The Elite CKF90 is the introductory model in the Elite range, the 90% carbon lay-up is placed across a fibreglass micro-skeleton giving good touch and feel with the Kevlar increasing durability and laminate bonding.

The Ultimate (extreme) low bend is designed to aid drag-flicking, aerials and 3D skills. The Xtreme bend available in the CKF90 further enhances the drag-flicking potential of the stick with a scooped shaft, thinned toe, twisted head

• 90% Carbon
  
• Ultimate (Extreme) Low Bend (24.5mm @ 200mm)
  
• 3-process vibration control (Piezo-Electric fibres, M-Gel, EVA under grip)
  
• Nano-Polymer Resin
  
• Tungsten Carbide Diffused Kevlar

Ultimate Bend

The Mercian Ultimate Bend is the most aggressive low bow that we have ever made, with the bend of the stick effectively cupping the ball. The maximum bend at this lowest legal point enhances drag flicking and aerial skills with the balance point of the stick adjusted to also favour 3D dribbling skills.

Whilst the shaft weighting aid sticks head speed it still provides power and balance for the slapping and pushing associated with elite level skill execution.

Carbon Fibre – CKF90 – 90% Carbon

To provide stiffness in multiple directions the fibre can be woven into a multi-directional sheet (seen as an obvious weave in the sticks surface) or single direction sheets can be layered over each other to create the multi-directional stiffness. 40% of the weight of a composite stick comes from the resin within it.

So a stick can’t be 100% carbon. However it can be claimed that 100% of the composite materials in a stick are carbon. Mercian do not believe this gives optimal strength and so always combine the carbon overlay with a composite micro-skeleton made from fibreglass, Kevlar (aramid) and basalt.

TCDK (tungsten carbide diffused Kevlar) – CKF90 – 5%

Kevlar is the registered trademark for a para-aramid synthetic fibre, also known simply as ARAMID in other sticks. This high-strength material was first commercially used in the early 1970s as a replacement for steel in racing tires. Typically, it is spun into ropes or fabric sheets that can be used as such or as an ingredient in composite material components. Currently, Kevlar has many applications, including bulletproof vests, because of its high tensile strength-to-weight ratio; by this measure it is 5 times stronger than steel.

Tungsten carbide (chemical formula WC) is a chemical compound (specifically, a carbide) containing equal parts of tungsten and carbon atoms. In its most basic form, tungsten carbide is a fine grey powder, Tungsten carbide is approximately twice as strong as steel, For TCDK the fine powder version of WC is diffused through a sheet of Kevlar in the manufacturing process further enhancing the natural characteristics of the material and increasing both its strength and more specifically its durability. 

Piezo-Electric Fibres

Piezo-electric fibres are included in all the Evolution sticks they are used to ‘harvest’ the vibrations created in these super-stiff sticks and turn them into heat. The result of this is efficient vibration dampening. It's achieved because the molecules within the material are active, the force applied to them (vibrations) causes the fibres to bend and emit a small electric charge that is dispelled as heat.

The technology originally used by Head in tennis, applied those forces through an electrode to counter-act the vibrations (this isn’t present in hockey sticks!)

Nano-Polymer Resin

The particles within our resins have been altered at a nano-size level (10 x below microscopic) Instead of using nano-carbon particles, the use of rubberized polymers creates a more flexible but stronger bond between the composite layers. This increases the stiffness of the sticks and reduces de-lamination. 

Fibreglass – CKF90 – 5% Fibreglass

The basic synthetic material that makes the initial micro-skeleton in all Mercian composite sticks. Simple fibreglass stands, dipped in custom resins and then woven into sheets to be combined with other materials to create the combinations relative to the specific stick’s performance.

Player Profile

• The Elite CKF90 is a high-quality, high-carbon stick with an Ultimate (24.5mm @ 200mm) or an Xtreme (24.5mm @ 200mm, scoop shaft, flat backhand edge) bend. 
  
• It is suitable for an advanced, or aspirational intermediate player, the carbon offers good energy transfer and therefore power for hits and slaps. The open-face of the
• Ultimate model helps to lift the ball - drag flicks, 3D skills, aerials, with the additional bend helping stick turnover and therefore lateral ball movement.
  
• Defenders - ball carriers, elimination skills, push passes, overhead passes, slingshot / sliders / slap-push.
  
• Midfield - running skills, elimination, lifted short passes, 3D skills, lifted shots.
  
• Forwards - running elimination skills, lateral dribbles (Indian dribble), lifted slap and hit shooting, easier control because of reduced carbon compared to Elite series.