Why Navy Blue Mesh Improves Accuracy and Control in Womens Lacrosse
Navy blue lacrosse mesh offers significant advantages for women’s lacrosse players looking to take their game to the next level. The darkened color minimizes glare and visual distractions, allowing players to track and cradle the ball more easily. This leads to enhanced ball control, quicker passing and catching, and improved shooting accuracy.
The navy color also provides excellent contrast against a white lacrosse ball, making it easier for players to see the ball’s rotation, placement, and angle coming off the pocket. This visual clarity is crucial for developing soft hands and maintaining possession. Defenders benefit from the enhanced visibility as well, allowing them to react quicker when intercepting passes or checking sticks.
Many elite college programs and professional women’s teams like the Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse league utilize navy mesh for these performance benefits. The navy colorway has practically become an industry standard for women’s lacrosse. Players report increased confidence and consistency when switching to navy pocketing and lace.
Beyond visual performance, navy lacrosse mesh often features specialized materials and stringing patterns optimized for women’s sticks. Premium meshes like StringKing, ECD, and Hero Armory use advanced composites like nylon, polyester, and polyethylene to achieve an ideal blend of flexibility, durability, weather-resistance, and pocket hold. The evolution of mesh technology paired with the ideal navy coloring places today’s options leagues above old-school meshes.
For developing female lacrosse athletes looking to get an edge, investing in a high-quality navy pocket is one of the best ways to rapidly improve stick skills. While white mesh remains popular in men’s lacrosse, women should strongly consider going navy if they want to unlock their full potential on the field. The performance benefits and industry preference make it a clear choice over other colors for women’s sticks.
How Navy Blue Lacrosse Mesh Enhances Ball Control and Accuracy
Navy blue lacrosse mesh provides substantial advantages for female players seeking to develop softer hands and take their stick skills to the next level. The darkened mesh color helps minimize visual distractions and allows for superior ball control and feel. When throwing, catching, and cradling, players report higher confidence seeing the ball pop in and out of a navy pocket.
The navy blue coloration creates excellent contrast with the traditional white lacrosse ball. This allows women to better track the ball’s positioning, angle, rotation, and release point coming off the stick. Enhanced visual tracking leads directly to improvements in passing, shooting, and reaction time. Players gain the ability to cradle and switch hands faster while maintaining full control.
Defenders also benefit from the increased visibility. A brighter white ball popping out against the navy backdrop allows them to react quicker when checking and intercepting. Goalies as well gain an advantage tracking shots, passes, and ball movement from navy sticks. College lacrosse programs like Maryland, North Carolina, Syracuse, and Boston College have adopted navy mesh for these reasons.
The high-contrast pop of a white ball against navy mesh led to the colorway being adopted as a standard in women’s lacrosse. Nearly all elite female lacrosse athletes from youth to pro levels utilize navy pocketing in their sticks. It offers visual performance advantages simply not found with traditional white mesh and lace.
Beyond the visual benefits, many advanced navy lacrosse meshes utilize proprietary materials and stringing patterns optimized for women’s sticks. Brands like StringKing, ECD, Hero Armory, and others engineer premium synthetic meshes using nylon, polyethylene, and other composites. This leads to enhanced control, hold, and all-weather durability.
For developing players seeking any edge they can get, switching to a high-quality navy mesh is one of the best investments they can make. While white mesh is common in boy’s lacrosse, female athletes should choose navy mesh to reach their full potential. The performance benefits and industry consensus make navy mesh the clear top choice over other colors for women’s lacrosse.
Finding the Ideal Navy Blue Lacrosse Mesh stiffness for Women’s Sticks
When selecting navy blue lacrosse mesh for women’s sticks, one of the most important considerations is finding the ideal stiffness and flexibility. Women’s lacrosse requires a different balance of pocket hold, release, and ball feel compared to boy’s lacrosse sticks. Fortunately, most leading mesh brands now offer versions optimized specifically for female players.
In general, elite women’s lacrosse players prefer softer, more flexible mesh compared to stiffer men’s mesh. Softer meshes improve feel and control, allowing faster passing, quicker shots, and enhanced cradling. Brands like StringKing and ECD use advanced materials like polyethylene or nylon/polyester blends to create supple navy meshes ideal for women.
