Question about Breaking Heads

[PolishLaxer]

Hello,

I have a question about lacrosse heads breaking. Last weekend, between just 6 of us, we lost 3 heads on the field. Two of them snapped on the top lip and the 3rd broke straight off at the throat. Of the two that snapped on the lip, one actually broke on the sidewall as well.

Anyway, I just got a stringing kit for my favorite head which I haven't used in some time now. But, before stringing it up and hoping it doesn't suffer the same fate as some of the ones from the previous weekend, is there something I should be aware of?

I know that kind of sounds like a ridiculous question, but I'm looking for some specifics - if there are any. Like does micro-waving or baking make a head more durable? Is there a some sort of temperature threshold that acts as a red-line? I know the colder the more likely a head is to break, but is there some alarming statistic like heads are 4 times as likely to break at 27 degrees or something?

Also, just some additional details about the ones that broke: one was about 3 years old. None were stepped on and only one was a groundball situation. The one that chopped at the throat was on a longpole and the guy was slap-checking but not over-aggresively.

Thanks for any light anyone can shed on this! I'm being a baby with my main stick and don't want to string it first if there's something I should do to help maintain the structure of it.

[deuce9898]

sounds like you ran into a combination of cold weather and bad luck. Microwaving/baking will give you a less sturdy/durable head,so I would advise against that. Stiff heads become brittle in cold weather just as flimsy heads break easier in hot weather.
Just try to avoid going between extreme temperatures and if youre really worried about your game head, maybe pick up a head with thicker sidewalls for the cold weather specifically.

[ekajsk8er]

I know that kind of sounds like a ridiculous question, but I'm looking for some specifics - if there are any. Like does micro-waving or baking make a head more durable? Is there a some sort of temperature threshold that acts as a red-line? I know the colder the more likely a head is to break, but is there some alarming statistic like heads are 4 times as likely to break at 27 degrees or something?

Actually, baking heads usually causes the head to become flimsier and sometimes causes them to break easier, but if done correctly, nothing should be wrong with the head. Also, there are really no statistics for heads breaking in colder weather, it's just a known fact that when the plastic heads get colder, they become more brittle, allowing for breakage to occur easier. Heads do not always break just because they are cold though, but it certainly helps.

[astro22]

feel free to correct me, but my understanding is that essentially what is happening is that it is a cold day and the water molecules inside the plastic of the head freeze, causing them to spike and deteriorate the integrity of the head greatly while the head is out in the cold and also will damage it permanently a smidge, making it that much more likely to break in the long run. same thing happens with Carbon Composites.

[PolishLaxer]

Ah, it's all making sense now!

deuce9898, of the three heads that broke, I know two were low-profile. Actually, mine may have taken the biggest beating and it was absolutely fine. I'm not too sure what kind of head it is, but I think it was the "new" thing back when the first Bush was a Vice President! :wow: Unfortunately, I don't think I'm exagerrating. :OMG:

And in line with what Astro22 said, one of the heads was left in the guy's trunk for almost a week.

Lastly, in regards to what both deuce9898 and ekajsk8er where saying about microwaving them, that's seriously good to know! I was under the impression that making them flimsy would act the same way as punching a pillow compared to a brick wall. Sure am glad I asked at the right place!

I guess I'm going to just stick to my 80's head for the time being and not do any baking/stringing to my good head. I think it's supposed to stay below freezing again this weekend.

On a somewhat related matter, I'll bet the stick manufacturers know of some sort of weather threshold that makes heads more prone to snapping. But since all heads are different, I don't think they could make any blanket statement. Actually, if Astro22 is correct, I'd guess that would be 32 degrees then. Behold my power of deduction!

Thanks all!

[Meade Lacrosse]

Never. Ever. Bake a head. You will die if you do.



I've heard freezing hurts a head far more than baking it. Then again, there's no reason to bake unless you need to pinch.