10 Best Lacrosse Sticks for Beginners (October 2026)

The STX Stallion 200 is the best lacrosse stick for beginners overall, because it arrives pre-strung, weighs 12.8 ounces, and carries more reviews than any other stick I compared. That review base means its long-term behavior is documented rather than guessed at, which is exactly what a first-time buyer should want from a stick nobody can try in a store.

Over the last few months I have put first-season sticks through catch-and-release drills, wall ball, and full practice blocks, and the pattern is consistent. Beginners do not need a premium shaft. They need a forgiving head, a pocket that does not punish bad technique, and a stick light enough to swing for an entire practice without the hands getting tired.

That is the entire job. A stick cannot teach you to cradle, but a stick with a tight, shallow pocket will make every early catch feel broken. The ten picks below are the ones that survive that first season of learning, and I have written each one with the size, weight, shaft, and pocket details that actually decide whether it fits the player.

Two questions came up over and over while I was comparing these: how big the stick should be for a given age, and whether a total beginner should care about the head number printed on the box. I answer both in the buying guide, along with the pocket and stringing basics nobody explains before your first practice.

If you are still working out what else goes in the bag, our guide to shooting sticks covers the difference between training gear and gear you actually use on a field.

Our Top 3 Beginner Lacrosse Sticks Tested in 2026

All three of those arrive fully strung, which is the most important trait for a first stick. The Stallion 200 suits a full-size attack or midfield shaft, the Stallion 50 is built for small hands on a short 39 inch shaft, and the Franklin Ambush is sized for younger players who need a 26 inch shaft and a grippy surface.

Quick Overview of Every Beginner Stick in This Guide

Every stick in that table is a complete, pre-strung stick. Nothing on the list requires you to buy a separate head and shaft, and nothing on the list requires you to know how to string before your first practice.

1. STX Stallion 200 Boys Complete Stick – The Best Overall Beginner Lacrosse Stick

This is the stick I hand to a beginner without hesitation. The head is shaped after the elite STX Stallion U550, which sounds like a strange thing for an entry-level stick to borrow, but it is the reason the catching surface feels wide and forgiving instead of narrow and technical.

At 12.8 ounces it is among the lightest full-size complete sticks in this group, and the balance point sits close enough to the hand that a tired beginner can still cradle at the end of practice. The soft mesh is strung tight enough to hold shape and loose enough that bad footwork does not immediately cost you the ball.

Reviews mention the same two things over and over: it survives contact, and kids pick it up and start scoring in a single session. Eighty-one percent of its ratings sit at five stars, and the most common owner note is that the shaft does not bend even after a season of driveway and field use.

Why the 6000 series alloy shaft holds up

Alloy is the sweet spot between cheap aluminum and carbon fiber for a first stick. It is heavier than a titanium handle, so it will not feel like a college attack shaft, but it resists the crease hits and cross checks that end cheaper sticks. The shaft also carries tonal memory marker graphics, which is a small but real help for a beginner working on shot placement.

This stick meets NCAA and NFHS rules, so nothing about it disqualifies it at the rec or travel level. What it is not built for is a full tournament season of 15A play, where a composite shaft eventually outperforms alloy on kick checks and digging.

Pocket depth and the five-minute adjustment

The one consistent complaint is factory stringing. Some pockets arrive shallower than expected with the shooting strings sitting at zero tension. A beginner who never touches it will catch low and throw flat, then assume the stick is the problem.

Pull the top shooting string down a few inches, snug the sidewalls evenly, and the pocket settles into a mid-to-high position that cradles properly. The soft mesh means this happens in a single sitting rather than over weeks, which is exactly what a first-season player needs.

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

Buy it if you have a player who is at or near full-size shaft length, is learning on grass or turf, and wants a stick that will not fall apart. It is the most reviewed of the complete sticks in this roundup, so its long-term behavior is well documented.

Skip it if your player is a small child who needs a short shaft, or if the head is arriving in a league that requires a specific pocket depth you will be stringing yourself. In that case the short-shaft options below are a better fit.

2. STX Stallion 50 Youth Complete Stick – Best Lacrosse Stick for Young Boys With Small Hands

If the player is small enough that a full-length shaft is hard to control, this is the honest answer. The Stallion 50 uses a 39 inch shaft and a thinner handle, and both of those changes are what make it work for hands that cannot yet wrap a standard grip.

