TRUE Catalyst PX Stick Review

February 11, 2022 || Written by Katie Lakusta

We said last time that TRUE is constantly raising the bar with every new stick release. Just a few months ago, they came out with their lightest stick to date, and now they’re back with an even lighter, more powerful stick than ever before. The Catalyst PX continues the legacy of both the 9X and Project X to offer better performance and increased durability. TRUE has always emphasized the importance of balance in a hockey stick, and the PX takes that focus to the whole next level with its blend of brand new features and returning tech

Lightweight Build

Mid kick sticks, just based on their nature, tend to run a bit on the heavier side for hockey sticks. They are meant for power—not necessarily speed like the low kick point.

The Catalyst PX, on the other hand, looks to defy that undisclosed rule with its ultra-lightweight mid kick design. The PX was able to shave off 25g of weight from what was already their lightest hockey stick. Multiple technologies patented by TRUE were able to make this remarkable feat possible.

Lower Resin Content

A major factor in the lower weight comes from TRUE lowering the resin content within the stick. A combination of new material advances and technology has made it possible for TRUE to minimize unnecessary material while keeping the same flex point.

Mid Kick Flex Profile

Going back to the flex profile, the Catalyst PX is a mid kick stick, meaning that the shaft flexes right in the middle. This build is engineered to dish out some particularly hard shots.

As a basic rule, the longer the blade stays in contact with the puck during the follow-through, the harder the shot—regardless of how hard the stick hits the puck. Studies have actually been done on this subject too to confirm the physics; contact time with the puck translates to more potential energy, which then translates into more kinetic energy, hence the harder shot. Mid kick sticks, like the Catalyst PX, bend relatively higher on the stick compared to hybrid and low kick, increasing that potential energy even further while also helping the stick follow the puck longer.

Axenic Technology

Inarguably TRUE’s most consistent and successful hockey stick manufacturing design, Axenic Technology is their strategy for assembling genuine one-piece sticks. They compress the mold altogether at very high temperatures and pressure for solid wall thickness to achieve this feat.

A monolithic TRUE stick has a stronger hosel and better balance, courtesy of that unity between the blade and the shaft. The unification also maximizes efficiency in the energy transfer from the stick to the puck.

PLD—Precision Laminate Design

New to the season with the Catalyst line, the Catalyst PX will continue to use TRUE’s new patented Precision Laminate Design, or PLD, which serves to support their ever-popular Axenic Tech. TRUE focused on how all the weaves and carbon fibre layers angle in the build to reinforce the stick. Although the carbon fibre becomes very thin while manufacturing with Axenic Tech, the process also makes it tougher, reducing the weight while strengthening the shaft. PLD ensures the plys are all moving in the right direction to assist that build.

ResFlo—Focused Resin Flow

PLD and Axenic aren’t the only features in the Catalyst PX’s arsenal that are actively reducing weight and strengthening the stick. First of two brand new technologies by TRUE, ResFlo—or Focused Resin Flow—was introduced to eradicate voids in the construction, making both TRUE’s process and the sticks’ functionality more efficient. It is actually a major reason why TRUE was able to reduce the resin content in their stick.

With ResFlo, a huge chunk of the resin from the original Catalyst line could be taken out while reinforcing the stick at the same time. Overall, this tech makes the stick more resistant to wear and tear, despite that lower resin content.

TRT—Tri Rib Tech

Few things are worse than your stick blade suddenly chipping at the heel or toe. And it’s more than just a cosmetic problem—chips in these areas can severely hinder performance in both shot and stickhandling, but since the stick doesn’t look entirely “broken,” it can be tough to consider investing in a new one.

TRUE has been tackling this problem more and more as they develop new sticks, prompting them to come up with Tri Rib Tech, or TRT. With this tech, TRUE studied areas that tended to suffer the most from impact and use, and then reinforced those zones with strategic rib placements. If the impact point is stronger, hey—now you can really unload some clappers and engage in board battles without worrying too much about your blade chipping or breaking unexpectedly.

Final Thoughts

TRUE has come a long way in gear development, and it definitely shows in this new iteration of their fan-favourite Catalyst line. Catalyst started as a quick and drastic change to their original mid kick XC line—as the name “Catalyst” implies. And with the way the Catalyst PX addresses previous concerns (for example in the blade; sorry, old TRUE models) and enhances the stick’s performance so seamlessly, it unquestionably lives up to its name.

I’m also greatly impressed by the new ResFlo and TRT tech and how they look to reinforce such a high-impact stick. Great decisions all around and superb execution absolutely push TRUE toward being an industry-leading equipment brand.