Shooting
String Workshop
by Jesse Hubbard
Lacrosse is unique in many ways.
It is a team sport, but each player can have a distinctively different
style of play. One of the attractions of lacrosse is the opportunity to
customize your own stick to fit your game, certainly a rarity in most
major sports. This customization is an attraction, but it can also frustrate
beginners and experienced players alike if they are unaware of stick maintenance
techniques. To maximize your on-field performance, you need to learn how
to adjust your pocket properly. This article intends to educate the lacrosse
player about one very important pocket feature -shooting strings. The
shooting strings determine, more than any other part of the pocket, how
the ball is held and how it is released.
Types of Shooting Strings
The term "shooting string" refers
to the usage of a string rather than the actual type of string. Basically,
I would define a "shooting string" as any string separately positioned
in the pocket horizontally or at an arc that serves the dual function
of both holding the ball in the pocket and aiding in the release of the
ball from the pocket. Theoretically, any type of cord or lace could be
used. The most common types are nylon cords and flat laces. The nylon
cord is traditionally referred to as the shooting string" and flat laces
are traditionally referred to as hockey laces or shoelaces. Hockey laces
are usually thicker and characterized by diagonally woven black strings.
Shoelaces generally are thinner and solid in color. The only way to determine
which type to use is through experimentation. Some people use only hockey
laces and some use nylon cords. Others use a combination. There is no
correct type of shooting string. If it works for you, it's good.
A Brief History
Traditionally, when players threw
and shot mostly overhand, the pockets usually had two nylon shooting strings.
As stickwork became more advanced, a third soft shoe lace was often added
to help the hold and release of the ball. Then, during the early 1990s,
it seemed like many players (especially those using traditional leather
pockets) used only hockey laces or shoelaces, sometimes four or five bunched
together to create a ramp. This allowed for more horizontal power cradling
and more wind-up on shots. During the mid- to late-90s things settled
down a bit and most people used either three hockey laces or one nylon
cord at the top and two hockey laces below.
As more people started using hard
mesh pockets, shooting strings became less important to the release of
the ball. The release of a mesh pocket is dictated more by the mesh piece
itself than the shooting strings. Some people, like Ryan and Casey Powell,
have their mesh pieces so perfectly formed that they may only need one
nylon string at the very top to release the ball properly. To gain additional
hold in a mesh pocket, a shoelace in the shape of an upside-down "V" or
"U" is often added. These laces serve the dual purpose of holding the
ball in the middle of the pocket when cradling and providing a centered,
gradual release when throwing. This string should be tight enough to provide
hold, but loose enough to allow a smooth release. Whether you have a "V"
in your pocket should be your preference. Mark Millon uses a hard mesh
piece that is so well broken in that he only needs two nylon shooting
strings to release the ball. He uses no "V," but still has amazing success.
| Tension of Shooting
Strings Once you have settled on the type and number of shooting strings, you must figure out how tight they should be. This is probably the trickiest part. People have drastically different throwing motions and demand different things from their sticks. As a general rule, I believe that the top shooting string should be the tightest, and the tension of each string below it should gradually decrease. This provides a ramp-like release, with the top string propelling the ball into the air. |
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Some players like to have the lowest
shooting string the tightest. This increases hold, and often leads to
the ball releasing off the scoop-portion of the head. I call this "clicking"
off the head. Some players like this technique of throwing. I do not.
But it has worked for some great players. I remember playing with Ryan
Wade, one of the best shooters ever, and he had his lowest shooting string
extremely tight, almost flat across his traditional, leather pocket. The
ball would sit under this string and he had such a wind-up that the ball
would come out fast and on target. He could also cradle upside down without
losing the ball. This obviously worked for him, as his 1998 World Games
MVP trophy will attest.
