The original game of lacrosse played by Native American Indians utilized long sticks with deer and other animal skins pulled across them to form the pocket. Today, nylon mesh is used as the pocket standard. Stringing your own lacrosse pockets not only saves money, but also allows you to create a customized pocket to best fit your playing style.
Mesh Preparation
The mesh used on a lacrosse stick must be stretched prior to stringing the pocket. This ensures that your lacing is easier to do and that a good pocket to support the ball can be formed. Some lacrosse players soak the mesh in warm water before stringing to soften it up. After the mesh dries, some of its stiffness will return.
Top and Bottom Strings
The top string is the first string that must be laced around the mesh. It sets a good base for the pocket and holds the mesh in place when you lace the sidewalls. Former Syracuse University attack man Mike MacDonald recommends lacing every other diamond in the top. The bottom string comes after the top and sidewall strings are completed and can be made tighter or looser to adjust pocket depth. The holes at the bottom of a lacrosse head are larger than those at the top, so a hockey lace can be used to better fit this purpose.
Sidewalls
The sidewalls of the lacrosse head are laced by threading the nylon string in through the hole, creating a loop and then bringing the string into the next hole and up through the mesh inside the loop. The sidewall strings should be very tight at the top of the lacrosse head and looser as you work your way down toward the neck.
When the bottom of the sidewall is reached and the string is secured to the rim, an extra 1/2 to 1 inch of space should be left when tying the knot. This extra space provides give for the center of the mesh, thus allowing a pocket to be created that will easily catch the ball.
Shooting Strings
There is no set way to weave the remaining shooting strings. Defenders may prefer vertical strings to facilitate blocking and passing, while attackers may prefer horizontal support to increase shooting speed.
Leather bands woven into the mesh may also be used to create an extra stiff backing that is useful for defending. MacDonald recommends weaving a triangle across the top of the pocket using a hockey lace, as this provides extra snap on the ball for shooting. Experiment with different styles to find your best fit.
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