Some of the greatest players in the Major League Lacrosse (MLL) have missed game-winning shots due to faulty tools.
Best Lacrosse Sticks
Many players fail to realize that lacrosse sticks are the primary form of defense on the field. You can block passes and engage in other forms of defense when you have the right stick in your hand.
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Understanding the nature of lacrosse positions and using this guide is the best way to find the best lacrosse stick that you need to be good at the game.
Image | Product | |
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Editor’s Choice ![]() | STX Lacrosse Stallion 50
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Best Men's Lacrosse Stick ![]() | STX Lacrosse Stallion 200 U
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Best Girls Lacrosse Stick ![]() | STX EXULT 300
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Best Women's Lacrosse Stick ![]() | STX Crux 500 Complete Stick
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![]() | STX FiddleSTX Two Pack Mini Super Power
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STX Lacrosse Stallion 50 Lacrosse Stick – Best Youth Lacrosse Stick
This tool also has shorter and thinner handles for better control during games. Avid lacrosse players may appreciate the soft mesh stringing of the STX stick.
It is important to note, though, that this stick does not meet high school and college standards, which is why it is perfect for beginners.
- Great for beginners
- Excellent design
- Ideal for elementary and middle school kids
- Durable
- Good price for the quality
- Not ideal for female players
- Adjustments to the whip may be necessary
- Pocket is too deep
String King Complete Attack Lacrosse Stick – Best Attack Lacrosse Stick
This stick is perfect for players who are in the beginning stages of lacrosse. Youngsters can learn how to properly grip the shaft before moving on to standard sizes with the tool.
The StrikingKing has a wider head than some of its competition, which makes it easier for beginners to catch balls. This stick is properly balanced so that parents do not have to cut it down to accommodate their young athletes.
- Perfect for ages 11-15
- Great quality
- Performs well out of the box
- Has the appeal of a standard lacrosse stick
- Not ideal for those who value design over performance
STX Lacrosse Stallion 200 U – Best Men’s Lacrosse Stick
The STX Lacrosse Stallion 200 is ideal for beginners as it offers the same quality that elite players get from the brand’s more advanced sticks.
- Great for beginners
- Shaft is excellent
- Flexible head
- Easy to balance for intermediate tricks
- Soft mesh
- Great for children
- Head easily dents in faceoffs
- Stick screw is not secure
- Limited whip
STX Crux 500 Complete Stick – Best Women’s Lacrosse Sticks For Attack
This stick also has a unique Launch Pocket that gives players excellent ball control. The chevrons of the system flex out so to get a close grip on the ball so that you do not have to worry about the object falling out of the holder when you run.
The STX Crux has a pointed scoop for increased accuracy when shooting and passing the ball. This stick also comes equipped with an excellent scoop angle that allows for better flexibility. A 10-degree handle comes standard with the STX Crux 500.
- Great for advanced players
- Easy to adjust to
- Best when used for attacks
- 10-degree launch pocket
- Lightweight
- Great for groundballs, passing, and shooting
- Discomfort ensues when catching with the stick
- Too much flexibility on the draw
STX EXULT 300 Complete Stick – Best Girls Lacrosse Stick
STX Exult 300 lacrosse head is very similar to the original result 10 that except. It’s straight and there are a couple other improvements. The Exult 300 uses STX runway pocket which I’ve overlapping center strings that allow the runners to flex out and hug the ball. Has a flexible scoop for easy ground balls as well as a scoop angle that adds whip and improves accuracy. Stiff sidewalls help of control and stability and multiple stream bowls allow you to customize your pocket.
- Helps players improve scooping and catching skills
- Lightweight
- Great for use during practice sessions
- Durable
- Strings on the equipment’s head are of good quality
- Grips for easier handling
- More ideal for beginners than advanced to professional players
STX FiddleSTX Two Pack Mini Super Power – Best Lacrosse Mini Sticks
Although easy to carry, the FiddleSTX is anything by flimsy. In fact, the durability of the plastic allows for a little head-to-head action with similar lightweight sticks.
