Stick Tech FAQ (read before posting)

[lizlax22]

hey guys this is the stick tech FAQ it was an idea from stopper22 and i will be posting u'r q's with answers and if u guys ever have a Q u can check this out for a quick answer, u guys will not be able to post on this but just PM me u'r q's and feedback and if i get enough i'll post em... so keep em coming!

[lizlax22]

Q:how do you pinch a head?

A: there are many diff. ways to pinch a lacrosse head but u have to pick the way thats best for u... people bake them in the oven, use hairdriers (takes a realy long time), boil the heads in water, microwave, etc... i myself boil the head b/c i find that its safer overall for the head b/c of a less of a chance of melting... to boil a head u just boil some water in a pot and drop in the head after u have tied it the way u want it (make sure its leagle) u can do this by using twine and a pencil, u use the pencil to keep the scoop the way u want it, u can leave the head in the pot for 2-3 min. but 5 wont hurt it, then take it out and let it cool (some people put it in the freezer but i don't recomend it... i wait the extra 10 min it takes to cool) and u can put it back in again... once u are sure the head has cooled compleatly u can untie it.

a site that has great stuff on pinching is www.e-lacrosse.com and check out the stick tech section

[lizlax22]

Q: how do u dye a head and what do u use?

A: to dye a head i use RIT dye which can be found at any drug store, craft store, or wallmart... to do a 1 color dye u boil up a pot of water then bring it down to a simer and add the dye... mix it with something metal so u don't dye u'r nice wooden spoon... then drop in the head, check on it constantly but if u'r guna pull it out of the dye to check it make sure u pull it out all the way or u start to develop a "fade" dye

now there are other ways to dye to make u'r head stand out... one example is the hot glue dye job where u dye a stick a light color (yellow) then put hot glue all over the head then dye it a dark color (green) when u'r done with the dark color u remove the hot glue to get light color (yellow) lines all over the head (u can kinda see an example of this in the thread "my mesh x")... another dye is the fade, to do this u just dip u'r head in and out of the dye leaving one part compleatly in at all times and one part out at all times (let the scoop stay white b/c the dye will wear off there anyways)... a 3rd dye is one where u use stick on letters or electrical tape, u put the tape or letters where u don't what dye to go but when u put the tape or letters on the head make sure to heat them up with a lighter to make sure they don't come off when in the dye

there are soo many wways to dye a head i can't posibly write them all so u guys will have to come up with some of u'r own and check out www.e-lacrosse.com

[lizlax22]

Q: how do u break in a pocket? and on top of that, costum pockets?

A: different pokets might need different techniques(sp?) to get it just ther way u want it... most pockets like mesh and traditional might just need a good pounding... othere ways are to boil mesh (if its REALY BAD) or just puting it in hot water with a pocket screw... DONT BOIL LEATHER! the leathers for stringing sticks is sinthetic(sp?) its not true leather but almost like a rubber and it will harden and will be destroyed. with mesh u can take a shower with it and condition it with hair conditioner (or u can just do it out of the shower *rolling eyes*)

now with custom pockets it starts to get tricky... some pockets are hybrids like the mesh x and some pockets are just leather and cross lace like the home grown pocket... my mesh x wasn't that bad and with some pounding it was great but the home grown pocket has lots of coils which boilign and warm water wont effect and leather which u can't boil so u must be creative... the best way might be just to pound the heck out of the pocket... the coils in the homegrown don't like to lose theyr shape and since they are made of cross lace whick doesn't like to strech which makes the prosess even more tricky... what i would do is get the leather to compress to the crosse lase so the pocket doesn't move around on you later on dow the road but with a pocket like the homegrown all that will realy break in is the leathers... what i think would be a good idea is dip the head in water and then hit the wall or have a catch with a buddy and a pocket screw or the "butter knife trick" will help... if u guys still have any questions feel free to ask!

[lizlax22]

Q: is it possible to dye a helmet like a lacrosse head?

