If you're a seasoned lacrosse player, you probably know just what kind of pocket you like in your lacrosse stick. Beginners, on the other hand, may need help figuring out which pocket works best for their position and playing style. A lacrosse stick's pocket profoundly affects how the ball behaves both when it's in the stick and as it leaves the stick.
Men's vs. Women's
Men's lacrosse sticks tend to have deep pockets, though not so deep that if the stick is held horizontally, the top of the ball can be seen below the frame of the stick, according to the U.S. Lacrosse organization. Deep pockets are not allowed in women's lacrosse; the top of the ball must be visible above the side wall of the stick. Some girls' lacrosse rules allow for a slightly deeper pocket, to make keeping the ball in the stick easier.
Materials
Lacrosse pockets are netted to hold the ball inside the head of the stick. The netting can vary, however, with more choices available to men than to women. Women's lacrosse pockets must use traditional stringing, with no mesh. Men's lacrosse pockets can be strung traditionally or use soft mesh or a hard mesh that's treated with wax. They can use a traditional eight-diamond setup or an alternative, the six-diamond pocket.
Position of Pocket
Men lacrosse players have somewhat more latitude in adjusting their pockets than women lacrosse players do, since men are allowed deeper pockets. Shooters often prefer a pocket that is high, near the shooting strings, to allow for quick and powerful release. Ball carriers may opt for a pocket strung lower, which gives them more control of the ball when cradling one-handed. Other players may prefer a pocket that falls somewhere in between the two extremes.
Shooting Strings
Stringing also can affect whether a ball releases from the player's lacrosse stick smoothly or jumps out of the stick, exhibiting what lacrosse coaches and players refer to as "whip." Tightening or loosening the shooting strings, which cross horizontally near the top of the pocket, changes whether the stick has whip or not. Whip affects not just shooting at the goal but passing from one teammate to another.
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