The Lacrosse Stick
Parts
of the Stick
Netting
Length
of the Stick
Depth of Pocket
The Shooting Pocket
Shooting Strings
Type of Handle
The Frame
The Plastic Stick
- Butt
- Throat
- Head
- Shaft
- Face of the pocket
- Back of the pocket
- Leather runners
- Shooting strings
The lacrosse stick is like a carpenter's tool: the better the tool, the easier it is to work with. To achieve better performance you will need to continually make adjustments to your stick. [Top]
Netting
An all leather pocket tends to produce a more accurate pass and shot.
It gives the player a better feel for the ball making it easier
to control and absorb the ball in the pocket . The drawback of an all
leather pocket is that it takes time to soften up the leather to form
a pocket and the leather may break after repeated use.
Players may also have success with a combination of a nylon cord with leather runners. This combination is very easy to break in with the advantage that the ball releases quickly from the pocket. A pocket of nylon netting is the simplest to break-in, adjust and maintain. [Top]
The stick must be between 42" and 46" for players 12 years of age and above. In general, the shorter the stick, the better is the player's ability to control the ball. As a result many sticks are cut to a length of 42"-43". [Top]
The depth of the pocket depends on the player's passing and shooting style. In a ball controlled system with less passing, the pockets are fairly deep because of the high percentages of one-on-one play and the need to hold the ball in the pocket. In the fast break system with quick passes, the pockets are not as deep. The depth is adjusted so that one can just see the top of the ball under the bottom of the frame. This type of pocket gives a player the ability to pass the ball much more quickly. A few players like to have flat pockets. Most overhand shooters have pockets with depths of a ball diameter or less, whereas the sidearm and underhand shooters prefer depths of one ball diameter or more. [Top]
Players should catch and throw the ball from the same spot in the netting all the time. This spot is called the shooting pocket, and is found at the edge of the last shooting string near the tip of the stick. The shooting pocket is formed just below the last shooting string such that there is a short, smooth path for the ball to roll over as the pass or shot is made. With a shallow pocket the ball is resting against the last shooting string , close to the tip of the stick. For a stick with leather runners, the ball should sit in the dead center of the two bottom runners to create a path for the ball to roll straight out of the pocket .
As the ball is released with an overhand pass or shot, the player has a quicker release, more momentum and a higher trajectory for the ball, thus minimizing the risk of hooking the ball. If the shooting pocket is at the back of the netting, the ball has too far to roll and by the time it exits the pocket the head of the stick is in front of the body causing a low (or hooked) pass or shot.
Often in a game, overhand players catch the ball by accident in middle of the pocket rather than at the tip. Two ways to get the ball to the tip of the stick are to cradle the ball to the tip or to drop the head of the stick so the ball will roll to the tip.
Players who prefer sidearm and underhand shot need deep pockets to maintain ball control. Because of this, the shooting pocket ends up in the middle of the stick. These players may use four or five shooting strings to give a smooth path for the ball to roll out of the pocket. [Top]
A shot or pass hooks when a ball, released from the pocket hits a shooting string that is too tight or too loose, thus changing the direction of the ball downward as it leaves the pocket. Overhand passing players may install extra shooting strings to make a smooth path for the ball to roll out of the pocket. This is accomplished by using heavy skate laces intertwined and attached to the frame to raise the netting slightly. Only one or two laces are normally used, but side hand and underhand shooters may use up to five. Once the shooting strings are in place, the player should always be checking the roll of the ball over the shooting strings to make sure the path is smooth. If there is a ridge or gully created by the shooting strings, then some adjustment, i.e., tightening or loosening, is required. [Top]
The type of handle will help or hinder a player in controlling his stick. First time and younger players should use sticks with light handles such as aluminum. Older players may prefer heavier, wooden or graphite handles for defensive purposes. Players may shave or sand the (wooden) handles to get the right feel. [Top]
When buying a stick, pick it up to get its feel and weight. Twirl the stick around and see if it feels right. Not all sticks have the right feel for every player. The shape and bend of the head feels different for a right handed and a left handed player. A left handed player might prefer to have the head of the stick bent to the right just slightly
An overhand passer may prefer to have the handle to line up with the middle of the tip so that the stick is balanced.
There are a variety of head shapes and widths. The trade-off for a narrow mouth head is that the ball comes out more accurately, but the narrow shape makes it somewhat more difficult to receive a pass. [Top]
For the younger player a stick with a plastic head is easier to break in and is more durable. The stick may last a lifetime. Many players prefer a nylon "mesh netting" over "leather runners and cord" since it is easier to break in the mesh netting. Also the mesh has very little up-keep. A stick with a plastic head is lighter and therefore easier to handle, especially for younger players. I t is easier to scoop up loose balls with a plastic head because of its sharp, pointed mouth and it is better for trapping the ball when taking a face off because of the head bends easily and is flexible. [Top]