However, mesh cannot be too soft or it loses stability. Superior women’s mesh finds the right balance between soft feel and sturdy pocket shape. Top meshes use additional features like memory wraps or rail systems to maintain pocket structure after heavy use. The best navy lacrosse meshes essentially “break in” to the perfect stiffness over time through repeated use.
For elite college, pro, and national team players, firmer meshes around the standard medium stiffness provide the best blend of control, feel, and consistency. Softer pockets sacrifice some hold, while stiffer versions hinder touch passing and feel. Brands will often recommend their medium mesh stiffness for elite women’s lacrosse applications.
For younger developing players, however, more flexible mesh can help build confidence. Softer materials are more forgiving and boost control as stick skills develop. Once basics like cradling, catching, and passing are mastered, athletes can then transition to a firmer mesh more typical of advanced lacrosse.
No matter the level, investing in a premium navy lacrosse mesh designed specifically for women’s sticks is crucial. Generic white mesh lacks the specialized materials and stringing needed for optimal female lacrosse performance. By selecting the ideal navy mesh stiffness for their skill level, women lacrosse athletes can maximize potential.
Optimal Stringing Locations for Navy Blue Lacrosse Mesh
Proper stringing is crucial for getting the most out of high-performance navy blue lacrosse mesh. Unlike stiff traditional meshes, advanced woven and composite navy meshes require specific stringing patterns to achieve optimal pocket shape, hold, and release. While stringing comes down to personal preference, there are some general best practices for stringing navy mesh in women’s sticks.
Many elite women’s lacrosse players prefer a mid-to-high pocket with a defined channel. Stringing the first diamond of navy mesh up near the scoop helps lock in the ball while retaining touch and feel. A mid-pocket also quickens release, while a low pocket can rob velocity. Wide crosses with a big sweet spot are best for a higher navy mesh pocket.
Double sidewall stringing better frames navy mesh pockets. Traditional single stringings can lead to sagging over time. Doubled up laces or leathers better support advanced mesh materials through continued use. For the same reason, additional nylon shooters are recommended to reinforce the channel.
When interstringing navy mesh diamonds, players should use a loose pattern for a quick release. Skipping diamonds or wider horizontal gaps keeps the pocket flexible while still maintaining overall shape. Allowing navy mesh to “bag out” slightly often improves performance.
Finally, adding a U-string or two around the bottom of the navy mesh pocket can help retain the ball. However, too tight of a U will restrict hold and negatively impact throwing and catching. Like other adjustments, finding the right balance is key for optimal stringing.
While white mesh pockets are often pre-strung by manufacturers, getting custom stringing specifically for navy mesh is recommended. The advanced materials of navy mesh call for precision stringing to unlock its full potential in women’s sticks. With the right pocket and pattern, navy mesh improves hold, control, and release.
Maintaining Pocket Shape and Hold with Navy Blue Lacrosse Mesh
While high-quality navy blue lacrosse mesh improves performance in women’s lacrosse sticks, it still requires proper maintenance to retain its benefits over time. Thankfully, with the right techniques, taking care of advanced navy mesh is simple. Just a few best practices will keep a navy pocket in top playing shape all season long.
During games and practices, periodically working the navy mesh pocket keeps it flexible and broken-in. Simply massaging the diamonds back and forth with your fingers allows the mesh to conform better to the head shape. This improves hold and keeps the pocket from bagging out too much.
It is also important to re-tighten sidewall strings on navy mesh pockets occasionally. Natural loosening from use can cause the mesh to sag. A quick lace or leather tightening brings everything back into alignment. Be sure not to over-tighten, however, as the mesh needs some give.
To restore grip and tackiness, cleaning navy mesh with mild detergent and water periodically helps performance. Oils from hands and dirt buildup act like lubricant, hindering ball control. A simple scrub keeps the navy dyed mesh tacky for better catches and throws. Just be sure to avoid harsh cleaners that could damage mesh fibers.
Storing your stick properly helps as well. Keeping it out of excessive heat or sun exposure prevents the navy mesh from drying out. Letting it air dry after use or games avoids brittleness too. Finally, use a stick shaper when not playing to retain the optimal pocket profile.
