THE BRINE AXIS GLOVES:

Brine has thrown out conventional ideas about how the lacrosse glove conforms to the hand. A diagonal pattern of pads and seams make this the most interesting looking glove on the market in years. Like a rare Italian sports car, it demands a double take. Under the hood, the glove performs, as well. We found it to be comfortable and durable, while providing great dexterity but only average protection. The price tag is high, at a buck and a quarter, but the glove is light, comfortable and looks awesome. When we first saw the glove we wondered if the attached cuff would bother us or if the clear plastic protection on the fingers would loosen and come off, but after a whole summer of use, they are still in good shape. An expensive leather glove should be.
The external armor on the fingers

The features we liked the most were the slits in the finger area for ventilation and the way the glove conforms to the movement of the hand rather than to the hand sitting still. The wacky shape is not just Billy Daye and the Brine folks' madness. There is method and careful research involved. We would not be surprised to see the more fluid diagonal motion in the seams of many gloves in the future. A few of the manufacturers this year and last have begun to accommodate the curled inward movement of the open hand and the natural uneven resting position of the fingers in a closed fist, but these gloves go much further.

The palms are suede leather with mesh insert areas and rubber dimples for grip, but not overly so. This is a nice touch and they have even used the Brine spinning B logo as some of the larger dimples on the fingertips. The pattern of dimples is placed such that you can grip when needed but let the stick slide along the non-rubberized area for quick changes in shaft position.

This glove is an innovative and impressive design, but from a protection standpoint, Brine has better gloves and is known for their quality protective gear. We've taken a couple poke checks to the fingers wearing the Axis that surprised us and slap checks to the hand have occasionaly been painful. The defensemen who tried them didn't notice this at all, while the attackmen definately did. The glove uses a minimalist approach and sacrifices some protection for its extreme comfort and dexterity. John Zulberti and a few others on the winning Under Armor team in Vail wore them against a ferocious MAB defense and fared well. That said, the Axis is not selling that well from our conversations with retailers. Perhaps the price is somewhat prohibitive for some young buyers, although for only 10 dollars less, the X-Factor Gel gloves are probably Brine's best seller and a very protective glove. Brine, of course, makes a good glove at every price level integrating some of the technology from the higher lines. The L-33 has always been a great glove. But if you have the big money and want the top of the line, either the X-Factor Gel or Axis will fill the bill. The Axis cannot be missed on the field. Check them out the next time you go to the store or see someone with them.