Traditional vs Mesh – Which one is best for me?
This is the classic debate when it comes to lacrosse stringing and you’ll find positives and negatives for both.
Traditional pockets were the only option for a long time, which is why you’ll see a lot of old-school players who will only use trad. The traditional pocket is made from leathers and crosslace string, it is notoriously difficult for new stringers to string. However, once you have mastered the stringing technique the traditional pocket can offer a lot more to the player than a mesh pocket. Leather pockets can shift a lot more freely than mesh pockets, and you will feel the ball a lot more on the release than you do with mesh. The only real downfall of traditional is that it requires a great deal more maintenance than a mesh pocket.
While some people still swear by the traditional pocket, it is a dying breed in lacrosse. While some companies such as Rock-it Pocket still push the leather and crosslace, it appears that more and more players trust mesh over the classic leather option.
When you look at the professional, college and high school ranks of lacrosse the mesh pocket reigns as king. Its main advantages are that it is fairly easy to string and maintain, and with newer wax mesh and performance mesh the pocket is weather proof. This adds a level of consistency and ease of use which you’d struggle to get with a leather traditional.
There are a huge amount of mesh companies, with most now favouring the wax mesh or performance mesh rather than the classic hard or soft varieties. The most common type of mesh is 10 diamond mesh which comes in hard, soft or waxed options. You will also see other mesh types which utilize larger diamond sizes such as 6 diamond mesh. The advantage to the larger diamonds is a better hold on the ball, at the sacrifice of some shot speed.
I would advise all new players to find what works for them and stick to it. It is important to find a pocket which is consistent, durable and legal. Once you have all 3, there is no real need to switch your style.