Every so often something new comes along in the world of stringing. Someone has a new top string set up or something unique with how they string up a head. Truth be told most of these hit a fad phase and then slowly fade away. For example, the Chenango top string anyone? It was all the rage when it first was strung up and is a functional good pocket but is relatively scarce these days. So, when someone creates a style that not only takes a hold of the men’s game but also the women’s? Then they deserve a spotlight on #TheGopherProject. Lars Keil is the Godfather (wait, that doesn’t fit…more like Jedi Master) of stringing to the inside sidewall. Let’s go to Lars himself get some background on this.
Kevin Henry: How did you come up with this idea?
Lars Keil: Honestly, the first few times I did the stringing to the inside sidewall, it was because I had either pulled through the sidewall or someone else had and I had to find an alternative where I used the positioning of that specific hole, but was still have to lock the string into that position.
KH: What is the benefit of stringing to the inside sidewall?
LK: It opens up a whole new world of possibilities for pocket shapes. Stringing to the inside allows for an innumerable number of new pocket shapes that were previously a fantasy. It all comes down to where and how the mesh is pulled to and from. Something that I have said for years when it comes to stringing is that millimeters are miles. And when it comes to stringing some of the wider defensive heads, all of a sudden you can have a high bag with a tight channel that you could never have before with stringing to the outside.
KH: What’s the toughest part of learning this style?
LK: You don’t exactly have to start from scratch, but all those old tried-and-true patters you know have to be thrown out the window and you have to learn an all new set of patterns. It is very exciting!
To be completely honest, I have never strung one of these in my life. Once I started framing out this week’s edition of #TheGopherProject here, I knew Lars would be one of the first spotlights so I figured we’d try this together here. So here we go.
Materials for Our Stringing To The Inside Sidewall Project (What You’ll Need):
- 1 Lacrosse Head (men’s or women’s). For this, I’m using a True Key (same one I used in the fade tutorial in our previous #TheGopherProject edition)
- 1 top string (Normal Length)
- 2 sidewalls (for this I used 36 inches but I suggest adding a few more your first attempt)
- 1 bottom string
- 2/3 shooters (your preference)
- 1 True Mesh (kind of hard to do without a piece)
Lars Tips:
- While possible, it is much easier to set up mid to high pockets stringing to the inside than it is to do low pockets
- Keep everything as tight as possible
- Whatever you think is the appropriate length of string, always cut yourself a few more inches, string is cheap, there are few things more infuriating that having to completely redo a sidewall because you didn’t cut enough string to begin with
Step 1: Lars has been incorporating a floating top string lately so I’m using that. A floating top string is not very different from a normal topstring. The major difference is that the interlocks will not pull the diamond to the plastic.
Gopher Tip: Pull the sidewall as tight as you can and make sure there is no slack in your knots and transitions.
Step 2: Sidewall. Here is where we are the magic happens. Note, for the True Key, there are multiple sidewall holes so if you’re using another head (say the STX Stallion or ECD Rebel) you’ll need to bring the sidewall over the top of the sidewall.
We begin with your basic loop on the 9th sidewall hole. Skip four holes and then begin your SI but bring the sidewall to the outer side of the head and back through the open sidewall above and complete the SI.
You’ll notice the mesh is now hugging the inside of the sidewall and not the bridge.
Now that we got that set, the pattern for the rest of the head is skip, SI, SI, SI, SI, SI, skip, SI, SI, Tie off.
Since this spotlight is for Jedi, it wouldn’t be complete without a pre/post pounding….
Step 3: Bottom String. You can use whatever one you prefer, for this one, I’ve used one of Lars patterns. Start at the first 10-diamond row after the sidewall tie off. Make a double overhand knot and run it from the bottom of the head on the outer throat hole. Loop it around the hole again and weave the bottom string through 5 diamonds down into the 3rd throat hole. Take the bottom string back and up through the second hole and weave through the other 5 diamonds and tie off like the other side.
Step 4: Shooters. Rolled or weaved, your call. Just remember if you roll, make sure they are tight and to the proper tension.
Step 5: Now I am going to hit the wall and give some feedback on the pocket.
Thanks for reading! Use #TheGopherProject on your string ups to earn a future spotlight or string up of the week!