A: nope, sorry.... so don't try... lacrosse heads are actualy made of nylon as in the same nylon you string with... there is a fancy term for the act of the head absorbing the dye but it can't come to mined but that doesn't realy matter... all that matters is helmets are usualy made of a high gloss pollycorbonate(sp?) which is not "that fancy term" so it will not absorb the dye, color is added to the compound while the helmet is being manufactured and u can't add to or alter that... so sorry guys the best u can do is probably spray paint it but that will just chip off in time

[lizlax22]

Q: what kind of stick would u sudjest to a new player?
A: in my opinion a new player should look for a stick that is offset and has a wide face... being offset makes it a little easier to cradle and a wide face makes it easier to catch... some sticks that come to mind are the BRINE edge and the STX proton b/c both are wide, offset, and not to pricy pluse when u get more advanced as a player pinching thies sticks makes them even better... its almost like training wheels on u'r bike when u were a kid, when u get better at it u take em off and when u get better with the game of lacrosse u can pinch the stick without buying a new one

as for stringing... this is where it gets touchy, for me at least... i hate soft mesh with a pation so i still stick with the hard mesh but give it some work as in the hot water treatment, hair condtioner, and in extream cases boiling u can develop what i like to call "perfect mesh" its somewhat soft to help with the catching but still hard enough to get a god pass and shot with it plus it still out lasts soft mesh which in past times i haven't seen it last much more than a season without rips but i would stay away from the traditional... befor u guys jump on me let me explain! traditional stinging is fine and theres nothing wrong with having it except if u'r new to the game and don't know much about u'r stick then u would want the simplest (don't even know it thats a word) kind of stringing :bye

[lizlax22]

Q: why do you call 10 dimond mesh 9 dimond? most people call it 10 because it has 10 dimonds... any reason why your call it different?

A: yes actualy... i refer to mesh by its odd number of dimonds like 10 dimond i call 9. the reason being is when stringing a stick with mesh you want to make sure its symmetrical(sp?)[exactly the same on both sides] if you have 10 dimond mesh i find it easier to look at the 9 dimond row and line it up that way, counting towards the center from both sides of the mesh 4 dimonds in, then there will be one dimond in the centerand that is the center of your mesh, the "9th" dimond. this is just something that i have done because of habit and isn't nessesary to string mesh well, but it makes my life just a little easier

[livin4lax09]

OK, so with all the new threads coming up that are repeating each other, I figured that it is a good time to consolidate them all into one section of FAQ and to eliminate some stickies. also, if you have a question, feel free to PM it to me and I'll do my best to answer it here. So read the following questions before posting.

first off
Q) Am I allowed to make posts about Jimalax and their freebies? I'm making an order for them and I want to know what freebies I'll get. Also, can I brag when I get them?

A) No. Nobody really cares what you got. And people aren't going to know what you're going to get, because the company decides what to send you.

Q) How do I use the search button?

A) It's really easy. Click on the search button, then type in what you want to search for. The hard part is clicking "go." But I have faith in you. I know you can do it.


Q) How do I string a rock-it pocket?

A)I Can't tell you or I'd have to kill you. There are no instructions for Rock-It pockets. They are a patented pocket, therefore making it illegal to either a) give any directions on how to string it or b) make profit off of it by stringing them and marketing them as RP's. You can't even string a RP exactly and sell it as a different name, because that too is a patent violation. So since there are no instructions, check out the pictures on www.rock-itpocket.com, or PM people who know how to string them. Search the forums, and you will most likely find quite a few people who know how to string them, who include kryptic and myself. Those are just two of the people off the top of my head. Also, check our webshot albums for more pictures. If you make a thread asking how to string it, it will be closed as soon as I or kryptic find it.

http://community.webshots.com/user/livin4lax09
http://community.webshots.com/user/kryptic9

also you can check out

http://www.ofoto.com/BrowsePhotos.jsp?&collid=23592171306&page=1&sort_order=0

I hope those links clear any questions up.

Q) How do I dye a lacrosse head?

