What Do You Call A Lacrosse Stick? » (The Origin Of Lacrosse)

Lacrosse sticks are an absolute staple of the game and are recognized by many people as to what it is. The game’s popularity is skyrocketing, and many more people recognize the game of lacrosse and the equipment that goes with it. For the stick specifically, it is referred to in many terms.

What do you call a lacrosse stick? Lacrosse sticks go by many different terms. The most often used include:

• Stick
• Twig
• Shaft
• Nicknames such as “Betsy.”

As you can see, there are countless nicknames for the lacrosse stick, but the official term for it would indeed be a “stick.” Today, we’ll take a look at what a lacrosse stick consists of, the variety of lacrosse sticks out there, and the origins of lacrosse itself.

Read Also: How To Choose A Youth Lacrosse Stick

What is a Lacrosse Stick?

The lacrosse stick is the main piece of equipment that is used in the sport. It has consisted of a few things, which include:

• Head
• Mesh
• Shooter Strings (optional)
• Sidewall
• Shaft
• Butt-end
• Tape (optional)

As you can see, there is quite a bit that makes up the lacrosse stick. Here are the key parts of the stick:

1. To start off the list, the head is the plastic piece of the stick that is seen at the top. It is what holds the mesh or traditional string. Mesh is what is most commonly used in today’s play and looks like netting if you are not familiar with it.
2. Traditional stringing refers to how the Native sticks were strung, which involves leather and string. This method is not as popular as it once was, as mesh and other technologies have overtaken this, but is still used today, even at the highest levels.
3. Shooting strings are used to help the ball travel in a particular direction and give the player the feel of the ball in their stick as well.
4. The sidewall is what helps keeps the mesh strung up and stay secure. For the shaft, it is the part of the stick that players hold to control the stick and is typically either made of a type of metal or wood.
5. For the butt-end, this is the cap at the end of the shaft to help protect the players and others on the field, as well as sometimes be used as an indicator for players as to where to place their hands.
6. Lastly, there is tape, where players will use to help with grip on their shaft, where their hands should be on a pass/shot, and so on.

As you can see, there are many minor details to be taken into account when picking a lacrosse stick, and also in lacrosse in general. Sometimes we dismiss the importance of these minor details, but they can be game changers for new generations to come.

Because of the raise of awareness on the impact of these minor details, more people are investing on formation, not only in the clubs but at a personal level. That’s why training courses like the one sponsored by Rob Pannell are becoming more and more popular nowadays.

New Technologies for Sticks

With the evolution of the game, we are seeing new technologies being implemented in the game. One of the latest technologies comes from Warrior, which has introduced the “STICK,” which uses built-in mesh.

There have been mixed reviews of this, but many can agree that it is certainly interesting to see how the game is developing. Many like it because it provides consistency, and a unique feel in the stick, but others argue that they like the customization of mesh and traditional better.

Of course, though, it always comes down preference, so whatever a player feels comfortable with, is what they should be used for play. Also, another technology that we have seen been innovated is the shaft. For example, East Coast Dyes, or ECD, has created a carbon shaft that is both lightweight and durable, making it one of the most popular shafts in the world today.

Types of Lacrosse Sticks

There are quite a few varieties of sticks out there today. These types of sticks are:

• Short stick
• Long/Defense stick
• Goalie stick
• Women’s stick
• Native Stick

The short stick is used for players who play attack, midfield, and who face-off as well. This is considered the “universal” stick, due to it being used by so many positions. The shaft size is 30 inches, and this can come in many different materials, brands, colors, designs, and so on.

The long stick is used by LSM’s, otherwise known as long-stick middies, and d-poles, who are the three defensive players near the goalie. The shaft on this stick can be up to 60 inches but can be customized as well. However, it cannot go under 30 inches, as that is the minimum for play.

The goalie stick is quite interesting, as it features a much larger head than the regular-sized lacrosse head, to help the goalie stop the ball, as it is an arduous task to do. The shaft on a goalie stick is on average, 40 inches long.

Many goalies customize the length to best fit their size and style, with many just using a regular short-stick shaft with their goalie’s head, to aid in their movement of the stick to get to shots better.

The women’s stick is quite impressive, as well. The head is unique and typically features a similar stringing to traditional netting, but the mesh is now available for the women’s stick as well. The shaft is similar to the size of a regular short-stick shaft and is similar to men’s, but it does have its differences, such as the design and material.

Origins of Lacrosse and The Native Stick

Lacrosse is a sport that was invented by the Native Americans. The game was first referred to as “stickball.” The sport now is played on a field with two goals, but the original game was played from several hundred yards to even many miles, depending on the tribes and just how many were playing.

It is also often referred to as the “Creator’s game,” as it has many spiritual ties to the Native American people. It was a large part of their culture and religion and was even used as an outlet to prepare the young men for wars and battles that they would need to take part in once they became grown men.

From there, the game was witnessed Europeans in the mid-1630s, which is also where the term “lacrosse” would be coined. Canada is often known for lacrosse, and this is because of the Caughnawaga Indians, who resided in Montreal, Quebec Canada.

They showed the native people there the game, and from there, it became more popularized, and popularity in Canada was on the rise. The native stick itself was made out of wood and was carved into an intricate way in order to hold the netting, which would be derived from deer sinews.

Becoming Canada’s Game

By the year 1860, lacrosse was officially the sport of Canada, which happened in a short amount of time, considering it was introduced not even 30 years prior. 

Even today, Canada still represents the sport of lacrosse to a high degree, and it is still an official sport of Canada.

The growth of the game is not just home to Canada, though. 

The United States has had skyrocketing numbers in the game as well, with it growing at all levels, from youth to pro. 

Now, with the introduction of the PLL, the growth of the sport at the professional is trending to increase massively as well, which should come as no surprise, considering just how widespread the sport has become since it’s early days with the Native Americans.

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