While premium navy lacrosse mesh is durable, taking care of it properly ensures it lasts through whole seasons and beyond. With the right maintenance, your navy pocket will keep its perfect hold, release, and feel for as long as possible. The performance benefits will remain consistent game after game.
Optimizing Navy Blue Lacrosse Mesh for Defenders vs. Attackers
While navy blue lacrosse mesh provides universal performance benefits, optimizing pocket set up differs slightly for defenders versus attackers. The needs of each position require tailored stringing and mesh stiffness to excel. Knowing the differences helps every player get the most from their navy mesh.
For defenders, maximizing control is more critical than quick release. A slightly stiffer navy mesh pocket with a defined channel helps defenders protect sticks while clearing. A “hold” string at the base of the pocket also secures possession on checks and ground balls.
Alternatively, attackers rely more on fast, accurate releases upfield or on shot attempts. Softer navy mesh offers better feel for feeding and shooting, while a higher pocket placement quickens release. A loose whippy pocket also boosts velocity and accuracy.
While a universal mesh stiffness around medium typically serves most women’s lacrosse needs, defenders may opt for firmer mesh closer to stiff, while attackers can use softer flexible mesh for more whip and feel. This aligns the mesh performance with their specific position needs.
Of course, women’s lacrosse continues trending toward a more dynamic, offense-focused game. So even defenders must work on ball skills, while attackers still need solid fundamentals. Finding the right balance of stick control vs. release for your game is key.
No matter the position, high-quality navy mesh optimized for women’s lacrosse is recommended over traditional white mesh. But dialing in pocket set-up based on your role does help maximize the performance benefits. With the right navy mesh and stringing, every player has an opportunity to elevate their game.
Handling Diverse Weather with Navy Blue Lacrosse Mesh
Women’s lacrosse is played in all types of weather and field conditions. From cold rain to summer humidity, navy blue lacrosse mesh must perform consistently despite diverse environments. Thankfully, advanced mesh materials are engineered for all-weather play. With the proper precautions, navy mesh will excel no matter the forecast.
In wet weather, high-quality woven or composite navy mesh maintains structure and pocket shape, preventing sagging that ruins ball control and feel. Brands like StringKing and Hero Armory use hydrophobic materials or coatings to repel water absorption. This keeps the navy mesh stiff and consistent in heavy rain.
During games in extreme heat or intense sunshine, navy mesh can dry out and become brittle. To prevent decreased performance, keep the stick shaded when not on the field. Use cold water to rehydrate mesh fibers between periods. Frequently working the pocket also maintains flexibility on hot days.
In severe cold, most advanced navy meshes retain pliability thanks to synthetics like polyethylene or nylon. Pre-game pocket warm-ups help, as does keeping sticks slightly heated on the sidelines. Avoid drastic temp changes like moving from a heated locker room to freezing temps right before a game.
On artificial turf, additional abrasion can degrade mesh over time. Re-waxing mesh after significant turf play helps restore water resistance and prevents fraying. Use thicker sidewall strings on turf sticks to better hold navy mesh pockets in place through contact.
While white mesh often becomes stiff, brittle, or soggy in diverse weather, the durability and hydrophobic properties of quality navy mesh keep pockets throwing consistently all year long. With smart stringing and preventative care, navy mesh conquers the elements to maintain women’s lacrosse stick performance.
Maximizing Navy Blue Lacrosse Mesh Performance on Artificial Turf
While designed for elite play, artificial turf can cause unique challenges for high-performance navy blue lacrosse mesh. The carpet-like surface leads to increased abrasion that can degrade mesh integrity over time. However, a few simple steps can help your navy pocket thrive even on the turf field.
First, start with a more durable stiff or extra-stiff mesh variation optimized for harsh turf conditions. The added stiffness helps the navy diamonds better retain shape after contact with the field. Brands like Hero Armory and ECD offer pro-level mesh suited for heavy turf use.
Next, wax any navy mesh before heavy turf play. Wax soaks into the fibers to reduce friction and minimize abrasion damage during play. Re-apply wax and work the pocket frequently to keep the navy mesh fibers protected.