A) There are many different ways to dye a lacrosse head that involve different materials, techniques, etc. For some cool dyes, check out the sticky in this section entitled "post all your custom pockets." It also includes dyes. Another site for dyes that includes tutorials is Lax Nation. The address for the dyes is http://laxnation.com/home/display.php?display=dyejobs. Most of the articles and dyes are done by me, so feel free to PM me with any questions that you have.

Q) How do I string a lacrosse head?

A) Again, there are many ways to string a head. Lax Nation also has a section on stringing a basic mesh head, along with a couple custom pocket instructions. They can be found here. http://laxnation.com/home/display.php?display=stringing . Also, check out the aforementioned "post your custom pockets" because it has a ton of cool stuff and you can PM the creator of a lot of those pockets and I'm sure they'd be more than happy to help you. Everyone loves recognition.

Also, check out our monstrous guide to mesh. It's awesome. http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?p=212350

Q) Is the razer a good head for a middie?

A) See question 2.

Q) Is jimalax good?

A) there is a whole thread on a review of the jimalax mesh, so check it out here. http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=3225 . It used to be stickied, but it was so old I felt no need to keep it there.

Q) What is this word that I keep hearing? Whip? What is it?

A) to put it in laymans terms, whip is how much the pocket holds the ball. With more whip, the ball will be held in the pocket a lot more when throwing and the pocket won't release it very easily, so a bigger wind-up is needed. if a pocket doesn't have very much whip at all, the ball will exit the head very quickly. It's all preference when it comes to whip. Some players prefer a lot of it because they believe it gives them a faster shot because they can wind up more. It also helps them fake a lot better. Some players prefer little to no whip so that they can make quick, tight passes without having to worry about winding up and getting their stick knocked out of their hands by some 220 pound defender charging at them like a bull on steroids. But hey, it's all up to you.



That's all for now. Any questions that you feel are asked too much? Want to know an answer to a question you've been longing to ask? Hit me up with a PM. I'd be happy to hear from you.

[livin4lax09]

Q) If my stick cracks or breaks, can I fix it?

A) In most cases, no. Your best bet, if it breaks, is to send it back to the company to get a new one. Don't risk trying to do it yourself, because whatever you do may void the warranty. As far as cracks go, I would personally just tape it up and wait until it breaks, then send it back. Warranties rock. This is why you keep your receipts. But if your stick breaks or cracks while not under warranty, there are some other things you can do that can help a bit, if not solve your problem. One method I use is to tape the stick back together, and give it a brace to keep it strong. This is just like a brace that you would wear on your wrist if you broke it. All you have to do is find a couple spare pieces of metal lying around, trim them down so that they fit on your sidewall well, then tape them onto your sidewall. Then tape your sidewall up some more, and you have a well supported head. It doesn't cure the problem, but it's the difference between playing with a stick and having it sit in the corner of your room collecting dust. Also, another solution to fixing cracks and breaks that has been discussed before is the use of fiberglass cloth. This is what surfers use to repair their boards when they break. Apparently, it works very well, but I have never personally tried it. Here's a link to a page that tells you how to fix a surfboard with it, and I think you can figure out how to do it with a lacrosse head. http://www.bravesurf.com/knowledge/repair_a_surfboard_ding.htm Can't figure it out? OK, here's a tip. Every time it says "surfboard" or "board," replace that word with either "lacrosse head" or "head." See, I told you it wasn't that hard.

[livin4lax09]

Q) How do I get rid of whip or add more whip?

