First String Job

[Fawkes]

My first stringing job is pictured below and I'm looking for some C/C.. I am not sure if my shooters are correct or what to do about the shallow pocket...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2787.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2786.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2785.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2784.jpg

[The Doors]

look at the giant mesh tutorial....take out everything, stretch the mesh, then use the tutorial....good luck

[Martini Laxer25]

Yeah you need some help
good job of getting the top string right though
what doors said look at oranges tutorial

[Fawkes]

I did use his tutorial lol... I just have a few questions... are the shooters wrong? Can you stretch the mesh 'too much'?

[RichWutLax]

if you dont want to take tho whole thing apart just pound the heck out of the pocket ... and no you cant really stretch the mesh to much it will only stretch so far ...and yes the shooters are backwards ... just do the same thing you did just reverse it

and if you look on your second picture the face one ...see how the shooters start one diamond out ... try starting the strings right before the diamonds

[The Doors]

I did use his tutorial lol... I just have a few questions... are the shooters wrong? Can you stretch the mesh 'too much'?

no you didn't......if you did, you would have doubled up and done the sidewalls right......try again

The shooters are wrong also, generally you want to wrap them around the sidewalls and not just the mesh. Also, don't put them around the plastic part of the head, it causes them to get more inconsistent faster....

Don't worry about stretching the mesh too much, I promise you it won't happen

[Fawkes]

I didn't understand the whole sidewall part of his tutorial and just saw the two holes on mine and thought hey, this is gonna be easy... should I just put the mesh in the washer?

[Fawkes]

When I restring it, should I make everything as tight as possible again?

[RichWutLax]

I didn't understand the whole sidewall part of his tutorial and just saw the two holes on mine and thought hey, this is gonna be easy... should I just put the mesh in the washer?

... or you could just fill up the sink with hot water and either fabric softner or conditioner and stretch it yourself for a few minutes ... and also string as tight as you can ..because when the strings eventually stretch out a bit your pocket will stay consistent

[Fawkes]

Imma put it in the washer cause im tired lol.. should I string it while the mesh is still wet?

[laxmax137]

Yes. I suggest getting some jima mesh and a spool of sidewall.

[UVAlaxer432]

Dont put it in the washer...But you should stretch the mesh out and make the sidewalls and topstring REALLY tight. It also helps if you string the pocket while its wet.

[Marty Dawg]

I like the pocket depth!

stretch the mesh double up and pound it

[kylaxer22]

The topstring looks good but you forgot to weave through the last diamond on you straight shooters. Like the doors said you need to use the GIANT MESH tutoriol. I would Re-String your stick and stretch the mesh for about 5 minutes. Some people like to rub conditioner on it to help the break in process, but it I think it softens the mesh too much. Good luck. Looks all right for a first stringing.

[Fawkes]

How tight should the bottom string be? Is that just determined by preference?

[DRobinson1692]

don't do the sidewalls that way

[manup5183]

^yes. You can keep the topstring on but you neeeeed to undo those sidewalls and start stretching the mesh as much as you can. The sidewalls are really easy, just follow the pictures in the giant mesh tut.

[Fawkes]

Marty, what do you mean by double up and pound it?

[manup5183]

Marty, what do you mean by double up and pound it?

if you do normal sidewalls, you would understand. its putting the sidewall string threw two links of mesh instead of one. and pounding is self explanatory.

[Fawkes]

I didn't know if he meant pound the mesh when it wasn't strung or not but ty for clarifying.. and what is the ball and knife trick? =x

[manup5183]

putting a ball in the pocket and pushing it down so its under your sidewalls. slide a butter knife under your sidewalls and have that rest over the ball.

[Fawkes]

Oooh, Thank you.. That sounds like a good plan.. I will post some more pictures once i get it strung.

[the next 'one']

http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=22944&highlight=giant

thats the link to Orange's Giant Mesh Tut. use it, believe me. and follow everything exactly. unstring the whole head, roll up the mesh longways and wring that sucker like there's no tomorrow. pretend like its a wet towel and you have to get all the water out. then wring it both ways, unroll, and roll it the opposite way and do the same thing. this is the best way to stretch mesh.

if you follow everything i just told you to do, you will get a good pocket.

[Fawkes]

I stretched and did the top, I'm not worried about that for now.. But the side... My stringing made it so it didn't use up all the holes... and I'm not sure if I did the side right, here are the pictures.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2793.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2795.jpg

[the next 'one']

just do what i told you to do and i promise it will work out good.

