We are going to do a review of the new Bauer Nexus 3N Pro hockey stick. This is replacing the previous 2N Pro Stick, but it comes at a lower price point. It’s going to have the same level of performance, more durability, and a little bit more of a stable blade too.
Bauer Nexus 3N Pro Stick Review
Shaft Dimensions
For the shaft dimensions, it has rounded corners and straight sidewalls, offering some great control and a lot of comfort.
Construction
They incorporate a high-performance two-piece molding process essentially to give you a very similar feel and overall playability as a Bauer True one-piece but with a good amount of cost savings.
The same thing can be said about the unidirectional carbon fiber that we see throughout the shaft. It doesn’t have that checkered look that we see in the blade and in most shafts but it still offers a ton of performance and a good level of durability.
Taper/Kick Point
It has a nexus hybrid kick, making it ideal for players who prefer to do it all from that quick shot release to the big, powerful slap shot, and that is driven courtesy of the new ER spine technology.
This debuted on the Nexus ADV stick. It’s a five-sided shaft geometry that really intensifies as you go from the top down to the bottom in the taper portion. Here, this essentially requires fewer overall layers of material so it drastically reduces the overall weight.
But with that spine on the back portion, it does maintain that same level of strength and overall durability, including stiffness, which creates a signature Nexus flex profile.
If you’ve been using a Nexus for a long time, you’re going to notice a slightly quicker shot release. It’s going to be easier to load and it’s a little more comfortable in the hands because it does have a more ergonomically shaped shape to it so it does fit in the back of the hand just a little bit better and performs well.
Blade
Now for the blade, this is where we see their Max Balance technology featuring their new dual bridge core. Instead of having the single support that we see in the 3N hockey stick, the 3N pro utilizes two bridges that run heel to toe.
This is all surrounded by aero foam, one-core foam material, and especially compared to the 2N Pro, it provides better torsional stability, so as you are taking bigger shots or even on some of those quicker-releasing shots, it prevents it from twisting.
When that happens, you lose a little bit of your accuracy so you might fire one over the net or wide. It’s going to do a better job there and is also going to be much more durable, especially in the long run, providing that really nice pop and feel.
Speaking of feel, that aero foam really sits in between that very poppy feel that you get from Vapor compared to that super damp feel that you get in Supreme so really the best of both worlds, combining that nice quick release and that pop as well as making it very easy to catch passes.
Also, it is a big upgrade with their Techstream carbon fiber, which has been a staple in Bauer’s top-of-the-line sticks for years. It’s a very high-performance lightweight material that adds a good level of responsiveness down low.
More importantly, it’s going to do a good job of removing weight from the bottom portion of the stick, obviously taking down the overall weight but also giving you a better-balanced feel in the hands.
Weight
Now for the weight at a 60-inch length, this Nexus 3N Pro stick comes in at 420 grams. It does include a built-in 2-inch extension or a 3-inch extension at this 63-inch; it does weigh 430 grams but if you cut that off back down to a similar 60 flex length, you’ll still have that same 85 flex profile if that’s what you’re cutting down from so don’t worry about that extra extension.
Graphics
Graphically speaking, Nexus has always been pretty tonal. The same thing goes for it this year and we do have some nice hits of the chrome on the backhand but overall, a really nice-looking stick is perfect for those playmakers looking to do it all.
Conclusion
Overall, this stick is very lightweight, especially at this price point, and has a really nice, balanced feel to it. Our favorite part about this is the ADV-inspired technology that’s making it easier to load, quicker to release, and more playable.
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