Hard Mesh Goalie Stick Pocket Problem - HELP!

[jmsaway]

My club provided me with a brand new, hard mesh STX Goalmaster Men's Lacrosse Goalie Stick for my 7th/8th grade rec team. I was told to soften the mesh by soaking it in a warm water/hair conditioner solution and then form a pocket. I did this and placed a ten pound shot-put in the head to form some sort of pocket. When it dried, I ended up with a decent sized (About 25% the size of the one you see a high-level goalies have) pocket and it throws pretty well. My problem is that is has a VERY strong rebound when he tries to catch. I do have him "give" when he catches but every ball bounces out or up. To compound the problem, he never played lacrosse or goalie before so I don't want him to get discouraged by all the potential shots/goals that will occur when the ball rebounds to the shooter so near to the crease. Our first game is Saturday so I need to fix this ASAP.

[BucsBrickWall]

I used to have the same problem.

I play girl's varsity, so the shots are probably the same caliber when I played middle school, so I hope this helps!

Instead of just giving with the ball, bring it in front of you in somewhat of a sweeping motion, across your face. This gives you control of the ball, as well as good stick handling skills.

PM me if it doesn't work. It worked for me, but everyone is different.

[washjeff]

i gotta disagree with bucs. on my old teams we call that sweeping motion batting at the ball. there's a greater likelihood of smacking the ball away than catching and cradling it.

new hard mesh, especially the factory stx stuff, is almost impossible to break in. my suggestion to you is to cut it out and find a stringer on the varsity team or in a local shop to string you a 17d or 12d pocket with some depth. this can allow for a greater give without sacrificing the ability to throw.

do NOT get it strung with soft mesh, that's bad.

[FWHS Mustang]

bounce it up. you could bounce it 20 ft in the ar, but as long as you keep it aboev the crease you will end up getting it.

[BucsBrickWall]

I agree with you Jeff. I spent the entire off season working my pocket and working out the hard spots. I didn't think about the fact that it's a new stick. whoops!

But if you're going to get it restrung and work that in before Saturday, plus let your goalie get used to it and learn to catch and throw with the new mesh, GET GOING. where I live, it takes forever.

sorry for the confusion :)

[Lacrosse4life31]

Restring it?
-I have and never will beleive in breaking in a pocket using hair conditioner. If he wants to break in a pocket he should have hit the wall with wall ball.
-What do you mean when you say it's about 25% the size of a high level players pocket?
-If this helps, a common goalie pocket size is around 2 balls deep.
-Maybe his catching is off? --make sure he knows not to "snatch" the ball, but to START cradling INTO the catch. --It's somewhat hard to write on paper, but it somewhat goes with what Bucs has said, I don't like the "sweeping" motion, but, instead.... (god this is hard to explain..) don't snatch, but before the ball hits the pocket, have him cradle... I wish I had a video camera to show you. I guess you could call it sweeping.

1. Get your goalie in a catching position
2. throw the ball to him
3. make sure he stays in the catching position
4. when the ball is "in the stick" (hasn't touched the mesh, but is close enough so when he cradles the ball will fall into the pocket)
5. have him cradle in a sweeping motion
6. have him throw it back and repeat
-Going to a wall and doing wall ball helps
-As a starter goalie, make sure he has at least a pocket that is 2 balls deep
-It does help to have a soft pocket, to make the pocket soft, get it wet with WARM water, go outside immediatly and play wall ball. Pounding the pocket while it's wet works too. Don't put conditioner or whatever it is people put on there mesh, just use water. let it dry by itself. Start playing with it and it should be soft.

Also, what kind of mesh is it? like is it 12D or 20D?

[FitzGoalie]

for rebounds, have him lead to the ball with his top hand, then punch out his bottom hand as the ball hits the pocket. this will deaden the ball's impact with the mesh, and give better rebound control. also, just practice rebound control with your goalie, such as diving on loose balls around the crease and snatching rebounds that pop up.

and, i would abandon that factory stringing immediately. look on here for a tutorial for 12 diamond mesh, and string it up with that; much better rebound control, and throws almost as well.

[jmsaway]

My son can do a short stick with 10D - how much harder/different is using 12D?

[vegasboy]

its a little harder but no big deal just he has to pound the heck out of it and is he the goalie????

another way is to get 12d and stretch it before putting it in the head!! i could string up my old goalmast with 12d and post pics so you could see? pm me?

[TrapDoor]

My son can do a short stick with 10D - how much harder/different is using 12D?

By short stick with 10d, do you mean a regular attack/middie/defense stick with 10d? I'm guessing so. If so, well, that's a good start, cause that shows he knows the most basic principles of stringing. It's a bit like stringing an attack/middie stick with 6d, for reference. Here are some links he can use for help:

Sidewall help, just help in general (http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=108420&highlight=triangle+topstring+tutorial)
In-depth sidewall (On an a/m/d head) (http://lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=57523&highlight=interlock+sidewall)
All around helpful, but don't follow step by step - it's (goalie) 10d (http://lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=47958)
12d tutorial on a Nemesis (http://lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=45019&highlight=12d+tutorial)

Keep in mind that none of those are on Goalmasters, so you will need to modify them a bit and such. Overall, that's about all you need...