Choosing the Right Lacrosse Head Shape and Size for Your Position
Are you an attacker looking to add some hold and control to your stick? Or maybe you’re a defenseman focused on improved ground ball scooping? Selecting the optimal lacrosse head shape and size for your position is crucial. I learned this lesson the hard way during my first season playing college lacrosse. I showed up with an outdated head that just didn’t match my playing style. Ground balls were bouncing right out of my stick and I felt like I had zero control on cradling. It was a total nightmare until my coach sat me down and explained the nuances of lacrosse head shapes. Here’s the 101 on picking the right head size and shape to maximize your performance on the field.
For attackers like me who play midfield or up front, you’ll typically want a medium to large-sized head for increased ball control and hold. I find that a nice mid-high pocket with a wider head really helps me grip the ball on dodges and shots, especially in wet conditions. My go-to head now as a midfielder is the Warrior Evo Warp with a mid-high traditional pocket. The wider sidewall and scoop really help me maintain possession. My shots also have a lot more control and whip with the increased hold. Just be careful not to go too big with your head size and end up decreasing ground ball effectiveness.
As a defenseman, ground ball scooping is priority number one. This means you’ll want to look for a more narrow, torpedo-shaped head with a gradual scoop. I’ve noticed my friend who plays close defense will string a slightly deeper pocket in his Maverik Optik head for magnification scooping. The narrower head really helps him guide ground balls right into his stick. He doesn’t need as much hold for shooting, so the focus is getting to those ground balls first. Face-off specialists need a similar emphasis on scooping effectiveness off the draw.
In the end, don’t be afraid to experiment with different head shapes and sizes early in the season to find what works best for your position and skillset. Keep stringing adjustments in mind as well since pocket depth and sidewall style impact overall control and hold. Finding your ideal head and stringing combo could be the difference between picked up and missed ground balls, better cradling, and more accurate shots on cage. Get out there and test some options today!
Selecting Stringing and Mesh Options for Desired Pocket and Ball Control
Once you’ve picked the optimal lacrosse head size and shape for your position and playing style, the fun really starts – customizing your stringing and mesh options for the ideal pocket and unmatched ball control. The stringing possibilities are endless, which can be overwhelming as a beginner. But understanding the impact of basic stringing adjustments like pocket depth, shooters, and mesh goes a long way. The right adjustments give you the advantages you need on the field.
Let’s start with pocket depth, one of the most important adjustments for overall ball control. As an attacker and midfielder, I like to string a mid-high pocket depth for the best blend of hold and release on shots. A mid-high pocket helps me grip the ball on cradles and dodges, without sacrificing too much ball speed on passes and shots. But you can also string a deeper pocket for max ball retention as a midfielder, or go more shallow for quicker releases as an attacker. For defenders, go with a mid-deep pocket to help collect ground balls while still clearing cleanly.
Next up – shooters. Adding a straight, knotted nylon shooter helps provide consistency and control to your pocket. Shooters act like a ramp to set the release point of your pocket. I go with a triple shooter setup in my Evo Warp head – two straight 10 diamond shooters on the sidewalls, and one straight 5 diamond shooter up top. This gives me a nice consistent release with good hold on dodges. You can experiment with the number of shooters, as well as nylon vs. leather, to customize your release even more.
Finally, mesh type is vital for overall pocket feel and ball control. Premium nylon meshes like Throne and StringKing offer great grip, a quick break-in, and a smooth release. I also like adding a piece of soft mesh like Warrior Neo 2.0 into my mid pocket for even better hold. On defense, a full hard mesh pocket can help retain possession on checks and scoops. Don’t be afraid to mix and match! Dialing in your stringing and mesh will give you the ideal pocket for your game.
Getting a Custom Lacrosse Shaft Length and Flex for Your Height and Strength
You’ve got the perfect head shape, pocket, and stringing setup. But don’t forget about customizing the shaft length and flex to complement your playing style. I’ve seen many players just use stock shaft lengths and stiffnesses that don’t maximize their abilities. Taking the time to get a custom shaft tuned for your height, position, and strength can really give you an edge out there.