When stringing turf-specific sticks, use thicker sidewall laces like hockey laces to better hold navy mesh. Traditional thin laces can cut into the mesh under turf friction. Wider leathers have more surface area to bear the abrasive forces.
Avoid over-tight stringing and stacking when optimizing navy mesh for turf. Allow a little natural bag to help the diamonds flex and move rather than abrade. Focus on durability over pronounced structure.
Lastly, proactively restring navy mesh pockets after significant turf play. Old fibers will show signs of wear before totally failing. Early re-meshing restores performance before frustration sets in.
While artificial turf poses unique challenges, taking the right navy mesh precautions allows for consistent elite play. With durability and adaptability, lacrosse athletes can experience total ball control and feel even under the Friday night lights.
Pro Players Recommend Navy Blue Lacrosse Mesh
With lacrosse rapidly expanding at youth, high school, and NCAA levels, more young players than ever aspire to reach elite ranks. For those with pro dreams, taking mesh advice from current professional stars can give them an edge. Overwhelmingly, top women’s lacrosse pros in leagues like the Athletes Unlimited endorse high-performance navy blue lacrosse mesh.
Team USA icons like Kayla Treanor, Kelsey Koelzer, and Katie Schwarzmann all rely on navy mesh for optimal feel and control at the highest levels. Treanor calls navy mesh a huge confidence boost, allowing her to focus solely on placement rather than battling poor pockets.
Premier league legends Liz Hogan, Aly Messinger, and Dana Dobbie all credit navy mesh for enhancing their precision passing and shooting accuracy. Hogan uses a specially-tuned StringKing pocket perfected over years as a professional.
For developing players, copying the gear choices of current stars can fast track progression. Navy mesh allows pros to execute at the pinnacle of the sport thanks to unmatched ball control, hold, and visual performance. Young players can mirror their heroines and unlock new potential in their own game.
While traditionally a male-dominated sport, women’s lacrosse now inspires athletes like never before. With participation rising, the next era of superstars needs every competitive advantage. By selecting the same top-shelf navy mesh as the pros, female lacrosse players maximize their chances for success at the highest echelons of the game.
Comparing Navy Blue Lacrosse Mesh to Other Color Options
While white mesh has traditionally dominated lacrosse, navy blue pocketing offers clear advantages for optimizing women’s stick performance. The dark color boosts visibility while advanced materials improve control and feel. But beyond white and navy, some players explore other mesh color options as well. How do these compare to the proven benefits of navy?
Red mesh provides high contrast like navy, but lacks specialty materials optimized for women’s sticks. Patterns tend to mimic stiff men’s mesh, reducing control. Red fades more quickly than navy too, losing visual performance over time.
Pink mesh looks great matching custom sticks, but offers no functional performance benefit. In fact, the light pastel color hides the ball, hindering handling and reaction time. Pink mesh serves style over lacrosse performance.
Yellow mesh can provide visibility for players struggling to track white mesh, but does not fully optimize contrast like a darker navy color. Yellow also shows dirt and staining much more noticeably than navy mesh.
For developing lacrosse players seeking every advantage, tried and true navy mesh remains the gold standard. The premier visibility, advanced materials, and ideal feel simply outclass other color options. While pink customization looks cool, no substitute surpasses navy’s functional performance benefits.
For female athletes serious about excelling, navy mesh checks every box. Before considering purely aesthetic choices, young players should ensure they adopt the top gear in navy mesh to maximize potential. Form follows function for lacrosse mesh colors.
New Tech Advances in Navy Blue Women’s Lacrosse Mesh
While navy blue mesh already optimizes performance, lacrosse mesh brands continuously innovate to push the limits even further. Engineers experiment with new high-tech materials, proprietary coatings, and construction methods to enhance control, feel, and durability. For women’s lacrosse players, next-generation navy mesh tech unlocks game-changing improvements.
ECD Lacrosse wows with carbon-infused Hero Mesh, adding the aerospace material’s strength and vibration-dampening to their polyethylene blended pocket. StringKing pushes boundaries with iQ9, a 3-material mesh using advanced bonding techniques for unprecedented consistency and longevity.