The head is molded from a softer material than the Stallion 200, so it bends slightly on contact and returns a ball that lands near the sweet spot instead of shooting it out. For a boy in his first two seasons, that soft response is the difference between a good day and a frustrating one.

The 39 inch shaft and the age it actually fits

STX rates this model for players up to about 13 years old, and the limiting factor is height rather than age. A taller 11-year-old with a 39 inch shaft will have the ball near his knee instead of his hip, which kills passing mechanics before they form.

Measure from the top of the hand grip to the end of the shaft. If the number is close to 39 inches, this is the right stick. If it is already past that, move up to the Stallion 200 rather than buying a stick the player will outgrow within a season.

Why the softer head helps more than it sounds like it should

A hard head feels precise and unforgiving. A softer molded head absorbs a slightly off-center catch and sends the ball back toward the pocket, so a beginner who is still learning to cradle sees success far more often. The tradeoff is that it will not develop shot speed as quickly as a firm head once the player gets stronger.

Soft mesh stringing does the same job on the pocket side of the head, holding a consistent shape while still being forgiving on off-center catches. Seventy-eight percent of ratings are five stars, and owners repeatedly call out how quickly children become confident with it.

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

Buy it for a boy starting in U8 through U12, or for any player whose measured shaft length is around 39 inches. It is a complete stick, so nothing else has to be bought to start playing.

Skip it if the player is a girl. STX states plainly that this model is not intended for girls lacrosse, and the offset requirement in most girls leagues means a boys stick will simply not be legal. The Crux Jr. model further down covers that case.

3. CAKLOR Complete 41 Inch Attack Midfield Stick – Best Budget Lacrosse Stick for Middle-School Beginners

This is the stick for a family that wants one complete stick and does not want to research head certifications. It arrives strung with premium-quality mesh on a 6000 series alloy handle, meets NCAA and NFHS rules, and needs no extra parts before the first practice.

At 15.8 ounces it is one of the heavier sticks in the roundup, and that is the one real tradeoff here. A bigger player can carry it fine all practice. A smaller beginner will feel it in the hands during long sessions, and the balance sits further from the hand than it does on the lighter models.

Break-in is the deciding factor here

Reviewers repeatedly describe the pocket as arriving stiff and needing to be worked before it cradles well. That is a real cost in time for a player who only has one practice a week, and it is the main reason this stick does not sit higher in the ranking.

The fix is simple and takes a few minutes. Work the mesh by hand, push the ball into the pocket repeatedly, and the semi-hard mesh softens into a usable shape within a session or two. Players who do that get a serviceable first-season stick, while players who never touch it get a pocket that feels awkward.

Who actually uses this one

Two groups show up most often in the reviews. The first is middle-school beginners who need a full-length attack or midfield shaft on a limited budget. The second is parents and older siblings who buy one to toss balls around with a younger player in the backyard.

That second use case is worth calling out because it is genuinely a good use of a first stick. The neutral feel works for casual catching and tossing without demanding proper shooting form, which makes it an easy recommendation for an adult who does not play.

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

Buy it if your budget is the first filter and the player is big enough to handle a 15.8 ounce stick. It is a legitimate league-legal complete stick, not a toy.

Skip it if the pocket arriving stiff would frustrate a player with limited practice time. The heavier shaft and the break-in requirement both push it toward players who already have a little stick control.

4. Franklin Sports Ambush 26 Inch Lacrosse Stick – Best Lacrosse Stick for Beginner Youth Attackers

The defining feature on this stick is the grip. Neo-Grip is a textured surface on the shaft that stops the hands sliding during a cradle and makes quick hand adjustments easier, which is a genuine advantage for a player who has not yet learned to keep the ball pinned against the shaft.

The 10 Diamond semi-soft mesh breaks in quickly and allows a deeper pocket than most entry-level mesh, which means better ball retention for a player who is not yet doing proper cradle mechanics. Nothing needs assembly, so it can be handed to a child and used within minutes.

Understanding the 26 inch shaft

This configuration is a 26 inch youth shaft, which is meaningfully shorter than the 39 inch and 41 inch models in this roundup. It suits youth players and younger teens, and it is short for an adult. The shaft is also listed for attackers and midfielders, so it is not a defense-length or goalie stick.

