The Development of the Lacrosse Stick

Original lacrosse sticks were composed of a single piece of wood bent to form the head of the stick. In order to do so, stick makers would wrap pliable steamed hickory around a tree in order to bend it. Traditional sticks fall into two categories: those with pockets enclosed by wood and those with unenclosed pockets. The pockets of the enclosed kind were smaller. Therefore, enclosed sticks were used in pairs (both used to help contain the ball), but they were sometimes used alone.
 

In the South (played by those such as Cherokee, Seminole, and Choctaw), players would use two sticks instead of just one, and would hold these two sticks in each hand. The pouch in the oval-shaped pocket was formed by a string running along the side and intersecting with a string running crosswise. The pocket of one stick was smaller than that of the other stick, which helped to control the ball more effectively inside the stick with the bigger pocket. Southern sticks were also relatively short (.6-.8 meters), but variations in size was definitely seen early on. In the Easter Cherokee version of lacrosse, sticks were the same in both length and size and players held their sticks as close to the body as possible with one hand.

Wooden sticks are becoming less seen and are considered illegal by several modern lacrosse associations. The rules of the National Lacrosse League dictate that sticks be composed from hollow synthetic or metal type material with the head completely separate from the shaft.

In order to make catching and throwing easier for those who enjoy playing the sport, the lacrosse stick has had some drastic changes in terms of its composition and overall appearance. Nowadays, lacrosse shafts are made of either composite material or metal, depending on what the player prefers to play with. There is a variety of brands to choose from as well, such as Brine, Harrow, and Warrior. The actual shape of the head has been changing rapidly in order to fit the needs of the average lacrosse player, such as making it easier to pick up ground balls. Also, the shape and stringing of the lacrosse head significantly affects the way that one is able to catch and throw. Therefore, lacrosse stick makers across the country and world have been attempting to modify the lacrosse stick to help improve the average lacrosse player's performance. Below is a picture of modern day lacrosse shafts and heads that are shaped to benefit a lacrosse player's accuracy and consistency.