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The following should be considered when choosing a stick:
Pricing:
There are three things to consider when pricing a women's lacrosse stick: 1. the player’s age and ability. It may not be wise to buy a beginner’s stick for a player who is in high school as their skills may develop quicker. 2. the position the player will be playing. Some sticks are more flexible in the head and may not be proper for a defender. Whereas other sticks may be offset more and will provide more accuracy and shooting power. 3. how much dedication the player has to the sport. It is not wise to spend a great deal of money on a stick is the player is not sure how long she will be interested in the sport of Lacrosse. But in the end remember that you most likely want a stick that your player will grow into rather than out of.
Wooden Lacrosse Sticks:
Wood sticks from Cranbarry and Patterson are still available and can be a great stick to learn on. Although you do not see very many wood sticks at the higher club levels. The wood stick is still popular overseas and with various club teams in the United States.
Molded Head Lacrosse Sticks:
Molded head lacrosse sticks are now the most popular on the women’s lacrosse scene. There are various types of molded heads that can be found on the market. Offset, non Offset. Open sidewall or closed sidewall. Which one you choose should depend on your position and abilities.
Types of Stick Heads
There are several different types of stick heads. First there are Non-Offset heads with closed sidewalls that are recommended for the beginning player. This type of head makes it easy to learn catching and throwing.
Offset heads like the Impulse and Tempest from Debeer or the Backlash from STX are created for the more advanced player and have different release points to increase accuracy and shot speed. This type of head is geared mostly to the more technically sound player.
Types of Pockets
There are many types of pocket options available now for the women’s game. First of all is the Traditional pocket which is the original method of lacrosse stringing. This incorporates usually 4 natural leather thongs that run vertically from top to bottom in the stick head and is then interlaced with a coated string to give strength and a web affect to the stick for ball retention. Second there is the Trakker and Web-X pockets from Debeer and Brine. These pockets are made up of synthetic leather thongs that are sewn together to create a pocket that requires very little adjustment and is extremely weather resistant. These pockets do not have as much adjustability and feel as a traditional pocket but are good for beginning players or players who do not like to have to consistently adjust their pockets. Next is the Pro-Trakker and Precision Pockets from Debeer and STX. These pockets incorporate various pocket styles of both traditional and synthetic. The Debeer Pro Trakker pocket has two natural leathers that are on the outsides of two synthetic leathers that are sewn together between them. This pocket provides a lot of adjustability in that the center section can be strung or adjusted to hang lower than the outside. This creates greater ball retention and shot speed and accuracy. This is even more accented by the lower sidewalls found on some of today’s sticks. The STX Precision Pocket is a combination of two natural leathers on the outside with two pieces of heavy gauge string that run down the center of the stick head with a spiral pattern of two more strings that go down the center of them. This pocket has a wonderful feel as it requires no break in time. For catching the precision pocket shapes to the ball no matter where it hits in the head of the stick. The extra feel of this pocket will build confidence in the player’s game. Shot speed also increase with the Precision Pocket due to it’s flexibility and broken in feel.
Types of Handles
Wood: Wood handles are still available to be installed on modern molded stick heads. This is preferred as a good mix between old style sticks and new style sticks..
Aluminum: This is a basic type of shaft that comes with most stock complete lacrosse sticks. Usually these handles are a little heavier. But they are durable and make a good choice for beginning players.
Aluminum is a temperature sensitive material and the player may require tape or gloves for improved grip and warmth in the winter.
Alloy: More and more, alloy compounds are showing up in the women’s lacrosse market place. These handles are an aluminum base that is mixed with a lighter metal including titanium to create a lighter handle while maintaining the strength. Alloy handles use thinner walled tubing and come in a variety of shapes. Examples would be Teardrop / Octagon / or Hourglass design. You will usually see codes such as CU31 or CU55 on the handle, which will denote alloy composition on some alloy handles. Alloy handles are also temperature sensitive. But their strength to weight ratio makes them a good choice for upper level players.
Composite Handles: Composite handles have hit the market big time. Companies such as Harrow, Warrior, and Brine have brought their versions to the market with a rush. STX has had their composite handle on the market for some time. The composite handles have several properties, which make them now worthy of the price tags they carry. First of all. Composite shafts are extremely temperature consistent. Composite material does not get hot and cold like alloy and aluminum shafts, this can eliminate the need for tape and gloves for players who do not like to use them. Secondly, composite shafts on the market today have a textured surface or tacified surface that is very acceptable during wet weather conditions. Finally,
Composite shafts are extremely lightweight and extremely strong. With the reduced possibility of breakage and the ability of quicker stick work. The composite shaft has definitely found it’s niche in the women’s market.
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