[laxchance9871]

ya that has abosutely no pocket. i would take it off and stretch it again, and then maybe redo it. the top string is real nice though. also, the shooting strings are completely wrong. you want them to start on the outside of the mesh and maybe go around the head where they start

[Fawkes]

I skipped the 6th hole in this one...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2801.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2800.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2799.jpg

[Fawkes]

I just want to know if I did the side wall lacing right... cause that is the hardest part for me.

[the next 'one']

okay....i really dont understand why your being so stubborn. if you would unstring the head completely, stretch it the way i told you to, and then followed Orange's tut, you would have a great pocket. all three of the times you have posted with pics, it gets SLIGHTLY better, but not even close to what it could be. i am only trying to help you.

[Fawkes]

I did unstring it and then restring it..I did stretch it like you told me to and I'm just doing one side at a time trying to get the sidewalls correct lol.

[the next 'one']

here are some of my string jobs, look at how the sidewalls are done, and try to copy that.

http://s93.photobucket.com/albums/l48/thenextone16/My%20work/?action=view&current=IMG_2535.jpg
http://s93.photobucket.com/albums/l48/thenextone16/My%20work/?action=view&current=IMG_2525.jpg
http://s93.photobucket.com/albums/l48/thenextone16/My%20work/?action=view&current=IMG_2526.jpg
http://s93.photobucket.com/albums/l48/thenextone16/My%20work/?action=view&current=IMG_2279.jpg
http://s93.photobucket.com/albums/l48/thenextone16/My%20work/?action=view&current=IMG_2248.jpg
http://s93.photobucket.com/albums/l48/thenextone16/My%20work/?action=view&current=IMG_2172.jpg

that's just a few.

[Fawkes]

I think I messed it up again.. but I don't know what's wrong.. It just doesn't look right... If you could let me know what is wrong with the lacing on the sidewall I would really appreciate it.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2806.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2805.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2804.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2803.jpg

[RichWutLax]

do you know anybody who strings ...cause if you do then watch them ...its easier to watch someone else do it then to learn over the computer

[the next 'one']

when you are doing your double ups, your going up through one and down the the other. you want to go up through one, loop it around and up through the other one. its so hard to explain...did you look at those pictures i gave you the links to. all of those heads i strung is strung like how i just tried to explain. and i wouldnt skip the sidewall hole. i stronlgy recommend you look at the tutorial by Orange. it gives you step by step, very clear instructions on everything i just told you...

[Fawkes]

Well, I have 2 days until practice and I kind of want to have a stick to use by then...

[Fawkes]

When I'm doing the sidewalls do i use both of the holes in the lil space? Or do I just use one of them...

[Orange]

Just use one. All I can really tell you is to keep looking at the pictures of how to do the sidewalls because you are way off.

[Fawkes]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2807.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2808.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2810.jpg
Is this closer? I did the two underneath rather than one above and one under.

[the next 'one']

you got the idea. not just make the sidewalls tight to the stick and thats pretty much it. try pushing the two loops on each double up together.

[Fawkes]

Yay! I can do that.. I will tighten and then get back to you.

[Fawkes]

Here is what it now looks like with both sides done.. hopefully it is correct...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2811.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2812.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2813.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2814.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2815.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2816.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2817.jpg

[laxmiddie11]

it looks a little sloppy, but it also looks correct. just string an old head a lot and you will become better.

[Fawkes]

What should I change on it?

[the next 'one']

it's an improvement, but it still needs some work. on your topstring, you want to fold the mesh back and over a row. the sidewalls still need to be tighter, and there are still some big holes in the sidewall where you need to push the loops together. and possibly i would do a triple up by where the point of the sidewall comes between the two stringing holes. thats a big gap and if you do a triple up it could make it better.

[chuckzuck]

Pound it a lot and use the ball and knife to get your pocket bigger

[Fawkes]

i don't think im gonna redo the top string cause i would have to undo both side strings and everything... but on the sides i should just tighten em?

[Fawkes]

Could I use like a wooden pestle to pound the pocket and should I make the bottom strings as tight as i can?

[laxmiddie11]

Could I use like a wooden pestle to pound the pocket and should I make the bottom strings as tight as i can?
use a ball to pound the pocket. hold it in your hand and sort of punch the pocket. as for the bottom string its all preference, I prefer a bottom string that makes the mesh about half an inch away from the throat.

[Fawkes]

I'm done besides the shooters...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2818.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2819.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2820.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2821.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2822.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2823.jpg
Could I use the mallet to pound it?

