How to easily string a lacrosse head (videos) and general stick maintainance

“A bad workman always blames his tools” – is very much true if your lacrosse head is in bad shape, broken or just plain awful. You can be the best player in the world, but with a rubbish pocket, the ball is not going to fly straight and true.

Stick Stringing

There are loads of videos on YouTube showing how to string a lacrosse head but these from Brendan Mundorf are easy to follow and split into the four steps of stringing a complete (mens) lacrosse stick.

Before you start you’ll need to buy a new stringing kit, available from nearly all lacrosse retailers. A popular choice for UK use is the 10 diamond hard mesh. Then either fit this to a brand new unstrung head or remove the old mesh and restring.

Years ago there was an equal split between players using traditional leather stringing and mesh stringing. Mesh is way easier to maintain so hardly anyone now plays with traditional stringing. Also mesh comes in hard and soft forms. DO NOT use soft mesh in the UK as as soon as soft mesh gets wet, your pocket will become a saggy balloon.

We’d also highly recommend the String King Lacrosse website and their uString section for advanced stringing options specific for your lacrosse head and desired combination of throwing/cradling characteristics.

Step 1: Top String

Step 2: Sidewall Strings

Step 3: Bottom String

Step 4: Shooting Strings

Once your new head is strung, it will take a few training sessions for the pocket to settle into it’s final shape. DO NOT play a competitive game with a brand new head without first using it in some training sessions. Otherwise your passing will be just awful.

Stick Maintainance

The lacrosse head, if well strung, only needs little maintenance. The most common mistake is not letting a wet lacrosse head dry. A wet head, left in a kit bag where air cannot dry it will mean the mesh will expand and sag. After a wet game, bring your stick indoors to dry naturally. Don’t put it over a radiator or in the airing cupboard as direct heat might weaken the mesh.

If your head is covered in mud after a game, once it’s dry, brush off the mud with a hard bristle brush, using a little water if required. Don’t soak the head in water as that will make the mesh expand and sag.

Over time, a sidewall string, or part of the mesh may snap. You can make basic repairs with off-cuts of string but once this happens two or three times it will be time to completely restring your head.

If part of your lacrosse head snaps, get your credit card out and buy a new one. If the mesh is still in good condition, carefully remove it by undoing the stringing instructions above (you don’t need to remove the shooting strings) so you can fit it to a new head.

Knocks and dents in the lacrosse shaft are unavoidable and not a problem. A bent shaft can be straightened with brute force but will then be prone to snapping. Any shaft may snap without warning. Most players suffer a broken shaft at least once in their playing careers. It’s part of lacrosse.