Comments on: Cradling: Hockey vs. Lacrosse

By: NOLax

NOLax — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 04:44:00 +0000

Hockey control is harder, but is also less valued in the course of play…a very common strategy is the dump and chase, where you give the puck up but use the forward’s speed to take advantage of the defense going backwards to get it back…can you imagine petro having his players roll the ball into the zone to then snag the ground ball? (revolutionary new strategy?)

By: Adam Edg

Adam Edg — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 20:59:00 +0000

I agree.
As somebody that grew up playing hockey and picked up lax 15-20 years later, it is infinitely easier to cradling a lax ball than a puck. The fact that the ball is not on the ground and subject to the surface conditions has to be the biggest factor. Plus, I am more or less holding the ball whereas I am merely pushing the puck. Plus, skating speed is usually higher than running speed for most people.
You could almost make the same comparison with dribbling a basketball vs dribbling a soccer ball. Anytime the ball is closer to being held in your hands as you run down the field, you have more control. That’s also why carrying a football is the easiest of all if one exempts the hitting.

By: Mayo

Mayo — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 20:36:00 +0000

Yeah…controlling the puck in hockey is significantly harder than cradling in lacrosse. First reason being, you’re on skates, so more balance is involved. Second, you can have a less than perfect cradle and the ball likely still won’t come out. In hockey, the slightest error in timing, the puck is gone. This is particularly evident when making a move on a defenseman…all he has to do is make contact with the puck and you will likely lose it. In lacrosse, you can be two handed across the forearms, body checked to the ground, roll over, and still have the ball in your stick.

By: Shades of Blue? - 412 Lax

Shades of Blue? - 412 Lax — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 19:45:36 +0000

[...] Hockey vs. lacrosse, which game features more technical stick handling? [...]

By: Derek Blasutti

Derek Blasutti — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 19:43:00 +0000

As someone who grew up playing both… handling the puck in hockey is significantly harder than handling the ball in lax. It’s just like running with a football is easier than dribbling a baskeball. It’s just easier to control.

By: 412 Lax

412 Lax — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 19:27:00 +0000

We’ll say, hockey is more difficult due to the surface of play.