the current flagships in that price range. Here’s the honest breakdown.

StringKing Metal 3 Pro vs STX Surgeon 700 Shaft: Basic Specs

The StringKing Metal 3 Pro runs around $90-100 retail. It’s an aluminum-alloy shaft with StringKing’s textured grip coating, available in a few standard lacrosse shapes. Weighs in at a competitive mid-range feel — not ultralight, but noticeably not heavy. Meanwhile, the Surgeon 700 from STX sits in the same price window, $85-110 depending on where you buy it, and is also an aluminum alloy with STX’s concave grip design. Both shafts are positioned as ‘premium affordable’ — the marketing copy practically writes itself.

Grip

This is where they actually differ meaningfully. The Metal 3 Pro has a consistent texture all the way down — it feels almost sandpaper-like when it’s new, which is polarizing. Some players love the immediate tackiness. Others, however, find it too aggressive on the hands during long wall-ball sessions, especially without gloves. After a few weeks of use it smooths out to something genuinely excellent.

The Surgeon 700’s concave grip does something different: it channels your hand into a natural position. Players who’ve struggled with grip consistency — especially midfielders who are constantly adjusting their hold during dodges — tend to prefer it. It’s also easier on bare hands during off-season training. Edge: Surgeon 700, but only slightly, and it depends entirely on your preference.

Weight

The Metal 3 Pro is marginally lighter. We’re talking grams, not ounces, so don’t let anyone tell you this is a game-changer. Where it actually shows up is over the course of a long practice — your arms know the difference by hour two. If you’re a pure attackman who values feel above everything else, the lighter shaft is worth noting. If you’re a midfielder covering ground all day, though, the difference is negligible.

Durability

Both shafts are solid, but the Metal 3 Pro has a slight edge here based on what we’ve seen. StringKing’s build quality control is very consistent — the shaft that ships in November feels the same as the shaft that ships in March. STX’s Surgeon line, by contrast, has had some batch-to-batch variability in the grip coating, where some units come out feeling great and others feel like they were finished on a Monday morning. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s worth knowing.

Bent shafts? Both are vulnerable to the same forces. Don’t let a defenseman step on it. That’s not a materials science problem, that’s a physics problem.

Price Reality

Street price matters. The Metal 3 Pro has been consistently available at or below MSRP through major retailers. The Surgeon 700, on the other hand, has a habit of sitting at full price — STX’s retail relationships keep the price stickier. If you’re shopping around, you can usually find the Metal 3 Pro for $10-15 less than the Surgeon on any given week. Over the course of a player’s career — multiple shafts, because they will break — that adds up.

Who Each Shaft Is For

Metal 3 Pro is the better buy for: players who prioritize durability, anyone who prefers a consistent all-over grip texture, players looking for the best value per dollar at this price point. It’s especially good for defensive middies who are checking and grinding through physical play.

Surgeon 700 is the better buy for: players who want a natural hand-positioning guide, attackmen who are particular about their feel during dodges, and anyone who has used STX gear before and trusts the brand. The concave grip is a genuinely useful feature, not just marketing.

The Call

StringKing Metal 3 Pro wins this matchup on value, durability, and consistency. The Surgeon 700 is not a bad shaft — it’s genuinely good — but the Metal 3 Pro gives you slightly more for the same or less money, and that matters when you’re not running the Epoch budget. If you can find the Surgeon 700 on sale, it’s worth grabbing. At full price, though, the Metal 3 Pro is the smarter buy.

Neither shaft is going to turn a mediocre player into a good one. But they won’t let down a good player either, and that’s the whole job at this price point.

Disclosure: Both shafts were purchased at retail. No manufacturer provided product or compensation for this review.