How do you cradle before you throw/shoot?

[naplax10]

Argh.
Alright so I've been struggling the past week to try to figure out how to do that little cradle right before you throw/shoot. And... I have no idea. (Is it the bottom hand that moves, or the top hand? Which direction do they turn? How much do they rotate?) Normally, I'd do some upside-down cradle or a twirl right before I shoot, but they are both really bad as a little check will get the ball out of my stick. I'm starting to think my wrists might be retarded. Can anyone help me out?

[murderlax]

the last thing you wanna do is "twirl" your stick. that is a very bad habit that many new players have found themselves doing, and what most coaches hate. it takes too long, and leaves the stick vulnerable to being checked.
as for the "cradle before you shoot", its called a "wind-up". there are many different techniques to achieving a good wind-up. alot of this is based on what feels comfortable to you, and what type of shot you intend on shooting(low, high, sidearm, bounce).
try watching youtube videos of college players shooting on the run. one of the best ways to learn, is to break down what other players do, and see if you like it. if you dont, find another technique, or manipulate a technique so it works for you.

one piece of advice, when practicing shooting, shoot on the run. never in a game will you find yourself flat-footed, and shooting stationary. you need to be mobile, and learn to shoot accurately when running.
what seems to be popular now-a-days is kids wanting to learn to shoot like paul rabil. what he does, is wind up, with his lacrosse head hidden behind his own head so that the goalie cannot tell where the ball is. it has been said to "confuse goalies"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=vWn0iKsdkXY
watch this video where it breaks down how he shoots in slow motion and try to learn from that. if not, search for others among the web.

[bs270106]

otherwise known to some as a "rocker cradle", just a little twitch of the wrist is all, like a miniature cradle

[C4ND1_R4V3R]

Your cradle is always controlled by your top hand and guided with the bottom. In your wind up, just do a small, quick cradle using only your wrist instead of the usual wrist and arm.

[mpls-lacrosse]

what i do is move my both my hands, in a little side to side cradle motion. my bottom hand does a small push with a motorcycle rev move, and at the same time my top hand goes in a small circle with a little cradle. if that made sense thats what i do as i wind up

[IEatWrapChecks]

When I quickstick I bring it back do the rocker cradle thing and whip it out really fast. On a windup however I start out in sort of a power cradle to a rocker the release. Edit: Not a quickstick. Just a catch

[mountieslax22]

the cradle before you shoot is just something you pick up i just started doing it one day

[mpls-lacrosse]

the cradle before you shoot is just something you pick up i just started doing it one day

this is true

[sammyduelist]

When I quickstick I bring it back do the rocker cradle thing and whip it out really fast. On a windup however I start out in sort of a power cradle to a rocker the release

Then it's not a quickstick. Quick stick is catch and release.

[naplax10]

Alright thanks for all the help. I think I've kinda got it down. I do the motorcycle rev thing with my bottom hand and move my top hand side to side. It's a little weird but I'll just keep practicing it and hopefully it'll come to me more naturally.