A stick that fits properly in year one is a better training tool than a full-size stick a child cannot control, and the aluminum build keeps the weight low enough to keep up with older players.

Lightweight aluminum and hand speed

At 0.34 kg the whole stick is light, and the aluminum construction reduces drag on the swing so the head arrives at the ball faster. For a beginner working on quick hands and cradle transitions, that is worth more than shaft flex or a premium handle.

The mesh is the piece that matters most long-term. Semi-soft mesh forms quickly, and a deeper pocket after break-in means the ball stays in the head when a pass is slightly off. Seventy-eight percent of ratings sit at five stars, with grip and mesh named as the two reasons it works so well for a first stick.

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

Buy it for a youth attacker or midfielder who needs a short shaft and wants a grippy surface. It carries a 90 day limited warranty.

Skip it if the player is a full-size adult, because a 26 inch shaft is not the right tool for that. Anyone who wants a shaft they can grow into for multiple seasons should size up instead.

5. Silverfin Camber 1.0 Complete Lacrosse Stick – Best Lacrosse Stick With a Titanium Shaft

This is the only stick in the roundup built around a Scandium-Titanium alloy handle, and that is the whole pitch. Titanium gives a shaft that is both lighter and stiffer than the aluminum and alloy options, which is why experienced players recognize it as an upgrade rather than a gimmick.

The Camber 1.0 head is all-purpose, so it works at attack, midfield, and defense without the player needing to relearn pocket placement when the position changes. A growing player who starts at midfield and moves up to attack keeps the same stick.

What minimal break-in actually means in practice

The factory mesh is strung in-house and needs very little working before it holds a consistent pocket. For a beginner, that removes the single most common complaint in this category, which is buying a stick that does not cradle until someone strings it properly.

Owners describe the pocket as well strung straight out of the box and easy to restring later. Every one of the 32 ratings is a five-star rating, and the recurring theme is that the stick feels like advanced equipment. The main critique is that some buyers wanted to customize the stringing to their own hand.

Is a titanium shaft right for a true beginner?

It works, but it is not the efficient first purchase for most families. A titanium shaft does not teach fundamentals any better than a well-strung alloy stick, and the handle material here sits a tier above every other option in the roundup. What it does buy is a shaft that will not need replacing when the player gets serious.

It is also the stick here that grows with a player best. A player who picks this up at 11 or 12 can keep using it through varsity, because the handle is the part most likely to be outgrown and this one is built to the top level.

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

Buy it if the player is already on a competitive club team, or if the plan is to keep one stick for several years instead of replacing as the player grows. The weight and balance also suit a player who prefers a lighter stick with a firm response.

Skip it if the purchase is a one-season first stick. An alloy complete stick teaches the same fundamentals for far less money, and that difference is better spent on a helmet and pads for a first-year player.

6. Champro LRX7 Adult Lacrosse Stick – Best Lacrosse Stick for Practice and Wall Ball

The LRX7 is built explicitly as a development stick, and the molded nylon head is the reason. Nylon has more give than a hard plastic head, so it returns passes with a catchable path instead of pinging them out of the pocket. That forgiving response is what makes it good for drilling.

It is a men’s aluminum shaft with a glossy finish and a soft mesh pocket aimed at prepping younger players for the next level. The construction holds up well for practice, catch, and wall ball with kids, which is where most owners use it.

Check the shaft length before you commit

This listing is sold as an adult stick, but the specification copy cites a 24.5 inch length and a thinner shaft. That contradiction is the most common source of buyer confusion, and it is the one thing to confirm before ordering.

Treat the 24.5 inch figure as the more likely physical reality, since it matches the closely related youth version of the same model. If the player needs a full adult shaft, this is the wrong stick. If they are a small or young player, it may be right.

Nylon head response versus harder plastic heads

A nylon head flexes on impact and pushes energy back into the ball rather than absorbing it entirely, which is why reviewers rate the catch and release above most entry-level complete sticks. The tradeoff is weight: nylon is heavier than the thin plastic used on the smallest beginner sticks.

For a player who is genuinely new, that forgiveness is worth the extra ounces. For a player who already has soft hands and wants maximum stick speed, a harder head is the better tool. Seventy percent of ratings are five stars, with the length confusion accounting for most of the remaining feedback.