This lacrosse set comes with two mini sticks and a ball for immediate playing right out of the box.
- Great for kids
- Sticks and balls are lightweight
- Good quality for a child’s toy
- Not meant for professional use
- Plastic heads are not as durable as the rest of the tool
Warrior Evo WARP Next Lacrosse Stick – Best Lacrosse Stick For Beginners
The actual mesh pattern from kind of smaller diamonds to the larger diamond in the middle which actually I mean kind of almost resembles like a six diamond mesh there looking and giving you a lot of holds.
This stick is designed for players under 14 or so. Really looking and hammering in the skills and muscle memory necessary to make the plays that you’re going to be making out on the field. This is a stick that’s going to really get used to throwing catching, shooting, passing, all the necessary basic movements of the sport.
And then after you’ve been playing for a while and got those down then you can start to really pick up an elite-level stick this one. It is definitely designed for that beginning player about 14 or under. But it’s going to give them a lot of confidence in their stick, they don’t have to worry about a bad string job, they don’t have to worry about things needing to be adjusted. This is ready to go right out of the box, game-ready right there.
So you know that you’re going to have confidence, where it’s going to go when you make your pass movement, you make your shot movement. All those you’re going to be able to really rely on the accuracy and have a lot of confidence in your equipment. Not to mention it’s a weather-resistant pocket. So you don’t have to worry about bagging out like it’s really hot or the rain affecting it in any way shape or form.
But in all this is pure reliability that’s going to get that beginning player out of a frustrating stick where they’re not knowing exactly what to expect every time they pick the stick up to grabbing. Something that they know exactly what they’re getting every time they pull it out of the bag it’s ready to rock and roll out on the field and give them a ton of confidence and a lot of reliability in their equipment. That’s the breakdown real quick of the Evo Warp Next Complete Attack Lacrosse Stick from Warrior.
- Lightweight
- Material around the stick allows for better gripping
- Space for tape thanks to textured paint used to make grips
- Beautiful design
- Great for adults and kids
- Works better for beginners than intermediate players
- Ball pocket is not deep enough
STX Lacrosse Eclipse 2 Complete Goalie Stick – Best Lacrosse Goalie Sticks
The STX Lacrosse Eclipse 2 Complete Goalie Stick has a new scoop design for enhanced ground ball performance with a 34-inch outlet Platinum handle.
- Updated sidewall geometry
- Ergonomic throat design
- Perfect size and design
- Additional sidewall holes
- The stringing may needs to be revamped
Major League Lacrosse Mini Sticks Set – Best Lacrosse Sticks For Kids
This set comes with two mini lax sticks that are 30-inches long, and one rubber ball meant to accompany the tools during practice.
The Major League Mini Stick has a soft mesh pocket for easier catches and a plastic handle that enhances durability.
The large head design of this tool also contributes to easy catching and passing. Why wouldn’t it be the ideal tool to use when teaching kids how to play the game?
- Comes with two sticks for one-on-one playing
- Multiple purpose capabilities
- Good quality
- Ideal for beginners
- Sticks are too small
- Not ideal for intermediate and advanced players
STX FiddleSTX Three Player Game Set – Best Lacrosse Stiks For Game Set
The FiddleSTX mini stick set comes with two telescoping field player sticks and one goalie stick.
The heads and shafts on these tools are made of rugged plastic that is meant to be lightweight and durable.
