Lacrosse Shooting String Styles
Shooting Strings are a personal preference every player can change when adjusting or stringing a lacrosse stick. If you're a stringer it's good to keep this in mind because every player has a different style. I always ask players who's sticks I string, 'What has worked in the past for you?' to get a good idea of what they like.
Based on how you string your sidewall pattern, you have created a channel and placed your lacrosse pocket that controls the release. Not all shooting string styles will work on every lacrosse pocket, so experimenting is necessary. If you have a tight channel then you won't be able to have a lot of shooting strings, or the ball will whip down. If you have a wider channel, then you will probably want more shooters for added hold.
Lacrosse Shooting String Rule: "The 4-inch shooting string rule" -For both NCAA and NFHS, measuring from the top of the scoop, you can't have any shooters past the 4-inch mark.
Lacrosse Pockets Have Catch Points
Take the StringKing Complete 2 stick that we were sent for example. This is a universal pocket that StringKing equips on all of their Legend heads. To demonstrate this example, I took the shooting strings out but have included an original photo below.
Original Stringing on the StringKing Legend Lacrosse Head
Time to Take the Shooters out
As I press the lacrosse ball into the pocket to test the catch point you can see where the pocket depth comes to an end and sharply declines. This point in the pocket is demonstrated by the solid red line across the pocket. Now for most players, if you add a shooting string below that row it will be too whippy. This is because the lacrosse mesh needs to expand when the ball hits that point and if a shooting string is there it will restrict it.
Figure 1: Lacrosse Pockets Have Catch Points Ft. the StringKing Complete 2 Pocket
Where StringKing Places Shooting Strings
Figure 2: Where StringKing Places There Shooting Strings and Nylon
Lacrosse Shooting String Tips
Shooting strings come in three types of materials which are: cotton, synthetic, and hockey lace. I have found through personal experience that I prefer cotton over every other option. I will use synthetic on traditional strung sticks, but avoid using them with mesh. This does not mean that this will be the case for your preferences so experiment and try them all!
Lacrosse Shooting String Styles
There are many different styles of shooting strings that you can use or experiment when stringing your lacrosse stick. Traditionally, straight weaved shooting strings have been the most popular since the rules in NFHS and NCAA have banned U and V styles. This has been a problem for some players, but others have embraced the change and use no shooter like Matt Gibson.
Straight Weaved Shooting Strings
Weaved Shooting strings
The most common way players string their shooting strings is the weaved style. This style allows for players to easily and quickly adjust the tension of the shooters. If the shooters are tightly tensioned then they will give you extra hold but a more inconsistent pocket and potentially too much whip. properly strung pockets should create enough hold to where the shooters function as structure and or added feel.
Rolled Shooting Strings
Rolled Shooting Strings
An option you're likely to have seen, but probably have never tried, is rolled shooting strings. For players who use shooting strings that create a runway for the ball, this is something you might wanna try. Rolled shooters allow players to either make that runway or create a point for the ball to hit off of with less whip than weaved shooters.
Nylon Laces
Nylon shooting strings
Some would argue that because of how advanced lacrosse mesh has become recently that shooting strings are just another variable that makes your pocket inconsistent. The idea is that if you could string a pocket that gave you ball security, hold, and accuracy while maintaining consistency, then why would you use shooting strings? This is for you to decide though, so experiment! nylons can be used to create a release point or added feel of the ball.
No Shooting Strings Is An Option Too!
No Shooter Gang
Shooters would cause more harm than good because the hold of the pocket is coming from the pulldown of the chenango top string. This effect causes a tight channel, lots of hold, and a smooth release. if you need more feel or the feeling of a shooter you can add nylon. If shooters were added to the pocket, it would most likely cause the ball to whip and would definitely make it inconsistent.
No Shooter Gang Shirt
Don't let one little string define you as a lacrosse player. Play outside the realm of what others consider normal. And if a string causes you to miss, then cut it off.