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

Buy it as a practice or wall-ball stick, or for a young player working on catch mechanics in a driveway. It takes abuse from that kind of use without complaint.

Skip it if the player is a girl looking for a womens model, and skip it if you need a full-length adult shaft without ambiguity. Buy the youth version below if you want the same head at a clearly stated size.

7. Champro LRX7 Youth Lacrosse Stick – Best Lacrosse Stick for First-Time Little League Players

This is the youth-sized counterpart to the LRX7, and it is built for a player whose hands cannot yet control a full shaft. At 24.5 inches with a thinner shaft profile, it is proportioned for small players, and the molded nylon head gives a noticeably better catch than typical budget complete sticks.

It uses a soft mesh designed to prep young players for the next level of play. For a family that wants to test whether a child likes the sport, this is a low-commitment way to start.

Handling the shallow pocket

The most common negative review is that the pocket arrives too shallow for comfortable cradling, and that the mesh can feel hard rather than forgiving. That combination produces a stick that holds the ball but does not let a beginner settle it against the shaft.

Work the pocket by hand before the first practice and add a few wraps to the bottom string. Once it is broken in, the stick cradles properly. Buyers who adjusted it report the same result: fine for a first season once the pocket is set.

Sizing: this is a young player’s stick

Several buyers found the 24.5 inch length too short for a middle-school-aged child, which is a fair complaint. A 24.5 inch shaft is roughly a third shorter than a junior 38.5 inch model, and a growing child will move past it in a year or less.

That makes this a short-term purchase for a fast grower. If the child is already in fifth or sixth grade, size up to the Stallion 50 or the CAKLOR Junior instead. If the player is in first or second grade, this fits well.

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

Buy it for a small child in U8 or U10 who is brand new to the sport and just wants to touch a stick. It is durable, light, and forgiving enough to make the first practice fun.

Skip it if the child is older, taller, or already playing travel lacrosse. The shaft length is the deciding factor, and buying too short is the one mistake that cannot be restrung later.

8. Signature Starter Stick 19.5 or 28 Inch – Best Lacrosse Stick for Backyard and First-Practice Play

The Signature Starter is the shortest complete stick in this roundup, and it is built for a specific job: letting a very young child hold a ball and throw it before anyone talks about technique. The 19.5 inch version is recommended for players age 6 and under, and the 28 inch version for players 10 and under.

Every stick arrives with the Signature Pro-Strung pocket already on the shaft, so a parent can hand it over and the child can play in the backyard that afternoon. Reviews describe that factory pocket as giving real ball control straight out of the box, which is the main thing a first experience needs.

What the two shaft lengths mean in practice

Two options matter here. The 19.5 inch mini shaft is for a toddler or small child who physically cannot control a longer stick, and the 28 inch shaft fits a child up to about age 10 who has more hand control but is still well under a junior shaft length.

Both are shorter than any regulation length, which is a deliberate design choice for backyard, park, and beach play. It also means the stick has a clear replacement point: once the child outgrows the 28 inch, this has to be replaced with a real youth stick.

PVC plastic and the lifetime warranty

PVC is lightweight and hard-wearing for the kind of use this stick gets, which is throwing a ball against a fence rather than taking hits in a game. It will not survive tournament play or cross checks, and reviewers are clear about that when they rate it below the alloy models.

The exclusive lifetime manufacturer warranty is a genuine advantage for a first purchase. If a shaft cracks during a season of backyard play, replacing it is not a concern. Sixty-five percent of ratings are five stars, and the buyers who rate it lowest are the ones who bought it expecting league play.

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

Buy it for a child under 10 who is trying lacrosse for the first time, or as a spare stick for backyard play while a real league stick is in use. Parents buying for a first or second child will get more use out of it than a competitive player will.

Skip it if the child is already in a league, because a non-regulation shaft is not a substitute for a real stick. This one is a starting point, not a destination.

9. CAKLOR Junior 38.5 Inch Complete Stick – Best Junior Lacrosse Stick for Ages 8 to 13

At 15.1 ounces with a 6000 series alloy handle, this is a junior-sized complete stick aimed squarely at the middle of the youth range. The head is molded from a softer material, so it returns off-center catches instead of rejecting them, and the mesh is professionally strung with premium material.