What Works for Me
I have basically used the same type of pocket since I was in ninth grade. I string my sticks with leathers and I like a fairly tight pocket with six diamonds. I like to use nylon cross-lace (pocket string) for my top shooting string. I lay it across the pocket twice and then add the twist for the third time. |
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I think the tension of cross-lace
gives the best release. It maintains its tension over time, whereas the
traditional nylon shooting string stretches too much for me. I position
the top shooting string about two inches below the scoop, using the top
sidewall string holes as the attachment points. For the second and third
shooting strings, I use hockey laces. These hockey laces give me the hold
and smooth release that I need. I like to have my shooting strings evenly
spaced about an inch apart, and they become progressively looser as you
go down the pocket. I attach the hockey laces to the sidewall strings
rather than the head so that the laces have more give. The hockey laces
basically eliminate whip and prepare the ball to come off the top cross-lace
shooting string.
The Concept of Whip
Whip is usually caused by shooting
strings that are not the correct tension. If all the shooting strings
are too loose, the ball may get caught under the scoop of the head and
throw down (or even backwards!). If the top shooting string is very tight
and the others are very loose, the ball may catch the top string and throw
down. If the bottom shooting string is too tight, the ball may get trapped
under it and be directed downward - unless you're Ryan Wade. The shooting
strings are certainly the key determinant of whip. However, other aspects
of the pocket may also contribute. If the mesh piece is tied too loosely
to the head by the sidewall strings, or, in a traditional pocket, if the
sidewall strings themselves are too loose, then the pocket may be too
deep and throw down. Some people can play with very deep pockets, but
if you are consistently passing and shooting too low, you may want to
tighten your pocket.
Breaking in Shooting
Strings
I think that the break-in period
is the single most important aspect of a well-performing pocket. Since
shooting strings absorb so much force during the throwing motion, they
naturally tend to loosen up as you play. It is important to break them
in to a point where they will hold their tension for a decent amount of
time. When I am breaking in a freshly strung stick, I have to tighten
the shooting strings almost every 100 throws, or after every practice
session. It takes me usually two weeks of pocket pounding, cradling, passing
and shooting before I would consider playing in a game with my stick.
When the shooting strings stretch out to a certain point, I tie the knot
off tightly and have to adjust them only every couple weeks. Because they
are softer and stretch more, flat hockey laces demand much more tightening
and breaking in than do nylon shooting strings. Remember to leave some
extra string after tying the knots so you can adjust the strings in the
future. I usually leave about two inches of extra string and melt them
so they don't fray.
Choosing the Best Materials
The quality of strings and laces
is much more important than people realize. These are the materials that
make up your pocket, so they have to be made well if you expect them to
function sufficiently. Since the ball is in direct contact with the shooting
strings during every release, the strings need to be durable and consistent.
The nylon shooting string should be resistant to fraying and should have
a nice, tight weave. The hockey lace (or shoelace) should be thick enough
to provide adequate tension to the pocket, but not so thick as to puff
up and hinder a smooth release. I always inspect the nylon strings and
hockey laces before stringing a stick to make sure they are worth using.
Tying Knots
Which type of knot you use is not
as important as making sure it stays tight and secure. I use hitch knots
whenever I am wrapping my shooting strings around the head or sidewall
strings for a more secure hold. Having your shooting string knots tight
is very important to having a consistent pocket once it is broken in.
Tight knots keep the shooting strings from loosening and coming undone.
Remember, just because you want a shooting string loose doesn't mean you
want the knot to be loose.
The Mental Impact of
Shooting Strings
Being a successful lacrosse player
is often related to confidence in one's stick skills, and thus, confidence
in one's stick. I try not to adjust my shooting strings right before a
game. I make sure that I have made the proper adjustments with at least
one practice to get used to them. If you make an adjustment right before
a game, you will be thinking about the pocket during play, and you may
hesitate or try or overcompensate on the release. The game is too fast
to worry about your stick during play. You must have the utmost confidence
in your stick before the opening whistle. This brings us back to the importance
of properly breaking in the pocket.
Final Remarks
I hope you learned something new about shooting strings. Although I attempted to do so, it is hard to explain the many nuances of a pocket using just words. Come join me at my Jesse Hubbard Lacrosse Camp, June 28-July 2 at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. (call 1-866-LAX-TIME), and learn first-hand about stick maintenance and how you can become a better lacrosse player.