Is a mesh pocket better then a traditional pocket? If so, why?
Jan 17 '02
The Bottom Line A mesh pocket is easier to maintain and better in bad weather then the traditional pocket...
There are many different aspects in the game of Lacrosse. You have to make a lot of important decisions. Many of these decisions have to do with equipment. Sometimes it is tough to decide what brand you want to buy, because lacrosse equipment isn’t cheap at all. I understand that you do not want to buy something that isn’t good, because then you will have wasted your money. When buying gloves, heads, shafts, elbow pads or even cleats you should always find out how they worked out for other people. A huge part of buying equipment is deciding what pocket you want for your stick.
There are a variety of different pockets then you can get strung for your lacrosse stick. I am going to go through each style and tell you what I think about each one, and also tell you about the pros and cons of each pocket.
TRADITIONAL-
This type of pocket is benifical in many different ways. The problem with buying a traditional pocket is that it is pretty difficult to maintain the same status that it was the first day you strung it. The traditional pocket is good for accurate passing and shooting. If you string the pocket right, you will have a pocket which holds the ball well, and throws well. The problem I find with traditional pockets is when they become inconsistent. In wet weather the pocket seems to shrink. Even in very humid weather, the pocket changes. So if you decide to have a traditional pocket you better learn how to maintain it, and hopefully you become good at maintaining it. Like I said before, the traditional pocket is excellent for passing and shooting, and even holds the ball well when you pick up a ground ball. The only problem with it is that it is very inconsistent in bad weather.
SOFT MESH-
This is my second favorite pocket. This is probably to most popular way to string a stick. There are a few different ways that you can string a mesh stick. A mesh stick is alot easier to maintain, and is good for most weathers. In the wet, a soft mesh stick will shrink. It may not shrink during the time when you are playing, but after it will stiffen up pretty hard, and it will seem ruined. The way to avoid letting this happen is buy placing a ball in your pocket for the next day. This way the pocket will stay the same shape. Also, if your pocket is very stiff, take it in the shower with you and wash it with shampoo and conditioner. This way you are cleaning it, and the conditioner makes it soft again. After you get out of the shower, I suggest you place a ball in the pocket so it dries with the same shaped pocket. Like I said, the soft mesh pocket is a lot easier to maintain, and it throws and picks up ground balls nicely. It may not throw as accurate as the traditional pocket, but it is a lot easier to maintain.
DURA MESH-
This type of mesh is the mesh that I use. To use this mesh, you have to take the time to break the pocket in. To do this you have to constantly pound the ball in the pocket after you string it. Eventually the pocket becomes softer, and it is perfect. I recommend Shamrock Hard mesh. This pocket is the easiest to maintain. In wet weather, this pocket is the best. You should still treat it like you treat soft mesh. The only con about this pocket is that you have to take the time to break it in.
MONSTER MESH-
Personally I hate this type of mesh. It was invented by Warrior and some people do like it. It has bigger diamonds then soft mesh, and it is supposed to imitate a traditional pocket, just without all the matinence. In wet weather this pocket is very inconsistent. It stretches a lot, and become brittle after alot of use. I do not suggest this pocket to many people.
Those are the main types of pockets on the market these days. If you want to get pockets done professionally at a store that is ok. The only problem with doing that is that after they are done, they are hard to maintain by you. I personally mainly prefer mesh pockets.
Hopefully this review was helpful. If you have any questions about any type of lacrosse equipment please leave a comment or please do not be afraid to email me. Thanks for reading!
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CraigEgg
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Member: Craig Rosecrans
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