3 Tips for Buying Your First Lacrosse Stick

Lacrosse is an incredible game full of fast-paced action that might have grabbed the attention of your child. When choosing a sport for your child, lacrosse is also proving to be a safer option compared to other contact sports like football and hockey. The first step for any young lacrosse player is finding their stick, which can eventually become an extension of their body. Keep these three tips for buying your first lacrosse stick in mind, since you might not have a clue where to begin.

Figure Out the Length

Before you start to look at lacrosse sticks, you first need to figure out which position your child will be playing, as this will dictate the length of it. If they are playing at the youth level in the boys’ game, go with a stick that’s 26 to 30 inches long without the head. At the high school or adult level, a stick runs 40 to 42 inches long for midfielders and attackmen. If you know they will be playing on a defensive side, then go with a long sick that is 37 to 72 inches long. For a higher playing level, you will want it to be 52 to 72 inches long. When choosing the right size long stick for a defenseman, you will want to make sure it’s the same height as the player. At the goalie position, a stick can range from 40 to 72 inches regardless of the level.

On the girls’ side, all field players will play with stick with a length of 35.5 to 43.25 inches. Goalies in girls’ lacrosse will get a slightly longer stick that is 35.5 to 48 inches. They key is to determine your child’s position if they know it, if not, go with what they are asked to play with.

Feel the Shaft

Speaking of what feels right, you also want to take a good look at the shaft beyond its length. This is the part of the lacrosse stick where the hands will go. Things to look for in the shaft are its weight and grip. Go with whichever one feels comfortable to you, and wearing gloves, especially in the boys’ game, to test it out also helps. Shafts also come in all sorts of cool designs and colors, so go with one that speaks to your child in that respect, too.

Consider the Head's Stringing

The final tip for buying your first lacrosse stick is to think about the head and the mesh within it. The mesh is where the ball will sit when playing, and the type you go with can directly impact passing, catching, and shooting. More experienced players can string their own lacrosse heads, but since your child may just be starting out, go with a complete stick or at the very least, a pre-stung head that will have everything figured out for you.

A girl's head will appear slimmer and not have as much room for the ball compared to a boy one. Like the shaft, your child will want to feel comfortable playing with whatever option they go with. A quality sick won’t make them a good player, but it will give them the opportunity to develop their skills.