Lax Doctor

Just a few insider secrets. If you have any tips or tricks of your own, please post as comments. We are starting a new series of stringer tips!

Hot water and mesh – When you first get that new piece of hard mesh; it is sometimes just too hard. Soaking the mesh in some hot water can loosen it up and make it easier to string. If you’re looking for a more permanent fix to soften your mesh try using fabric softener. If you don’t have actual fabric softener a dryer sheet will do fine. Damped the dryer sheet and rub/massage the dryer sheet on the mesh. Be sure to rinse the mesh thoroughly.

Colored sidewall/crosslace – With certain suppliers and depending on the manufacture of your sidewall or crosslace, some colors have the tendency to bleed. To keep both your white mesh and white head, white, rinse your sidewall or crosslace before stringing with it. Cut the amount you think you will need and run it under some warm water with a dab of soap. Most supplies have resolved the bleeding issues, although it is not entirely uncommon to have some string that does bleed.

Goalie shooting laces – First off, if you’re a goalie learn to string your stick. Everyone should know how to string their own stick, but especially goalies. Not only will you be able to save a reasonable amount of money over the years, but, you will understand the mechanics of how your stick throws. For those goalies that can string their stick one problem you may find is the length of your shooting laces. Some supplies do sell goalie length shooting laces but, the color line is usually quite limited and the laces are not always in stock. An alternative is to tie two regular length shooting laces together. You will have plenty of length to string all the way across a goalie head.

The other day our club team gathered for the first time this year. I must say it was pretty exciting to step back on the field. In addition to the standard rules and expectations, we were in search of some fundraising ideas. The team is allocated a certain amount of money; the rest is up to us players to produce. While we could all fork over a few hundred dollars, fundraising seemed to be a much better alternative to hefty dues. While fundraising can be a nauseas at times, it can also return meaningful sums of money. In addition to the standard bake sale or gift wrap flyer, here are some addition ideas.

Team clothing - This one is aimed at parents and players.

Magnets and Accessories - Along the lines of team clothing

50/50 Raffle Tickets - For all those home game

Authentic Lacrosse - A lacrosse specific affiliate program

Team Calendar - For the creative mind

Roster Card - Simple and useful

Other Fundraising Ideas - A short list

Hi Everyone,

The new forums are up. Feel free to ask any question you have about stringing, dying, and the game in general. We will do our best to answer your questions.

http://www.laxdoctor.com/forums

Lax On,

The Lax Doctor

Some Rasta Style on a sick jet black gait torque. Check out the close up of the laces.

Some absolutely sick RASTA LACES.

Another video from the dudes at shadowelite84.webs.com Check out the video and be careful while dying!

So until we have our own dying tutorials posted here is a basic tutorial from shadowelite84.webs.com We will place the basic splatter in a second post.

Front View

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Front View

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Front View

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Disclaimer

warning: Parent or guardian supervision and help required. Stringing your stick can result in serious injury. LaxDoctor.com is not responsible for the results of your actions. Be Careful! 

Supplies

For this tutorial you will need a mesh kit, we recommend one from Authentic Lacrosse (Use the Build a Kit menu and choose 10 Diamond to pick all your colors), scissors, a lighter (Be Careful Please!), and some patience.

Depending on your mesh kit you may or may not have to cut the the sidewall into the various lengths. If you have one large piece of sidewall it should be cut into the following lengths. Beginner stringers… you may want to make the sidewall cuts slightly longer than needed until you have a hang of it. The following lengths are needed.

(1) 40″ Sidewall Cut - This will be used as our topstring attaching the mesh to the scoop of our stick

(2) 32″ Sidewall Cuts - These will be used as our sidewall strings to attach the mesh to the holes running down the length of the stick (the sidewall)

(1) 18″ Sidewall Cut - This smaller cut will be used to attach the end of the mesh to the throat (bottom) of the head

In addition to the above sidewall cuts your mesh kit should also include at least three shooting laces and of course a piece of mesh.

Topstring

The Topstring is a vital part of the mesh pocket. The topstring not only hold the mesh to the stick but it also greatly determines how the ball will feel when it leaves the stick. As rule of thumb the topstring can never be too tight to the plastic scoop, the tighter the better. If your hands don’t hurt a little when your stringing the topstring your probably not pulling tight enough.

 We are going to begin with stretching the mesh. This minor yet important step will make the rest of your time stringing much easier. To stretch the mesh begin at one end and pull apart; slowly work your way down the mesh. Repeat this process a few times until the mesh is roughly 5 to 6 inches wide. Once the entire mesh piece has been stretched out focus on stretching one end slightly more than the rest of the mesh, this will become your top.

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