A) There are many factors that go into producing whip. A lot of the times, a simple tighetening or loosening of your shooting strings will fix your whip problem. In order to get the least amount of whip, gradually tighten your shooting strings as they get higher in the head. Make the lowest one fairly loose, the second one a bit tighter, etc. etc. until you get to the last one and that should be fairly tight. Think of the ball leaving the pocket like you walking up a staircase. If you have a lot of small steps, and the height increases gradually, it's fairly easy to get up the stairs. But if you have one stair that is 6 feet tall, it's pretty hard to get up to that stair. That's what the ball has to do. If you make more stairs for it, it will have a smoother release because it comes out of the pocket much more smoothly. But if you have your first shooting string very tight, it's really hard for the ball to get over that "stair" in order to exit the pocket. A trick that I like to use is to add a nylon shooting string about 1 or 2 diamonds below the scoop, and make it pretty tight. This will help for a better release. Another thing that can be done to give your stick less whip is to restring your pocket and make it lower. Doing this usually tightens the mesh near the top of the head, making the ball release better without even worrying about shooting strings. For information on how to do this, refer to my Lax Nation article found here http://laxnation.com/home/displayarticle.php?category=stringing&title=ppt&articleid=246.

[livin4lax09]

Q: Which stick is the best one for me?

A: There is no best stick. Your stick choice depends on preference. What one person may be in love with, another may hate. The best thing to do is to read reviews on heads and shafts, and do some good ol' fashioned research. There is a plethora of reviews on heads and shafts on this site, so use that great search button and you can find them. One thing that I will suggest is to not go all-out for your first stick. Try to get a decent beginners stick, such as a gait icon or stx av8, then spending more money to upgrade after you have learned the basics of lacrosse. For your first stick, look for a head that is very wide, so it will be easier to catch with.

Since this has begun to get pretty heated, I will add a little something to this post. Everyone has their own preference. If you start a thread on "should I buy A or B stick," you will get varying opinions. This is caused by different peoples' preferences. Some people like wide heads, some people like pinched heads. No one can tell you what will work best for you. You need to discover that yourself. Try different heads, and get a feel of what you like.

[livin4lax09]

Q) Why do my "what head should I get" posts get closed?

A) They get closed because there is no answer to your question. When you post these questions, you are essentially looking for the best head for you. The keywords they are "for you." There is no best head. If there were, we would not see everyone running around with different heads on their stick. Everyone would all use the same stick if they could afford it. But people's preferences are different, so they prefer different heads. All your "what head should I get" threads will do is start a discussion with everyone stating either a) the head they have or b) the most expensive head there is. You need to get out and go to your local lax store and try the heads out for yourself. That's the best way to figure out what head is the best one for you. This also includes "what's the best" threads about any other kind of equipment, including shafts, gloves, helmets, etc. If you want to know the pros and cons of a certain product, state that in your initital post and people will answer. But asking "what (insert product type here) should I get?" is useless and the thread will end up getting closed.

also, see http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?p=305077#post305077

[livin4lax09]

Q) Where are some good places to learn how to do cool stringing and stick mods?

A) Why, right here on TLF! We actually have a few tutorials that have been put up. Check the tutorials sticky for the addresses to all of them!

[kryptic]

Here's a great post by Lax101...

Q:So here I am, a new lacrosse player. I see many different heads and shafts, what makes one stick combo better than the other?

A: There is no "best stick" or "best combo", you'll have to find that yourself. There is a wide variety of preferences that go into a 'favorite stick'...here are some of them and descriptions:

Weight-
some players like a heavier head, some like a very light head. Heavier heads are often less comfortable to play with, but some feel that it gives them a faster shot (I won't get into the physics of it...). Heavier heads, when paired with a very light shaft, can also make the stick feel "topheavy". The top of the stick feels like its sort of weighing down the rest of the stick. Some like it, some don't.

Lighter heads are more comfortable to play with in most cases. But this isn't true for everyone. Some people like a certain weight. Any head that weighs 5-5.4 ounces (Proton, Evo/Revo Pro, a vast majority of the heads produced today) is perfect for me. Any head heavier I don't like, and any head lighter feels awkward to me, since i can't really feel the head on top of my stick. But once again-its preference. Unta uses a torque which is the lightest head in the game (except for the rumored STX Arrow)

Strength-
Uhh, in general you want a head that doesn't break easily (duh). I think a better thing to debate is flexibility/stiffness. Stiff heads are often for defensemen, since they will poke check and hit players with their sticks. If it's stiffer, the head has less give and will hurt more. A head that's really flexible has a lot of "give" on checks, and will even bend when checking someone.

