What To Look For In A Lacrosse Stick

I love my lacrosse stick.

But, finding that love did not come easily. I did not find my stick overnight or pick it up by happenstance at a yard sale. I put time and dedication into researching just the right lacrosse stick for me.

And, I found it. Light Blue DeBeer Tempest Pro. Angled head and shaft for better scooping. Tight stick head and angled/deeper pockets for more efficient cradling.  Gripper track for accurate shooting. Made by one of the most trusted brands in womens lacrosse!  Bought at a LaxWorld Store in Maryland.

Did I mention I LOVE my stick?

Purchasing a lacrosse stick is a commitment. Once you purchase a stick, you will be playing with that stick in every game and practice you participate in until you choose to replace it (or when it breaks…hey, lacrosse can be a violent sport...). When considering purchasing a lacrosse stick, there are three basic components of the stick to access: Handling, Angles, and Shooting Capability.

Handling: Handling includes any feature of the stick that affects the player's ability to cradle or throw the ball. These features can include stick weight, head shape, shaft shape, and pocket depth. For a beginner, look for a stick with a wider lacrosse head design for easier catching. At that level, weight, shaft shape, and pocket depth do not matter as much. Actually catching the ball does!

Brine Beginner Girl's Lacrosse Stick

For a moderate or advanced player, the feel of the stick matters. I prefer a stick with a little more weight to it, because I can feel its angle at all times. Without looking at it, I can feel if my stick may be too far out when I cradle (and thus, in danger of being checked). I can also feel if my stick is level just before I shoot.  I also prefer a stick with a tight head. It is slightly harder to catch with but the tighter control of the ball while cradling is of greater value in a competitive league.  For any lacrosse player, the deeper the pocket, the greater the control while cradling and the harder it is to be checked. I looked for the stick that could get me the deepest pocket I could legally have in a women’s game.

Guys Lacrosse Stick

Girls Lacrosse Stick

Angles: Certain advanced sticks have the shaft and/or the edge of the stick head angled for better ground ball control.  When the stick is strictly flat, a player has to reach lower to the ground to retrieve a ball on the ground. When the shaft is angled backward and the tip of the of head is angled slightly forward, a player does not have stoop as far, and thus, does not have to reduce speed to quickly and efficiently pick up a ground ball.

DeBeer Tempest Pro

Shooting Capability: For any lacrosse player, shooting and passing capability are essential. Though the design of your stick will not magically make you a better shooter, certain features of your stick can add to the skills you have already developed. Always ensure you have solid shooting strings on your stick. For a girls stick, look for gripper tracks. These tracks give the lacrosse ball a shoot to run down as you propel your stick forward. The added traction and direction allow the player to truly whip the ball, and whip it straight! For a guys stick, the flexibility of your mesh, the way you string your stick, and the shape your mold your pocket affect how you throw. Guys will typically try to mold their pockets to channel the ball down the middle of their stick both when they catch and when they throw.

The amount that these components matter to any individual player will differ, so make sure to try and test the stick you that are considering in person. Do your research online and then try to visit a local sports or lacrosse store to get the feel of a particular lacrosse stick.

If you have any further questions about what to look for when purchasing a lacrosse stick, feel free to comment below!

Four Ways to Practice Lacrosse On Your Own In The City

In the City, you are often on your own to keep up your lacrosse skills. In my hometown, I not only had my own backyard to set up a lacrosse bounce-back or a goal in, but I had an outdoor recreation center dedicated to lacrosse that anyone in the community could use. When I moved to New York City, none of these resources were available. Over time, I learned how to improvise.  Below are my tips on how to keep practicing lax in the City:

1. Handball Courts are your best friend
For those unfamiliar with American Handball, the game is played in a rectangular court with a 40 x 20 ft wall at the end.  A handball court’s massive concrete walls are regularly used for games by handball players, as well as for bounce back practice by racquetball and tennis players. For a lacrosse player, they are perfect for wall ball practice. Concrete underpasses can work as well. The City is full of concrete--Find a wall; hit on it!

2. Always keep chalk /masking tape and a measuring tape on hand

When lacrosse goals are not available, make one!  A lacrosse goal's dimensions are 6 ft high by 6 ft wide. At any handball court, you can mark out the outline of a lacrosse goal on the concrete wall using your measuring tape and chalk/masking tape. Put "X's" in the four corners of the goal to serve as targets for shooting. Then, shoot away (and carefully dodge or catch the ball as it flies back)! You can do the same thing on any available chain link fence. Mark the goal’s outline in tape for practice and remove the tape when you leave. The chain link backstops at baseball fields or the high fences at tennis courts work wonderfully.

3. Light poles or trees lining your street make great pretend defenders

Practice offensive dodges on the poles, signposts, trees, or fire hydrants that fill your streets. Yes, neighbors may look at you crazy as you run down the street, roll-dodging the signpost at the corner of the road. Just think of it as your opportunity not only to get in some good practice but to inform said “hater” about the awesome sport you are practicing for! You can also visit your local park and practice dodges on the trees there.

4. You can practice cradling anytime, anywhere

Are you a student and need a study break? Practice cradling. Are you about to sit down and catch the latest Knicks game? Bring your lax stick and cradle while watching the game. About to go on a run around the block? Bring your lacrosse stick and cradle on the go.  If you invest in purchasing a few soft lacrosse balls, you can practice cradling with a ball and not be afraid of hurting anything or anyone around you in the small space of your apartment or your street.