- Good quality for price range and purpose
- Lightweight
- Ideal for kids
- Sticks are durable
- Design resembles that of a lacrosse stick for professionals
- Quality is not that of a professional lacrosse stick
- Not intended for actual lacrosse-playing
- Too small
- Too flimsy
Best Lacrosse Sticks – Buyer’s Guide
Some of the lesser experienced players in regional organizations have suffered losses because they had the wrong type of instruments. The following equipment is necessary for a good game of lacrosse:
- Lacrosse Stick – The lacrosse stick is your main tool on the field. The device usually comes in two pieces: the shaft and head. Many professionals choose to purchase the main components of a lacrosse stick separately to have a custom-built tool. Beginners usually prefer buying sticks that are already put together so that they can play the game right after taking the device out of the box. It is important that the shaft of the stick has a good gripping mechanism. Heads should have steep enough pockets to catch and hold the ball during the game.
- Pads – Pads serve as protection from hard shots, checks, pokes, and other forms of contact on the field. The equipment is usually lightweight and built for speed and maneuverability. The average set of pads protect the arms, elbows, and shoulders. Goalies wear heavier pads because of their position as blockers. They also wear chest protectors and rib guards for added safety.
- Gloves – Lacrosse gloves are not your ordinary gauntlets. These accessories are designed to guard your fingers, hands, and wrists against checks and shaft hits. They are usually made of durable material that is also lightweight.
- Shoes/Cleats – Wearing the wrong footwear could sabotage your game even with the right shaft and pads. You, therefore, want to purchase cleats that give good traction on various surfaces. Lacrosse cleats come in numerous styles and build for every foot size.
Positions Matter
Attackers, also known as middies, prefer shorter and lighter shafts that allow for more aggressive moves. Predators can move down the field rather quickly as they strategize to steal the ball from their opponents. Attackers also prefer lightweight heads that have maximum scooping power and better retention probability.
Contrary to attackers, defensive players prefer longer and more durable shafts that allow for better reaching and an increased possibility of blocking shots. The heaviness of the shaft gives more power to players when throwing balls to teammates. Flat scoops with spacious pockets are best for defensive players since stealing balls off the ground is what these athletes do best.
Lastly, the goalie has equipment that is in line with his position. He uses longer shafts than attackers but does not settle for the sticks that defensive players have when operating on the field. Goalies need equipment that allows for blocking, which means that flexibility is necessary. Such is the reason why shafts for goalies are usually lightweight like that of attackers. The heads of goalie shafts are noticeably different in size and shape when compared to the attacker and defensive player’s tool.
What is the Difference Between Men and Women’s Lacrosse?
Men’s lacrosse is all about getting the most out of the sport. Such is the reason why sticks are built to last. Lacrosse games for women, on the other hand, are not as involved. In fact, some of the rules about women’s lacrosse are meant to reduce physical contact.
Variations in the two types of games are why female lacrosse players do not require as much gear on the field. The average woman playing the sport will wear a mouthguard along with a pair of goggles. She may not see the need to wear pads. Men playing lacrosse, however, typically wear mouth guards, goggles, and protective pads to prevent physical contacts that could cause injury.
Just as the amount of protective wear if different in men and women’s lacrosse, so are the sticks used to play the game. Heads on shafts used in women’s lacrosse are usually shorter and smaller in diameter. The heads also tend to have shallower pockets.
Finding the Right Head for Lacrosse Sticks
Unfortunately, lacrosse heads come in various sizes and shapes, which makes the search for the perfect addition more difficult. Nevertheless, understanding the different components of lacrosse heads is the first step to finding the right holder.
The elements of a lacrosse head are as follows:
- Sidewalls – These are the part of the head that affect its strength and stiffness. Sidewalls can range from very stiff to extremely flexible, and the type of design chosen largely depends on the position of the player on the field. An attacker may not appreciate an adjustable head as much as a defensive player since he does not engage in as much groundwork as the defensive athlete. The attacker may, however, fall in love with a head that is stiff because it lets him freely use his stick for combat against the opposing team. You need to be aware of both the stiffness and height of sidewalls for maximum playing capabilities on the field.
- Scoop – The scoop is the top portion of the head that players use to pull balls off the ground. This component is of particular importance to defensive players as its efficiency directly affects their ability to steal balls and make passes. The scoop is measured in width and drop, which is the distance from the edges of the head to the center of the scoop.