For midfielders like myself, I like to use a 30″ shaft length since I’m 5’10”. This gives me a little extra reach on poke checks, ground balls, and shooting while still allowing good maneuverability in traffic. Some of my shorter teammates like to use a 28-29″ length for quicker sticks. On defense, those long pole shafts range from 52-72″ depending on your height and wingspan. Make sure you can control those longer poles comfortably though before extending the length too much.
Shaft stiffness is the other big factor. Here you need to balance your strength with desired flex and control. As a middie, I use a firm flex that gives me some bend on hard passes and shots, while still feeling stiff enough on cradles and checks. Our defenders tend to use medium-stiff flexes for better poke control. Just keep in mind more flex can reduce ball speed on shots. Make sure to test flex levels to find your ideal blend of responsiveness and control.
Don’t settle for a generic shaft off the rack. Getting a custom length and flex fine-tuned for you gives better range, ball control, and all around confidence. It may take some trial and error, but finding your ideal shaft is worth the effort. Then you can focus on stringing up the perfect pocket rather than fighting a shaft that doesn’t match your game. Ask your teammates what works for them too – their insight just might help you find lacrosse stick perfection!
Adding Personalized Lacrosse Head and Shaft Designs and Colors
You’ve got the right lacrosse head, optimized stringing, and a custom shaft. Now it’s time to add some style and make it your own with custom designs and colors! Having a unique head and shaft combo you love gives you that extra bit of confidence and swagger on the field. I’ll never forget the first time I got to string up my own head andcustomize the colors. It made me feel like a true lacrosse player!
For custom designs, you can get really creative with dyeing the scoop and sidewall of your head. I dyed my Evo Warp scoop red and added black fades on the sidewalls to match our team colors. Some guys on the team did cool camo fades or mascot designs. You can even dye the plastic components or shooters if you want to get really fancy with it! On defense, our poles have team logos dyed down the shaft which looks intimidating. Just use high-quality lacquer dyes so the designs last all season long.
Picking your favorite colorway for the head mesh and shooting strings is also key. I string my pockets with a red nylon mesh as the base, and add in black and white shooting strings to stand out. It looks clean but also intimidates defenders standing in front of me! You can also wrap your stick handle with different color lizard skins or tape to personalize your style even more. Don’t be shy – having your own unique swag inspires confidence.
At the end of the day, you’ll play best with a stick you absolutely love. So take the time to think about cool color combos and designs that get you pumped up to play. Both for the aesthetics and psychological edge, a personalized lacrosse stick is a game-changer. You’ll have the confidence to take on anyone when your stick expresses who you are as a player. So get creative and make it yours!
Choosing Lacrosse Accessories like Custom Grips for Comfort and Control
You’ve got the perfect head, stringing, shaft, and designs – now it’s time to accessorize! Choosing the right lacrosse accessories like custom grips, end caps, and shafts pads can take your stick to the next level. I see a lot of players just use basic tape on their sticks and call it a day. But adding some personalized accessories dialed in for you gives an advantage many overlook.
For me, upgrading to a custom grip on my lacrosse shaft was a game-changer. The basic tape I had before would loosen up and tear during games, causing slippage and turnovers. But switching to a textured, custom-molded grip like Lizard Skins gave me so much more consistency. Now I have total control of my stick, even when sweating or in wet conditions. A proper grip lets me rip shots and make precise feeds without worrying about slippage.
I also added customized end caps to my shaft which look awesome and prevent fraying. On defense, our long poles have extra padding and thick donuts for improved checking power and hand protection during ground balls. We cut and sew the padding for just the right fit. Adding stick weights is another way to experiment for better shot velocity and accuracy. Don’t forget a high quality shaft and head ball stop too for confidence during big hits.
