Welcome back to another edition of #LaxHacks presented by LAX WAX!
Today I’m going to teach you how to cut a lacrosse shaft correctly. Did you know that you can get two full-length attack shafts from cutting one longpole in half? It sounds pretty basic, but if you’ve ever coached young lacrosse players, you know how important it is to instill those fundamentals. I think every lacrosse player should know how cut a lacrosse shaft properly too!
There are several reasons why you might want to cut a lacrosse shaft down into a smaller size. For starters, it’s a great way to recycle an old, dented up d-pole or goalie shaft. You might also want to shorten stick so its more appropriate for your own height, or the height/experience level of a player you are coaching. In fact, when coaching young defenders, a good rule of thumb is to cut the longpole down to match the height of the player from ground to eyebrow!
What You’ll Need
The following items are all you’ll need for your first attempt at cutting down a lacrosse shaft. It shouldn’t be too difficult to scoop ’em up from your garage or tool shed – just be sure to ask for permission if needed.
- One or more lacrosse shafts you’re ready to recycle
- Tape measure (min. 5ft in length)
- Hacksaw (small serrated blades are best for metal)
- A vise, or in our case, a couple of Adirondack chairs!
Five Steps to Glory
1. Determine the length you want
First, you’ll want to determine what length you’re trying to cut the shaft. Without a head installed, men’s lacrosse shafts are typically one of three lengths: 30″ for the attack and midfield positions, 40″ for goalies, and 60″ for defense. Women’s sticks can be between 35.5″ and 43.25″ including the head.
2. Measure and mark it
When you’re cutting a shaft, the most important thing to remember besides safety is the ever popular mantra,“measure twice, cut once.” Using a tape measure, determine where you want to cut the shaft. Use a permanent marker to mark the spot you plan to initiate your cut.
Protip: Instead of using a permanent marker, using a piece of tape to mark the placement of the cut works just as well. If you take this route, be sure to wrap the tape all the way around the shaft just as if you were taping an end cap on. The tape will serve as guide for your blade throughout the cutting process.
3. Vise city
We recommend using a vise to secure your lacrosse shaft before cutting. However, if you don’t have a vise, there are other workarounds available to you. Look no further than the trusty Adirondack Chairs I used in the video! Make sure you really focus on keeping the shaft stable as you cut, and keep the saw blade facing away from your body.
4. Start the cut
Use a hacksaw to slowly start cutting your way through the shaft before picking up to much speed. You may also want to flip the shaft over halfway through as it may help prevent the shaft from snapping in two pieces unexpectedly while you’re finishing the cutting process. No matter what, be sure to remember that this step is all about finesse, not strength or speed.
5. Smooth the ends
After you hear the satisfying clink of one part of the shaft hitting the floor, take both cut ends and either rub them against the concrete or use some fine grit sandpaper to help knock down the burrs and remaining fragments of metal.
When it all comes together, it looks a little something like this:
And that’s how to cut a lacrosse shaft!
Through #LaxHacks, we aim to help you simplify and element proof your game. In every episode, we share specific tips and pointers that will help you save time, money, and heartache. Balling on a budget, and enjoying the beautiful game of lacrosse… that’s what it’s all about.
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