- Pocket – The pocket is located at the base of the head and is the place where the ball resides. This component is sold either unstrung or strung. New players typically enjoy strung pockets, while more experienced players may want to purchase unstrung holders for individual customization.
- Offset – The offset of a lacrosse header refers to the gradual decrease of the sidewalls. The offset places the head’s scoop behind the handle’s line, which improves cradling and ball retention capabilities.
Remember that the key to finding the right head is understanding your skills and purchasing a device that will compliment your position on the field. Style and budget are also important aspects of building your lacrosse stick.
Finding the Right Shaft
Players wanting to get both the lightweight and flexibility appeal from shafts are usually willing to spend more money on equipment. More expensive shafts typically hold up against harsher conditions on the field as well.
Lacrosse shafts are made from either of the following materials:
- Aluminum Alloy
- Composite
- Titanium
- Scandium
Aluminum alloy is the weakest of the four but has versatility on its side. Composite is the more affordable option for players who want a strong shaft that is also lightweight. Titanium is by far stronger and lighter than aluminum, which is why attackers flock to the metal form. Scandium is top-of-the-line material that the majority of advanced and professional users look for when searching for the right shaft.
Regardless of whether the material is expensive or economical, you should find a rod that feels good in your hands and lets you have complete control of the stick at all times.
Conclusion
The lacrosse stick has significantly evolved since its beginnings as a wood stick with a U-shaped head that caught and held the ball. Now, there are a variety of sizes and shapes to serve as ball holders on shafts derived from different metal sources.
Even in modern times, with the equipment and manner in which one plays lacrosse always changing, finding the best lacrosse stick is still essential to playing your best game. This guide is your source for understanding the basics of lacrosse positions and buying the right equipment so that you can shine at your next meet.
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My son and I have decided to join a father and son Lacrosse team the local county hosts. I never played but he has at his school and is eager to get into it with me. It started the first week of July so we need to get some sticks. I have written down a few from your list best lacrosse sticks and I will let him pick which one he likes. These are much cheaper than I expected which is never a bad thing!
hey- I need advice on purchasing for my son. He is 12 years old and plays on an elite travel team. He plays defense/ LSM and complains that his wonderboy long stick gets heavy -looking for a lighter one to purchase.
thank you
Hello! If you are looking for the lightest defense lacrosse shaft, checkout the East Coast Dyes Lacrosse Shaft – https://amzn.to/2ZKskhE. This lightweight shaft can last a long time and is appropriate for use by both youth and adults. Engineered with advanced aerospace-grade composite materials like Carbon Fiber, the East Coast Dyes Lacrosse Shaft is loaded with East Coast’s FLEX 5 technology. It only weighs five ounces and it is very flexible and durable.
Fantastic buyer’s guide and recommendations. I have a few kids who recently took an interest in lacrosse and I really know nothing of the sport. I am not really into sports at all myself and my husband is just too busy for it all. Anyways, I am going to go with your recommendations. I am getting the best lacrosse sticks for my kids for Christmas.
This is a fantastic list! I have been shopping around for a new best lacrosse stick for a few weeks now and I was not sure what to go with. You make some valid points when it comes to shopping for them as well as list the pros AND cons which I really appreciate.
I was debating between getting a few different ones and for the cost difference and the good reviews, I ended up going with the STX Stallion. It arrived today and I am very, very impressed. This has to be the best lacrosse stick I have ordered online, period. I can’t wait to use it!
Having been a long time fan and former lacrosse player, I decided to get my son into it now that he is old enough. I told him if he enjoys it enough, we will get him his own new stick for his birthday. He absolutely LOVES it! It makes me so happy as a father to have something we can bond over. His birthday isn’t until the end of January so the wife and I decided to get him one for Christmas. Thanks for the best recommendations! Made it very easy to find the best youth lacrosse stick for him.