Proper Ground Ball Instructions

[_lax4life_]

Exactly what is the correct way to pick up ground balls? And how many GBs a game is considered good? Can you tell me how many GB is poor, moderate, excellent. What do you do and not do when picking up GBs?

[b-waterlax]

i like to use one hand on turf or short grass cuz it is faster but the correct way to do it is to use 2 hands and get your stick parelel to the ground as you go down to get it. Scoop through it and dont rake. try not to stop either, or you will probaly get layed out. As far as good and bad amounts, just do your best to get every one you see.

[PhilWings24]

i like to use one hand on turf or short grass cuz it is faster but the correct way to do it is to use 2 hands and get your stick parelel to the ground as you go down to get it. Scoop through it and dont rake. try not to stop either, or you will probaly get layed out. As far as good and bad amounts, just do your best to get every one you see.

the most important step of that is to keep your stick parrallel to the ground. once you get comfortable enough you'll be able to coast over them a little, but seeing someone drive the head of their stick into the dirt over and over is painful.

after that would come, especially if you aren't a big guy, keep moving the whole way through. if you're fast enough, you'll draw so many tripping penalties its ridiculous. (also, tripping penalties don't hurt at all, really, so you're drawing painless powerplays for your team).

[_lax4life_]

i like to use one hand on turf or short grass cuz it is faster but the correct way to do it is to use 2 hands and get your stick parelel to the ground as you go down to get it. Scoop through it and dont rake. try not to stop either, or you will probaly get layed out. As far as good and bad amounts, just do your best to get every one you see.

What is raking?

[LaxBoy92]

raking is where you cover your head over the ball and rake back causing the ball to roll into your head.

[Jmalins23]

once you get the ball in ur stick bring the head of ur stick into ur chest to avoid getting checked and dropping the ball

[_lax4life_]

I posted this in another thread but which is the proper way to pick the GBs up? 1 or 2?

[GBaschski]

I posted this in another thread but which is the proper way to pick the GBs up? 1 or 2?

neither. Bottom hand on the butt, top hand on the head.

[LoveableME]

If you're big enough, try to stick your butt end inside your back foot in case someone tries to lift or slap from behind

[sweet_ceX]

I posted this in another thread but which is the proper way to pick the GBs up? 1 or 2?

I believe 2 is correct because you don't want the defender poking your bottom hand. I don't really think about it when i do it, i just go with the flow.

[laxgoalieking]

niether are correct like stated above the bottom hand goes on the butt-end and the top hand goes on the through, or very closes to it.

[WHEELAX2]

a good way to think of it is keeping your back hand low and getting down to get the ball, you almost want to crouch down to pick up the ball so that you are not exposed to a body check...

[KnightsLAXDad]

Everyone's covered low so that doesn't need to be repeated. One thing that doesn't get stressed is foot placement relative to the ball. You want to get your stick-side foot right up next to the ball when you scoop. Too far away, and you are reaching out too far. Accelerate through the ball and bring it up into a cradle quickly.