Lacrosse sticks can be a tricky business! Many players struggle with issues such as throws that seem to dive directly into the ground. You’d think it would have something to do with technique, but oftentimes these problems are due simply to improper stringing of their stick. Unfortunately, this is news for many lacrosse devotees who often blame themselves instead of recognizing an overlooked detail about their gear – so if your throw has been feeling off lately you might want give those strings and extra look over!
Nothing kills a game of lacrosse faster than your stick suddenly “throwing down,” meaning it has too much whip. This can be caused by some pesky stringing issues, like if the pocket is way too deep or shooting strings are extra tight. It’s important to take the time and money to get those little details right!
If you’re finding your throws are consistently hitting the dirt, several factors could be to blame. To uncover the issue and get back on track with pinpoint accuracy, dig a little deeper into each stringing aspect of your lacrosse pocket!
What On Earth Is Whip?
If you ever wondered why some lacrosse players talk about getting the perfect ‘whip’ on their stick, it’s all to do with how they can make sure the ball heads in exactly the right direction! Lacrosse sticks with high vs low whip can have huge impacts on the trajectory of your shots. Choosing between them is a key factor in whether or not you’ll be able to hit those sweet, soaring goals from distance!
A lacrosse stick with high whip isn’t for the faint of heart – it’ll throw that ball into the dirt just like a skip stone over water. But if you’re looking to send those shots towards stratosphere, then look no further than a low-whip model – way more lift and guaranteed airtime!
Stringing Issues
If you find that your lacrosse pocket isn’t performing up to standards, there could be a multitude of string-related issues causing the irregularity. Mesh, top strings, sidewalls – just to name a few components! It’s quite possible one or more is impeding on your accuracy and leading to unwanted whip in throws.
Broken Lacrosse Head
Our trusty lacrosse heads often take a beating during games, but it’s important to make sure they’re still in top shape. Give your equipment an occasional check-up and look out for any hidden cracks or breaks that maybe you didn’t notice before!
A bad hit or unintentionally taking too hard of angle against the ground can quickly turn what was once working gear into nothing but old plastic parts. Checking to make sure our sticks are in one piece is definitely something worth doing every now and then if we want them throwing properly during those all-important games!
Warped Lacrosse Head
No one wants to see their lacrosse stick fail them by sending the ball flying into the dirt. Unfortunately, even if you take great care of your equipment, it can still warp over time from excessive heat and actions like face-offs. Warping causes a drastic change in shape that affects how well the lacrosse head performs – so make sure to keep an eye on yours!
Defective Lacrosse Shaft
Keep an eye on your lacrosse shaft – even if it looks alright, a hard hit in game could alter the structural integrity and leave you with less control than expected. Analyze regularly to make sure everything is going smoothly!
If the gear is faulty, replacing it may be your only solution. Stringing won’t help in this case, but investing in new equipment could make all the difference!
Stringing Factors That Can Cause Whip
Pocket Depth
Have you ever been in position to score a lacrosse goal, only for the ball to be too deep within your pocket and make it impossible to throw accurately? Time for some detective work – let’s see if we can figure out how far down that ball has sunk!
When your lacrosse pocket is too deep, it doesn’t let the ball go when you want it to. It hangs on a little longer than necessary and then finally releases at an awkward part of your throwing motion – causing the ball to drop toward the ground instead of soaring through the air.
Breaking in your lacrosse stick is crucial for a successful play. After catching ball after ball, the pocket of the stick starts to deepen until it’s positioned perfectly allowing players to feel comfortable and move fluidly with their sticks as if they were an extension of their arms!
How to Fix it: Tired of your lacrosse ball always sitting too low in the pocket? Tightening up the bottom string on your stick is a simple way to make it shallower, giving you more control over where and how high you can launch those shots.
Tight Pocket Channel
Is the lacrosse pocket more of a V-shape than it should be? Let’s take a look and figure out if there are any necessary adjustments to make.
Throwing the ball in lacrosse isn’t as simple as it looks. The pocket channel helps to guide the ball down exactly where you want and need it–down the center of your stick’s head! By strategically stringing up each side, this creates a path for your throw that’ll keep all eyes on target.
Challenging yourself to hone your accuracy with a tighter channel may seem like the right call, but don’t overdo it! Going too tight can cause balls to stick in the exit pathway and force you into unwanted downward throws. That extra half second is all too important when trying for those perfect shots.
How to Fix it: For optimal throwing performance, make sure the channel of your pocket has enough room for a ball to pass through with ease – if it’s too narrow there may be some hiccups along its path.
Solving this issue may require an experienced hand. You need someone with a proven track record of stringing knowledge to make the necessary adjustments on your sidewall strings and expand that channel width. Rely on a veteran in this field for best results!
Too Many Shooting Strings
Not sure how many strings to use in your stick? Too few isn’t ideal, but too many can lead to “whip” that might reduce shot accuracy. 2-3 shooting strings is the sweet spot for top performance!
A perfect lacrosse shot isn’t just about accuracy – it’s also about timing. Think of shooting strings like speedbumps on the road, slowing down the ball as it travels out from your pocket. The more “speed bumps” you have in place, the longer that precious second or two will take to get off a good shot! So if you’re looking for maximum power and impact when releasing that rock, make sure to set up some tight shooting strings so all cylinders can fire at once!
How to Fix It: Ready to take your game up a notch? See how small changes can make big differences in the lacrosse pocket – by removing just one or two shooting strings, you’ll be able to experiment with different set-ups and see if it helps improve throwing accuracy.
Tight Shooting Strings
If you want to hit your mark accurately, it’s essential to evaluate whether or not the tension in your shooting strings is just right. Too tight and accuracy suffers – too loose, same deal!
Lacrosse pockets have a sweet spot where your ball will come to life, like it’s just been released from captivity! But if you want more control over the flight path of that dynamic cannonball, then shooting strings are here to help – they handle the fine-tuning and make sure you hit those target corners with precision.
Think of tight shooting strings as a fortress guarding the ball’s intended destination. It takes just enough strength to break through this formidable barrier and reach its natural catch point, giving it that extra kick in finding its way home!
How to Fix it: If you’re having trouble with your lacrosse stick, try loosening the shooting strings! Adding a bit of slack will increase air resistance and help launch that ball farther.
Broken Strings
Dive in and examine the strings of your lacrosse stick – look closely at the top, sidewalls, bottom and shooting strings to ensure there are no rips or tears.
Don’t let one weak thread put the integrity of your lacrosse pocket in jeopardy! Every game puts those strings to the ultimate test, from catching shots and ground balls to intense face-offs. A single broken string can be enough for a domino effect that will leave you throwing with less accuracy and power than usual.
How to Fix it: Ah, the age-old dilemma: you’ve discovered a tear in one of your strings – what to do? Well fear not! While it’s certainly inconvenient and will require replacing said string, there is still some good news. Rather than needing to replace the entire pocket itself as we’d sometimes expect, only that single damaged line needs tending to.