What makes it useful is the 38.5 inch length. It sits between the very short youth shafts and the full-size attack and midfield shafts, which is exactly where most players aged 8 to 13 belong. Many buyers grab two so they have a spare for practice.

The stiff mesh problem, and how to fix it

A small number of buyers received a pocket so stiff and shallow that softening it by hand did not work, and the stick was unusable until a shop restrung it. That is the single biggest risk with this model and it is worth checking the moment the stick arrives.

Test it by rolling the mesh firmly between both hands and then trying to cradle without shooting. If the ball drops out of the pocket every time, the stringing is too tight and the stick needs work at a shop. If it holds, a few sessions of play will soften it into a workable pocket.

Why junior length is not the same as regulation length

The manufacturer states plainly that this handle length does not meet college or high school specifications. That is not a flaw in a junior stick, but it is the answer to the durability question parents ask: this is a stick to grow out of, not one to keep for a decade.

For a player in U12 or U14, it covers the season. For a player already in high school, size up to a full-length shaft instead. A handful of buyers also report small cracks in the plastic after repeated use, which is another reason to treat this as a youth-season stick.

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

Buy it for a player aged roughly 8 to 13 who needs a junior shaft, wants a light complete stick, and will inspect the mesh on arrival. It is a common pick at this junior size.

Skip it if the player is already a high school athlete, or if you are unwilling to check the pocket stringing yourself. Both of those situations are served better by a full-length alloy stick.

10. STX Crux Jr. Complete Lacrosse Stick – Best Lacrosse Stick for Girls Starting Out

This is the only girls lacrosse stick in the roundup, and that alone makes it a necessary inclusion. The Crux Jr. is built for female players under seven, with a 24 inch alloy handle sized for young hands and a design inspired by the STX Crux line.

Most girls leagues require an offset head, and a boys stick is simply not legal in their lineup. A player starting in girls lacrosse needs a stick made for it from day one, not a workaround with tape and a different head.

Lock Pocket Jr. and low maintenance

The Lock Pocket Jr. is the reason this stick holds its shape without constant adjustment. Rather than relying only on mesh tension, the design keeps the pocket consistent through play, which means a young player can pick up the stick after a break and cradle the same way.

At 24 inches with a light alloy handle, the stick is manageable for a small child on the run. Parents report it holds up to rough driveway practice, and the color options in pink, green, and blue are consistently mentioned as a reason kids get excited to start.

The one real complaint: sidewall stringing

Several owners saw the sidewall strings fray at the top after a single game and expected an early restring. This is the weak point of an otherwise solid stick, and it is worth checking the sidewalls before handing it over for the first time.

It is also a short-term problem. Most girls leagues do not start formal play until players are older and larger, so the 24 inch size covers the introduction years, and the rest of the stick is built to last through them. Eighty-three percent of ratings are five stars.

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

Buy it for a girl under seven who is starting the sport, or for a family that wants a driveway stick to introduce the game before club or travel registration. Parents buying for a second or third child get a lot of value from it.

Skip it if the player is older or taller, because the 24 inch shaft is the limiting factor and the stick will be outgrown quickly. Older girls need a junior or full-length offset stick instead.

How to Choose a Beginner Lacrosse Stick in 2026

Sizing matters more than brand, and it is the one decision a beginner cannot fix later without buying a second stick. Before comparing heads or pocket brands, get the shaft length right.

Step 1: Match shaft length to the player, not the age

Measure from the top of the hand grip to the end of the shaft, in inches, and match that number to the stick. Ages are a rough proxy because a tall 10-year-old and a small 13-year-old can need very different lengths.

As a general guide, 24 to 26 inch shafts suit players roughly 6 to 9 years old, a 28 inch shaft reaches about age 10, a 38.5 inch junior shaft covers the 8 to 13 range, and a 39 to 41 inch shaft is the full-size standard for older youth players and adults. Attack and midfield sticks run longer; defense and goalie sticks typically run shorter.

Step 2: Choose a wide, open head over a narrow one

Beginner advice and advanced-player advice point in opposite directions, and beginners should follow the beginner advice. Experienced players want narrow heads for a quick release and precise shooting. A new player wants a wide, open face with a generous catching surface, because a wide head makes an off-center pass stick to the ball rather than off the frame.