Taking the time to properly outfit your stick with dialed-in accessories might seem minor. But it’s amazing how much more command, consistency and confidence you feel with the right additions. Your hands connect with the stick seamlessly. You eliminate variables like slippage from poor tape jobs. And you get that psychological edge knowing everything on your stick is tailored just for you. So trick out your stick with custom accessories today and elevate your game!
Determining Ideal Pocket Depth, Whip and Hold for Your Playing Style
You’ve customized the perfect lacrosse head, stringing, and accessories – now dial in your pocket. Optimizing pocket depth, hold, and whip for your position and playing style is vital. A poorly strung pocket that doesn’t complement you can negate all your other customizations. But get the pocket tuned just right for you, and you’ll gain an advantage that boosts performance.
As a midfielder, I like a mid-high pocket depth for balanced hold and release. My throne mesh gives nice grip on cradles, but still has enough give to flick quick feeds and shots. My sidewall and nylon shooters also help fine-tune the hold and whip to my exact liking. I spend hours with my stringer adjusting these details until it feels perfect.
Our face-off midfielder needs more hold to clamp and control draws, so he opts for a slightly deeper pocket with a full hard mesh. The tight channel and cobra stitching give him maximum ball retention off the whistle. Our goalie also needs crazy deep pockets with tons of hold to smother shots in the netting. Defenders benefit from mid-deep pockets to scoop up ground balls without sacrificing clean clears.
No matter your position, work closely with your stringer to communicate exactly how you want the ball to sit, move and release in your head. Bring your stick to practice and simulate game situations to truly test pocket performance. Keep adjusting until you achieve optimal pocket depth, hold and whip that caters to your style. Don’t settle for an average string job. Achieve lacrosse stick perfection by custom tailoring your pocket.
Balancing Shootability vs. Hold for Midfielders and Attackers
As a midfielder or attacker, optimizing your pocket for the ideal blend of shootability and hold is crucial. You need enough hold and control to maintain possession in traffic and on dodges. But also enough quick release for getting off passes and shots in tight windows. It’s a delicate balance only accomplished through precise stringing adjustments.
For me as a middie, I have my stringer set up a mid-high pocket with a defined release channel. This gives me great hold on cradles but still allows the ball to drop into the sweet spot on passes and shots. I use a triple shooter setup – two nylons on the sidewall, one on top – to really control the release point. A soft nylon mesh base also helps cushion and grip the ball.
Our attackmen go with a slightly shallower pocket depth and just a single top nylon shooter for quicker releases. Their pockets emphasize speed and passing over hold and power dodging. Some also use a synthetic mesh like StringKing Type 4s for added response. The softer, thicker grip helps on tight stick handles but doesn’t take away from release.
No matter your style, work closely with your stringer and tweak your setup until you achieve your ideal blend. Try shooting at different angles during practice to ensure a consistent release. Simulate dodging and traffic situations to test hold. Mastering your pocket’s sweet spot for both shootability and hold will make you incredibly hard to stop.
Maximizing Scooping Ability for Defensemen and Face-off Specialists
Whether playing defense or taking face-offs, mastering ground ball scooping is a must. Your pocket setup plays a huge role. The right stringing adjustments give you a magnified scoop to gain possession off the whistle. Dial it in perfectly, and you’ll grab ground balls that seemed impossible.
For our face-off middie, a mid-deep pocket with a defined ramp provides insane ball scooping. He uses a wider Diamond head for increased scoop surface area. The throat of the head is also pinched and angled for guiding ground balls into the pocket seamlessly. On top of that, he strings with a hard mesh base that helps collect and capture ground balls on contact.
Our long pole defenders similarly optimize their pockets for ground ball domination. Their mid-high pockets give them enough retention to fend off slashes on the clear, while still allowing them to vacuum up ground balls. They use strong nylon sidewall strings and multiple straight shooters to magnify scooping. The result is effortlessly gaining possession even while being pressured.
Work with your stringer to really exaggerate your ramp, pinch, and scoop – coupled with the optimal mesh – for your style of play. Test scooping from all angles to ensure the exaggerated pocket ramp guides in balls consistently. Dialing in your pocket magnified scooping abilities is the first step to dominating possession.
