The Complete Handbook of Lacrosse Sticks

I've been stringing sticks for 20 years and I still learned something in the first chapter about how pocket depth affects release velocity that I'd never seen explained with actual mechanics. The chapter on choosing a stick alone is worth the price—it's the first guide that actually explains why a 30-inch shaft feels different, not just that it is one. This is the book I'm putting in the hands of every new coach in our program.

As an equipment manager for a high school team, I buy dozens of sticks a season. This handbook just saved me from making a bad bulk purchase—the chapter on shaft materials explains exactly why the cheap alloy we were looking at breaks down in cold weather. The maintenance section is fantastic for our off-season repairs. We reference this book monthly.

Solid reference material overall. I'm a college player who strings his own sticks, and I got some good tips on troubleshooting inconsistent release from the maintenance chapter. I wish the brand reviews in chapter 6 went into a bit more specific detail on two of the newer companies—it feels a little cautious—but for a neutral guide it covers the essentials. Good for my younger teammates who are just getting into the serious side of the game.

I picked this up thinking it would help me advise customers in our sporting goods store. The technical sections are solid, but I found the chapter on installation a bit basic—we already knew how to put a head on a shaft. I was hoping for a deeper dive into custom stringing patterns, which felt thin. As a primer for a total novice, it's probably a five-star book. For a professional with experience, it's a decent desk reference, nothing more.

This is the exact reference I've been looking for since I started coaching youth lacrosse. It explains the difference between a soft and stiff mesh pocket in a way that's concrete and testable, not just 'feel this.' The troubleshooting guide on warped heads was a lifesaver when three of our sticks were bent in the back of a van. I've loaned it out twice already and I'm buying another copy to keep at the field house.

The business opportunities chapter alone is why I bought this, and it didn't disappoint. It gave me a realistic cost breakdown for starting a side stringing business that I'd been mulling over for months. The only reason I'm not giving it five stars is that I wish the future trends chapter had a little more speculation on composite materials—it sticks mostly to safe, predictable lines. But as a practical reference, it's the best I've read.

I'm a parent and casual player who just got into the sport with my son. This handbook was a great grounding in the basics. I appreciated that it didn't talk down to me, but I did glaze over in the heavier materials-science parts of chapter 1 and 2. The beginner's buying guide in chapter 3 was exactly what I needed to pick my son's first stick and not overspend. I'll keep this on the shelf and likely refer back to it as he gets more advanced.

Finally, a book that treats lacrosse sticks as equipment, not fashion. The physics of how the head shape affects ball control is explained with clear tables and examples that you can actually visualize. I particularly liked the comparison of field and box stick lengths and why you really cannot use them interchangeably. As a serious hobbyist who just wanted a deeper understanding, this hit the spot perfectly. Highly recommended.