New polymeric coatings allow mesh fibers to move individually, improving flexibility and feel. Antimicrobial Bio-X coatings reduce odor and degradation as well. Expect increased thermoset stability for all-weather play and proprietary memory wraps that retain optimal pocket shape.
Lacrosse engineers borrow from fields like auto and aero manufacturing to build the next generation of navy lacrosse mesh. Reduced weight, eliminated water retention, enhanced feel – high-tech meshes improve performance metrics across the board.
For developing players, embracing new tech mesh advances accelerates skills. While initial costs exceed traditional mesh, a high-tech navy pocket repays the investment many times over through career longevity and pure performance. New tech mesh ensures athletes always use the most advanced gear.
Transitioning from Traditional to Navy Composite Lacrosse Mesh
While traditional synthetic meshes like nylon ruled lacrosse for decades, new composite navy lacrosse meshes represent a total game-changer for maximizing performance. By blending multiple advanced materials, composite meshes revolutionize control, feel, consistency and weather-resistance. However, changing from traditional to composite navy mesh requires some adjustment.
First, traditional meshes often come stiffer out of the package. Composite meshes go through a short break-in period to achieve ultimate feel. Taking the time to properly work the diamonds and customize stringing ensures composite meshes reach their performance potential.
Second, composite meshes include different coatings and treatments not found on basic synthetics. Some add wax or oils to improve performance right away. Others use advanced polymer finishes that maintain suppleness. Understanding proper care regimens keeps these coatings performing as designed.
Lastly, the lightweight nature and materials of composite mesh allow for more dramatic pocket tailoring. Lacrosse players switching from traditional to composite navy mesh should take time dialling in personalized stringing for optimal satisfaction.
While composite navy mesh represents a jump in performance, realizing the full benefits depends on adjusting to the new tech. With smart stringing choices and proper break-in, composite navy lacrosse mesh delivers unprecedented control, feel, and ball visibility for developing women’s lacrosse athletes.
Navy Lacrosse Mesh in Elite College and Pro Women’s Programs
As the premier option for optimizing ball control and handling, navy blue lacrosse mesh dominates amongst elite college programs and professional women’s lacrosse leagues. Perennial NCAA contenders and pro clubs understand the performance benefits of high-quality navy mesh.
Powerhouses like the University of North Carolina, University of Maryland, Syracuse University, and Boston College all outfit their women’s teams with navy mesh. UNC coach Jenny Levy believes the enhanced visibility and feel provided by navy meshes gives the Tar Heels an edge executing their fast-paced offense.
Professionally, every Athletes Unlimited player relies on specialty navy mesh for unparalleled consistency. Firestarter and Team USA legend Kelsey Koelzer uses a custom pocket perfected over years as a pro. Having confidence in her mesh allows Koelzer to focus on placement rather than poor pocket performance.
For youth players aspiring to reach college lacrosse or beyond, adopting the same navy mesh used by the best women’s programs accelerates development. Seeing their heroines excel with navy mesh inspires the next generation to invest in pro-quality pocketing to maximize potential early on.
At all levels, lacrosse is about executing fundamentals under pressure. Elite teams understand navy mesh allows players to reach peak performance when it matters most.
Getting Your Money’s Worth from Navy Lacrosse Mesh
While initial navy lacrosse mesh costs exceed basic white mesh, with the proper care and maintenance, a high-performance navy pocket will deliver value for years. By following a few best practices, women’s lacrosse players can maximize the return on investing in premium navy mesh.
First, properly break-in new navy mesh before games by working the diamonds with your fingers and gradually forming the ideal pocket shape. Avoid over-stringing tight pockets that restrict mesh flexibility and performance potential.
Next, clean navy mesh regularly using mild detergent and water to prevent dirt build-up that degrades fibers. Periodically apply weather protection like mesh wax to guard against rain, extreme heat or cold.
When not in use, always store sticks properly with a pocket-shaped stick shaper. Avoid direct sun exposure or excessive heat that could damage the mesh.
Finally, restring mesh at first signs of wear rather than waiting for total failure. Small investments of new sidewalls or shooters extend overall pocket life significantly.
While navy mesh carries a higher cost, its performance, consistency, and longevity provide a great value proposition for serious women’s lacrosse athletes. With attentive care, one navy mesh investment can deliver seasons of elite play.