Stringing an Optimal Release Channel and Mid-High Pocket
As a midfielder, having a defined release channel and mid-high pocket is essential for my game. The release channel acts as a ramp to guide shots consistently to the sweet spot. The mid-high pocket gives me enough hold for dodging but allows a quick stick to feed or shoot. It’s all about optimizing the release point to elevate my shooting and passing game.
I have my stringer set up two nylon shooters along the mid-high sidewalls to control the release channel. He knots them tightly to prevent stretching or loosening over time. They act as guardrails directing everything to the center sweet spot. I also have him string a soft nylon mesh base for cushioning and hold through the mid pocket area.
During stringing, I’ll continually test the pocket and tweak the shooters to ensure the release point stays perfectly centered, even when I dodge from different angles. I’ll simulate dodges and shots at full speed to confirm the consistency. Optimizing your release channel and pocket takes time and micro-adjustments to get it just right.
Don’t settle for an inconsistent release point that varies shot to shot. Work with your stringer to really define and optimize your channel for a centered sweet spot every time. Dial it in exactly for your game, and you’ll gain shooting and passing accuracy that gives you a dangerous edge on the field.
Using Different Stringing and Mesh Patterns for Unique Pocket Feels
Most players just get a basic string job and call it a day. But exploring different stringing techniques and mesh patterns is an underutilized way to create unique pocket feels tailored to you. From interlocks to stacks, the options are endless. Get creative with your stringer to develop next-level pockets that optimize your game.
For example, I love the way a double traditionally strung pocket feels, with a row of diamonds on each sidewall interlocked together. It creates awesome hold through the mid pocket area while still allowing a quick release. Other guys on my team use a three-stack setup with alternating diamonds stacked three high for increased ball control and hold through the upper third of the head.
You can also mix up your shooting strings with lace-in nylons versus leathers to alter release and feel. Braiding sidewall nylons rather than double straight strings also changes pocket movement. On defense, our long poles will use a full interlock for maximum ball retention during checks.
Don’t settle for a basic starter string job – it’s generic and boring. Collaborate with your stringer to brainstorm unique setups like interlocks, stacks, laces, and braids tailored to you. Finding your ideal pocket feel could take some trial and error. But once you do, you gain an advantage few players have the creativity to explore.
Adding Custom Sidewall Stringing for Enhanced Ball Retention
Dialing in your sidewall stringing is an underrated way to take your pocket’s hold and ball retention to the next level. Most players just tell their stringer to “string a normal pocket” and miss out on huge optimization opportunities here. But putting in the time to customize your sidewalls for max ball control can give you a big advantage.
Personally, I have my stringer do a double traditional sidewall stringing with extra focus on tightening up the diamonds through the mid-high pocket area. This really locks in the ball on cradle and helps preventgravity rolls. Some of our attackmen and middies will even opt for a triple traditional or 1.5x sidewall stringing for even more enhanced hold through the upper pocket.
On defense, the long poles have our stringers crank down the interlocks super tight, sometimes skipping rows for added tension and ball retention. Our goalie takes it a step further, using thick hockey mesh on the sidewalls rather than nylon string for practically suctioning the ball into the pocket. Don’t be shy – max out your sidewalls!
Work closely with your stringer and don’t be afraid to push the limits of how tight your sidewalls can be strung. Dial in the tension, interlocks, and diamonds specifically for your style and desired hold. Juicing your sidewalls will give you vice-like ball control.
Increasing Durability with Double Traditional Stringing in High Wear Areas
When you really use and abuse your lacrosse stick, you need a pocket that will stand up to the rigor. I was constantly re-stringing my pockets mid-season until I learned the importance of focused durability stringing in high wear areas. Optimizing these zones with double traditional stringing has been a game changer for longevity.
I have my stringer really reinforce the upper sidewalls and scoop area with tighter interlocks and doubled-up diamonds. This protects my pocket from getting blown out on face-off pushes and ball battles up top. He also doubles up the diamonds along my shooting strings’ contact points for increased abrasion resistance on shots.