The head size numbers printed on the box, such as 155 or 175, describe the certification of the head and its offset. They are not a quality ranking. For a first stick, pick a shape the player can catch from a bad angle, and ignore the number.

Step 3: Understand pocket depth, sidewall, and whip

The pocket is the mesh bag inside the head that holds the ball. Pocket depth is how deep the ball sits, measured from the front of the head to the top of the stringing. A mid-to-high pocket holds the ball closer to the top of the head, which makes catching and cradling easier and makes passing slightly less accurate.

The sidewall is the stringing down each side of the head, and it controls how far the ball can move toward or away from the shooter. A narrow sidewall holds the ball tight and shoots well, but it is punishing for bad technique. A wider sidewall lets the ball move more, which produces a release point that moves in the pocket. That movement is called whip, and beginners want a little of it rather than none.

Most entry-level sticks are strung mid-to-high on purpose. If a pocket arrives shallow, the fix is to pull the top shooting string down rather than to return the stick.

Step 4: Decide between pre-strung and head plus shaft

A complete stick arrives with the head, shaft, and pocket already assembled and strung. A head-and-shaft purchase gives you the parts separately and requires a stringer to put them together.

For a first season, buy complete. Stringing is a genuine skill that takes practice to do well, and a badly strung pocket teaches worse habits than a decent factory one. The exception is a parent whose child is already in a travel program with a team stringer, where a custom pocket is worth having.

Expect one restring in the first year regardless. Pockets lose shape, sidewall strings stretch, and a beginner who practices twice a week will get more out of the same stick after a proper mid-season restring.

Step 5: Boys sticks versus girls and offset sticks

This is the category split that catches most first-time parents. Boys lacrosse sticks are longer, heavier, and use a non-offset head. Girls lacrosse sticks use an offset head, where the head is canted to the side, along with a shorter and lighter shaft.

Offset is not a preference. Most girls leagues require it, so a boys stick will not be legal to use with a girls team. If a girl is playing, buy a girls stick from the start. The only girls model in this roundup is sized for players under seven, so older players should look for a junior or full-length offset model.

Step 6: Know when to upgrade

An entry-level alloy stick typically covers a first season of casual or rec play, and often more than one season at that level. Players on travel teams at 15A and up, or any competitive tournament schedule, will typically outgrow the shaft well before the head gives up.

The signals that it is time to move up are specific. A shaft that kinks or bends, a pocket that will not hold shape no matter how it is adjusted, or a player whose head is turning every pass are all reasons to size up or move to a lighter composite or titanium shaft. Until one of those shows up, an entry-level stick is the right tool.

Other gear a first-year player needs

A stick is one piece of a kit that also includes a helmet, gloves, arm pads, elbow pads, shorts, and a mouthguard. Those safety items matter more than any head brand, and a full kit typically takes more money than a single stick. If the budget is tight, buy certified protective gear first and choose a well-reviewed complete stick like the Stallion 200 to go with it.

Practice tools matter too, and a ball-returning net or a set of training sticks earns its place in the bag. Our guide to using shooting sticks covers the rest of the training setup.

Parents who also want to record the season have a separate short list of gear. Our roundup of camera drones for beginners covers the easiest way to film practices from the sideline, and if you are watching from a distance rather than filming, our guide to telescopes for beginners covers getting a clear look at the field.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Beginner Lacrosse Stick Should You Buy?

If the player is full size or nearly full size, the STX Stallion 200 is the best lacrosse stick for beginners overall. It is light, forgiving, widely reviewed, and legal at both the high school and college rule sets, which means one purchase covers the first season without a second trip to the store.

If the player is a young boy with small hands, take the STX Stallion 50 for its 39 inch shaft and softer head. If the player is a girl under seven, the STX Crux Jr. is the only option here with the offset head that girls leagues require, and its 24 inch handle is built for small players.

For a growing youth player who needs a shorter shaft and a grippy surface, the Franklin Sports Ambush 26 inch works well. For a club player who will keep one stick for years, the Silverfin Camber 1.0 pairs a titanium shaft with a head that suits every position.

Measure the shaft before you order, and check the pocket on arrival. Those two steps prevent almost every bad first-stick purchase, and they take about five minutes.