On the other hand, some faceoff men like a very flexible head to manuever during faceoffs. Also, some attackmen like a light head because of the way it shoots. I in general like a head that's in between. Stiffness/strength usually goes hand in hand with weight.


Pinch-
This just means how wide or narrow the face of the head is constructed. Some people like heads that are very wide, some like heads where the ball can barely fit through it.

A wider head, is simply easier for catching with. Wider heads also usually have a wider scooping area (atop the stick), making groundballs easier. The downfall of wider heads is that its harder to cradle with. Which is the main advantange of pinched heads. Players who feel comfortable catching passes can use a pinched, or narrow head. It takes less effort cradling and controlling the ball with a pinched head, simply because there's less space for the battle to rattle around in. As an attackman, I use a pretty pinched head (a finalizer), since I feel comfortable catching passes, and I like to have an upper hand in ball control.

In general, defensemen want a wider head to intercept passes with, attackmen want a pinched head for ball control, and middies used something in between. But hey, it varies from player to play. The Revo Pro is a very popular defensive head and its very pinched.


Stringing-
How the head is strung affects you a lot. I would go to the "Monstrously Massive Guide to Mesh" in the Stick Tech section. I don't know where to start for stringing...also, www.jimalax.com explains different kinds of stringing/mesh well. There's pretty much two types of stringing:

Mesh: Used by 90% of players today. It's easier to string, is usually cheap, and is usually very durable. There are many different variations of mesh, from its softness (harder mesh will give a more consistent, smoother release when throwing, while softer mesh "holds" the ball more in your pocket), wideness of the "diamonds" in the mesh, to even the thickness of the mesh.

Traditional/Custom: Special variations of stringing. They often use leather strips, weaved together by thin nylon string (called crosslace), to create a pocket. Traditional stringing was the first stringing method in the game. Mesh was first developed about 30-40 years ago, and by the late 90's was used by the vast majority of players. www.stylinstrings.com and www.rock-itpocket.com are two websites that make famous custom strung pockets.

Custom strung pockets are very hard to string. Thus, companies often string them, which makes it very expensive. And pockets using leather play poorly in/after use in bad weather (and especially in rain). However, a custom/traditional pocket, if tweaked right to your very specific needs/wishes, can be extremely superior over mesh. Its highly more adjustable to your specific playing style. However, this can only be accomplished if you have a good knowledge of stringing, and if you are willing to give your stick a lot of maintenance.

One other attribute:
The Scoop:
This simply refers to the top part of your head, used to scoop groundballs. Scoops vary in shape and thickness. Depending on how one picks up ground balls, curved and flat scoops will give advantanges and disvantanges. Thicker plastic makes a stronger scoop, but may be a pain to pick groundballs up with. Everyone has their own preference in this stuff. Personally, the scoop on the STX Profile is the best scoop I have ever used. I love it. It's somewhat curved, and is a medium-thick plastic. I don't know what makes it so great, but its the best scoop I've ever used.


All in all, players today will rave about how one head is better than the other because players today like heads that are very pinched, are light, moderately stiff, and have a curved scoop. For stringing, a lot of players like mesh, and some like custom pockets such as pita pockets and pockets from stylinstrings. Nearly every kind of mesh thinkable is popular today...except for mini mesh and canadian mesh (look them up on jimalax or on these forums). Those two mesh types, very rare and not really sold outside of a few places, arent really popular with many players. But once again-its all preference. Some people love a wide head thats really flexible and weighs a ton. It depends on the player.

[Orange]

Q: Are there Rock-it Pocket kits? Did the Rock-it Pocket patent really expire?

A: http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=31115

In other words, no.

[Orange]

HOW DO YOU BREAK IN NEW MESH?

Since this was requested, if anyone would like to search for threads on different ways to break in mesh please PM me with the link of the thread and I will update this post as I get more and more. I will start out with a few recent ones.

*Note: these are peoples personal preference methods, it doesn't have to work for you.

http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=33696

http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=33699