Comments on: Hot Pot Of Lax: Is Lacrosse Gear Holding Our Sport Back?

By: Michael Jones

Michael Jones — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 21:19:00 +0000

I had a horrible time with my beginner stick. It had the worst mesh and pocket. I won’t buy Warrior products after that stick.

By: Ray matos

Ray matos — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 20:09:00 +0000

the main problem is the terrible quality stringings that the manufacturers put on thier heads. as a stringer, you know how to specificly tune your stick to your needs, but when players recieve heads with rock hard mesh and pocket deepness similar to girls sticks, they get discouraged because they cant catch or throw. kids always say thier sticks suck when really all they need is a better string job. companies should sell thier sticks unstrung and include a free stringing kit. i know its too expensive to hire professional stringers to work at the factories, but at least teach the workers that you have the proper technique. in giving kids terrible sticks, you are driving them away from your product and ultimately away from lacrosse. the begginer sticks that are on the market are very good, but they become obsolete unless they are properly strung.

By: Cam

Cam — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:28:00 +0000

To applaud the industry, starter gear is way better than when I got my kit in January ’02. I got a head with soft mesh and a plastic seam in the middle of the scoop, which broke 2.5 weeks later in the front yard. It’s also good that the PLH line of helmets is no longer around!

By: Vance Brinkley

Vance Brinkley — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:25:00 +0000

Mr. Wilson I completely agree, its not even just a problem at the young child’s level. These problems are also present at a school like ours! A lot of guys get discouraged because they can’t afford the equipment that you need to play. So most of the time it’s a lot of talent lost

By: Swank Lax

Swank Lax — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 17:03:00 +0000

Honestly, it’s not the equipment that matters the most, it’s the quality of the instruction/instructor.

By: Bill Mensch

Bill Mensch — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 16:55:00 +0000

As far as youth equipment goes, I don’t think it’s too bad, Brine, STX, Maverik, and Gait all have pretty decent starter gear, and it’s often sold in a starter pack which makes it a little easier on Mom and Dad’s bank account. (actually, I’m just assuming that, I didn’t do the math.)
A lot of youth programs have gear exchange programs so as kids grow out of it, it can be used by the next group of youngsters.

A true straight beginners stick would be great. I would love to hear manufacturers open up about why they have not done that yet. Maybe they would view it as a set back?

The relationship that players have with their stick is what really makes lacrosse unique. I’m sure mesh quality is an area that manufactures skimp on to improve the bottom line, but it’s replaceable. I’d rather a stick be cheaper.
Stick maintenance is a skill that needs to be taught along with passing, catching, cradling, and shooting. They need to understand how pocket depth is going to change the way the ball is released and how adjusting the shooting strings can make your stick throw better.
Would an hour of time spent on that at the start of the first practice be worth it if you don’t have to take the time to pull kids aside to fix their sticks? (That’s a serious question, I’m not sure what the answer is.)

Final though on mesh. Soft mesh isn’t awesome, but with a shallow pocket it’s not that bad, at least for a beginner. Conner is right, there is better quality soft mesh that can be used, but it’s more expensive and that is going to get passed along to the consumer. Hard mesh for beginners would cause different problems. It has to be broken in and it would be harder to work with for someone who is new to lacrosse.

Great post, I love talking about this stuff.

By: CoachJD

CoachJD — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 15:50:00 +0000

Amen! So frustrating trying to teach fundamentals when almost every kid has a deep bag with tremendous whip. They don’t have the strength or ability to play with that type of stick, and all they pick up are bad habits. In the right climates, youth programs should mandate traditional pockets until a certain age. I remember hearing about a very successful girls school program that didn’t allow their players to use plastic heads until high school.