[MACDADDY]

better...but i think you can do better than that.

edit: tighten the sidewalls more

didnt know it was november already. man time flies

[Fawkes]

You kidding me? lol... My hands hurt from tightening... besides that is it alright though?

[chuckzuck]

Also I would loosen up the bottom string becuase it will make the pocket bigger

[Fawkes]

Where do I want the top of the ball to be when I set it into the pocket?

[Fawkes]

Think it is safe for me to cut down the strings a bit?

[Laxgoalie4282]

if your hands hurt from tightening, use needle nose pliers, they are really helpful when it comes to tightening strings.

and on the first picture, you shooting strings were weaved wrong. you just folded it over and went in and out of the mesh. you are supposed to fold it over, and have one half of the lace on one side of the mesh, and the other half on the other side of the mesh. then for each diamond, you put one half of the lace from the back of the mesh to the front of the mesh through the diamond, and the other half of the lace from the front of the mesh to the back of the mesh through the same diamond.

sorry if that didnt make sense, but its kinda hard for me to explain

[Fawkes]

Is that the correct way to string a shooter? I laid it over the back, then the front, then wrapped it through the mesh over the front lace into the back lace and back over.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2824.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2825.jpg

[Laxgoalie4282]

yea, for a rolled shooter i guess that works, but what i was talking about was a weaved shooter. i know my instructions werent that clear. but for the kind of shooter you did, dont lay it over the front before you roll it. just lay it over the back of the mesh, then roll it.

[UVAlaxer432]

Tighten it more!!

[Fawkes]

like this?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2829.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2828.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2827.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/coolkid_707/101_2826.jpg

[the next 'one']

looks good, but definitely pound it. and yeah use that mallet thats a good idea, you wont cut up your hands from hitting the sides. that shooter looks good from what i can see, but i prefer the weaved. i would do the first straight shooter in the same row as the first time you lace the sidewall through. have 2 rows between that shooter and the top. then skip ONE row, do another one, and skip ONE more row, and either do another straight or do a weaved u or something.

[Fawkes]

I was thinking about doing one more shooter rigth above that one if i like skip a row and then doing a v shooter.

[nemiman18]

nice depth in the first picture :agree:

[Fawkes]

i think it is too deep now..

[Fawkes]

How woull dI be able to tell if it is too deep? And What should I do about the shooters.. they aren't long enough for me to tie off..

[the next 'one']

well, you shouldn't worry about it being too deep until you can actually see the top of the ball under the bottom of the sidewall if you hold the stick sideways and look into the pocket.

[Fawkes]

What about the shooters though? Should I just use some crosslace and tie the two sides together with that?

[Meade Lacrosse]

Yes, you can use cross lace to make nylon shooters. How many shooters do you like? And keep practicing, you'll get a lot better with time.

[Fawkes]

I dunno...I think I'm just gonna put 2 in and then one V shooter.. I dunno though, I guess I'll see how it turns out.

[centenniallax81]

no offense, but this is one of the nastiest things ive ever seen.

[Fawkes]

Seriously? What's so bad about it?

[centenniallax81]

go check out my thread so you can see how sidewalls should be done and the rolled shooters aswell.

http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=73628

[Enjoi LAX]

Go take a shower and bring your mesh with you. Stretch it in the shower and put some shampoo on it, literally massage the mesh with shampoo. Rinse the mesh and let it dry, or string it wet it doesn't matter. Look at someone else's sidewall and copy it. People make a big deal about the top string but as long as it is even and tight your fine. Don't be afraid to start over that's how you learn. If you like the pocket you've made thats fine but I would redo it. Good luck Look at my sig and go to my webshots, I have plenty of pictures for you.

[Fawkes]

I'll redo it on Wednesday.. I have lacrosse practice tomorrow so I can't.. but I'm free on Wednesday... What's wrong with the sidewalls though?

[Fawkes]

Any hints on how to do a V shooter?

[Enjoi LAX]

What's wrong with the sidewalls though?

The sidewalls are sloppy, unsymmetrical, to loose, and are done incorrectly anyway. Look at a picture and copy it.

[UVAlaxer432]

The mash should be atleast touching the [plastic] sidewalls, thats is how tight your sidewall [strings] should be.

[Bplax26]

Its getting better from where you were when you first started, but its just going to take some time and experience to get good at it. So just keep stringing and maybe find someone thats experienced to help you

[Fawkes]

I took it to practice today and everyone said that it threw AWESOME... Lol