For our face-off middie, extra durability stringing is especially critical. His stringer will use hockey mesh on the sidewalls up top for insane strength against pushes. He also opts for a triple traditional scoop area to prevent fraying or damaging on picks. A double traditional lower pocket helps withstand those battleground ground ball scrums.
Don’t settle for a normal pocket if you play hard minutes in high wear areas. Ask your stringer to identify zones vulnerable to abrasion and use double or triple stringing as protection. The extra time is worth it to give your pocket years more life and save you constant re-stringing headaches.
Choosing Customizable Shooting String Styles for Variable Ball Speed
The shooting strings are key for controlling ball speed and pocket release point. But most players just tell their stringer “throw a couple straight ones in there and call it good.” Taking the time to customize your shooting strings with different materials, styles and placements opens up a new world of shot variety and deception.
Personally, I like using a nylon shooting string up top for consistency, paired with a curled leather shooter along the sidewall. This gives me a solid default release point, plus the ability to tweak my shot by engaging the curled leather more. Some of our attackmen use a double nylon setup for quicker snipes, while also integrating a laced-in leather for extra whip on dumps.
You can also play with shooting string placement – starting lower in the pocket increases hold and decreases speed. Higher placement allows faster shots. Use multiple shooters at different pocket heights, and you have full control over varying your shot speed and placement. Don’t settle for basic shooters – customize them for your style.
Experiment with your stringer by mixing leathers, nylons, laces, and placements to expand your shooting repertoire. The combinations are endless. Simply changing up your shooting strings can completely transform your cannon. It takes some work to dial in, but mastery here gives you a secret weapon.
Optimizing Pocket Movement and Quickness with Nylon vs. Synthetic Mesh
Choosing the right mesh and string combination is vital for optimizing pocket movement, response time, and quickness. Nylon meshes like Throne and Hero provide a smooth release and predictable pocket. But synthetic meshes like Stringking Type 4s offer more grip and responsiveness for tight stick moves.
For most midfielders and attackmen, a base of softer nylon mesh gives consistent shooting and passing with good hold. Pairing it with a strip of synthetic through the mid-pocket adds grip and quickness for tight dodges and sticks. Some players even opt for a full synthetic pocket for max responsiveness, but sacrifice a bit of hold and control.
On defense, most players like a full hard nylon setup for ball retention – especially if face-guarding behind the cage. There’s a trade-off though where maneuverability and quick sticks suffer compared to synthetics. Goalies also typically use a full hard mesh base for stick saves, sacrificing pocket speed.
Work with your stringer to find your ideal balance of nylon to synthetic mesh for the game you want. A midfield dodger might prefer 80% synthetic for crazy moves, while a scorer leans more nylon for shootability. Optimizing mesh styles and placements unlocks next-level pocket quickness.
Getting a Full Custom Re-String Regularly for Maximum Performance
No matter how perfectly you dial in your pocket and stringing, over time shooting strings stretch, diamonds widen, and materials wear down. This degrades pocket performance – decreasing hold, altering release points, and losing responsiveness. Getting a full custom re-string regularly restores it to factory newness.
I make sure to get a full re-string every 2 months during peak season. My stringer strips out all the old mesh and strings, cleans the entire head, then hands strings my customized setup from scratch. It returns the pocket to exactly how I love it – restoring the crisp diamonds, tight channel, defined shooters, and ideal whip.
Our goalies are religious about monthly re-strings to keep their bespoke setups in top form for stopping shots. The FO middies get new hard mesh panels installed every few weeks to optimize scooping. Even brand new heads benefit from an initial re-string to balance and set the pocket.
Don’t settle for deteriorated stringing affecting your game. Schedule full re-strings consistently to resurrect your customized pocket to mint condition. Take the time to explain exactly how you want it strung to get it perfect. You invest so much tuning your ideal pocket – maintaining it is crucial.