Here are some cool tips that most lacrosse players are unaware of. Check them out and tell us what you think about these amazing tricks –
1. Putting inverted V or U Shooting String
Putting an inverted V or U shooting string in your mesh pocket can be difficult, and it’s very easy to make the pocket uneven doing it the way you would do a normal shooting string. Instead of putting a string across the mesh then wrapping around it, run the string in and out every hole in the mesh, then do the same on your way back.
Not only is this easier, it prevents the ball from shooting off the v-string, it just channels it towards the normal shooting strings. Also, if you have a problem with ball coming off the v-string, you can bring it up past the first two or three shooting strings so that the ball is channeled directly into the shooting strings.
2. How to Take Gloss out of Soft Mesh
One way to take some of the “gloss” out of new soft mesh and/or pinch your head a little is to put it in the dishwasher. All you do is wash your head in the dish washer and when it comes out immediately take a piece of wood or something hard that is the length that you want to pinch your head to, tie your head to it and set it outside.
If you just want to take the “gloss” out of the mesh wash it in the dishwasher and let it sit in there for a few hours while it firms up. The fewer dishes you have in with your head the softer the plastic will get.
3. How to Care for Your Lacrosse Stick in Wet Season
When wet, the leather at the top of mesh strung sticks will sag and after a while the leather will get so worn it will snap. So when stringing mesh take a nylon shooter, fold it in half and run it through the top 4 holes like you would with the leather. The nylon is less likely to sag and will last longer than a leather. It’s also easier to do.
4. How to Dye Your lacrosse Stick
When dying your lacrosse stick take a piece of string and run it through the hole where the screw would hold the shaft and head together. and connect both pieces of string and tie them together. When you put the head in the dye don’t submerge the whole string, just enough to where the entire head is under water. When you’re done dying pull the head out by the string. This prevents water sloshing around and keeps your fingers the color they were before you dyed your stick.
Before you dye your stick plan it out. The reason for saying this is you don’t want to be doing 10 things at once. Put the hot glue or the tape on BEFORE you start boiling the water. This will prevent mess ups and keep you from going insane.
5. How To Make A Pocket
When making your pocket a quick and easy way to do it is to place a screwdriver over the ball and under the sidewall so the ball is held firmly in place… and placing the ENTIRE stick underwater. Leave the stick under water for an extended amount of time and then remove and let it air dry. The leathers will tighten around the ball and you’ll have an instant pocket. At first the leathers will be tight but after about a day or two of pounding or throwing against the wall they’ll loosen up.
6. How to Make Soft Mesh Stick A Bit Stiffer
If you have a soft mesh stick and you want it a little more stiff, put the stick on the ground outside face down. Take a can of laundry starch and spray over all of the mesh. After it’s dry, do another coat wait for it to dry and do another coat and so on depending on how you want it. Do the same to the inside of the pocket.
7. How To String The Shooter of a Mesh Stick
We have found a good way to string the shooters of a mesh stick (soft or hard) that is deep and will hold the ball well for fakes. You use three hockey laces. String the top lace very tight, and you can pound it a little later to how you want it. The next string should be strung loosely. Finally the last string should be strung very loose. It should be so loose that the mesh can be pounded to the max, without the string getting in the way.
Then you just pound, pound, pound it in. You pound the bottom two the most, and the top to your liking, depending on how much whip, if any, you like. Pound them in the middle only, because this creates more of a channel. When done, your stick should have a less than 45 degree angle which it holds the ball on the strings. If you don’t like your pocket in the front of the stick, you can pound it back to where you like it, and it will still fake rather well.
8. How to Breaking-in New Sticks
Loosen the side strings at least 1″ and do very little with the bottom of the leathers (or tie-off cord) at the throat of the stick. Then stretch the pocket with a ball midway along the length of the pocket, jammed under a butter knife.
When you get a new “traditional” head, rub baby powder into the leathers. This softens the leathers and helps to repel water because the baby powder gets into the leather pores. Repeat this at least once a week for the first month and when leathers dry after every wet game or practice. A softer pocket wears less and is easier to catch with.
9. How to Pinch Lacrosse Head
When pinching a head, don’t microwave it or do it over a stove, bake it in the oven at 450 for 5 minutes. To keep it legal up top, cut a dowel rod to 6 1/2 inches. Also, to keep the bottom of the head legal, you can place a field hockey ball in the bottom, since they are slightly larger than lax balls.
10. How to String Traditional Lacrosse Head
When stringing traditional, tie the nylons off at the top of each leather and at the bottom of each leather, and string the pocket the usual way. You will soon figure out that this allows you to replace broken nylons easily in the middle of a game.
When stringing traditional, always use a double knot for each diamond, this ensures that the pocket is set the way you string it. Also when you string traditional, you need to twist two pieces of nylon between the middle two leathers, so my pocket is symmetrical.
11. How to Turn Soft Mesh into Hard Mesh
If you want to turn soft mesh into hard mesh put it in a cool bowl of salt water. To make the salt water keep pouring salt into the bowl of water until the salt doesn’t dissolve in the water any more. Let it soak for an hour and stir it every once in a while to get the salt dissolved again. Take it out and let it dry. It should have some salt sticking to it still, making it crusty.
After it has dried, spray paint both sides any color. Now you have hard mesh. If you want really hard mesh, instead of using cool water use hot water. Be careful using hot water though because it might shrivel up your mesh or run a dyed head.
When stringing mesh, use one 4 foot long piece of traditional lace. Use it for both the top and the sidewalls . Start at the top where you tie off the top tight. Then for the sides you can adjust for depth you want. Also, it helps to keep the mesh as close to the scoop as you can. Another tip is after cut my shafts down, quickly smooth down the edges so that the edge does not cut into the butt end stop.
