View Full Version : it's the player, not the pocket
lax1191
08-31-2006, 08:59 AM
In the last IL (Mike Law cover) I saw a picture of Ryan Powell with his Blade. The pocket on it was really dirty, nylon strings were frayed everywhere, and overrall the pocket just looked like it was ready to go. Yet that pocket was Ryan's game stick (I think it was since there were pics of him in games and he was using the Blade) and look at him now. MLL's Offensive player of the year and the league MVP. This really does prove that it's the player, not the pocket.
EDIT: I wasn't sure which forum to put this in since it had to do with the magazine, a pocket, and a general player. Mods can move it if they think it's in the wrong forum.
WHEELAX2
08-31-2006, 09:01 AM
yeah, but if his pocket was as shallow as a tennis racket.....
James
08-31-2006, 09:39 AM
Yeah but any good piece of equipment can help a already good player. A pocket can help alot.
goalie1215
08-31-2006, 10:06 AM
if your pocket has too much whip your passes and shots will go haywire anywere. if you pocket doesnt have enough, everything will go 10 feet over what you want it to. i dont really agree with you on this one because out of all your equipment your pocket is the one that is the largest variable in how well you play. by the way, ryans pocket bothered me. he needed to burn the tips of his strings.
Garor
08-31-2006, 10:25 AM
That's like how people said that Gary Gate could find a stick in the trash and still beat everyone of us. That's because he's freaken Gary Gait. And he's Ryan Powell. I'm not either of those people so I'll take a perfect stick that throws how I want it to throw. I need the advantage.
rjattack19
08-31-2006, 10:43 AM
when i went to the championship game last week one of the players had a stick that looked like a pit bull had chewed it up...so i agree with this statement 95%...i say 95% because the way the stick throws depends on how you throw/shoot, but its about skill, talent, power, endurance, and speed...not flashy looks and big names
laxmiddie8
08-31-2006, 10:52 AM
Well obviously he likes the pocket so he just never got it changed so if u gave him a stick with brand new stringing he wouldnt be able to perform the same cause he is use to the traditional in his Blade so the stringing does play a part.
lax1191
08-31-2006, 06:04 PM
I absolutely agree with all of you that your pocket should be able to throw decently and not go crazy. I just mean that you shouldn't spend more time on your pocket than your play.
Liblax44
08-31-2006, 06:18 PM
lol i would agree with this if in the lax.com photos he wasnt playing with a tradintional blade lol get ur facts right buddy its not mesh its tradintional
CutsConstantly
09-05-2006, 02:28 PM
Wise LAXer once said:
It's not the wand, it's the Wizard!
LaxLlama8
09-05-2006, 04:48 PM
Yes, I definitely agree that the player totally makes the pass, but the stick helps a ton. The posket can help a player be able to be natural in their playing, not having to adjust or modify their playing style. I bet any of you I could string a pocket that nobody(almost) could play with.
stegmakk
09-06-2006, 11:28 AM
I agree it is the player more than the stick...however with all the changes and customization and differences in stringing it is a BIG part and the most influential part of sticks...
the pocket is the most important and influential piece of equipment...
a good player with a horrible pocket will have troubles...the fact that his stick was frayed a bit means nothing more than its the way he likes it and hes not changing it...i would like to see him play with a little to no pocket stick or a stick with 7 shooters (ive heard of it done...couldnt believe it either)...and you would see the level of play go down...
Give Dale Earndheardt Jr a car not modified to his liking or to track conditions and hes gonna have trouble winning the race (might still do well but not as good as he normally would)
That example also in a way disproves ur title because it shows that he likes that pocket enough to keep it for a long time. And I string and am fully convinced a good pocket HELPS a good player shine.
CHSlax
09-17-2006, 08:51 PM
now im a stong believer its the magician not the wand but i think a pocket that fits you is nessecary. Now however you like it is you there is no good/bad pocket in my opinion its all preference. And to do with the ryan powell thing that issue came out at like the end of the the mll season so he had probly been playing with that head and pocket since the beggining of the season and it was probly nice and new and white when the season started.