Stick Tech Workshop - ReADeR TIPS!

BY VAN O'BANION Many of you have written in asking how to do the corner pocket. E-Lacrosse's Van O'Banion will show you how to go one better. His mesh-traditional hybrid creation is the Mesh X Pocket. Its revolutionary sidewall design combines with symmetrical coils to force the ball to sit directly on the mesh channel giving accuracy player's dream about. The pocket is basically strung around one large channel, which is mesh. It is the perfect pocket for those players who love the feel of mesh but can never get the control or accuracy of a channeled pocket. The Mesh X Pocket offers a smooth accurate release as well as very little maintenance.

String needed: 4 Leathers 2 normal length sidewalls 1 piece of soft mesh (dimensions 10" x 4")May need to be cut by hand 2 long lengths of nylon string 3 or 4 hockey laces (preference)

Step 1: Prepare your materials Stretch the leathers Stretch the mesh String-O-Meter rating: Step 2: Sidewalls Start on the outside of the head and tie off a knot run in through the top and out through the next hole (pic. 3). Run the sidewall down the outside edge of the head. This will maximize the amount of space your pocket has therefore more space to put in a pocket (pic. 4). Using the same design run a sidewall down the opposite edge of the head. Mimic the one you already have done on the other side. Everything should be symmetrical (pic. 5). Pull each sidewall tight and tie a strong knot. Cut the end of the string at about a finger length (pic. 6). Run each of the leathers through the top two outer holes in the head. Loop it through the precut holes. Run it through the outer holes on the bottom of the head as well and pull firmly (pic. 7). Step 3: Coils Run nylon through the same hole you used for starting the sidewall. Loop it around the leather. Also loop it around the sidewall and pull firmly but not too tight (pic. 8). Wrap the string around to form the coils. Wrap the strings around 8 times, on the eighth time pull the nylon down and wrap it around the sidewall. Pull nylon to leather and repeat the process. But this time you should bring the nylon down on the 10th coil. The top coil count is eight. Next two are ten. The next one is nine and the last one is eight (pic. 10). After running the last coil of eight, pull through the bottom hole and tie a knot. Do this to both sides of the head. Again make sure that each side is perfectly even and symmetrical (pic. 9). If you need help mimic the side you have already strung. Or follow the pics. TOYOTA Video Clip of the Week! Inner Leathers Start off by running two leathers as you did for the outer leathers (pics. 11 & 12). Before you loop the leathers through, Slide the (10 x 4) piece of mesh on as in the picture above. Loop it through making sure the leathers are running down the outside row of holes (pic. 18). Start with the same hole you started the sidewall and the coils with. Bring it through the hole made by the leather. Wraparound the leather and the mesh through it's 2nd hole down (pic. 13). Bring the nylon around and through the loop made by the top coil. Repeat the process skipping a hole of mesh every time (pic. 14). This process is simply traditional stringing so it shouldn't be too hard. Repeat the process on both sides. If you need help refer to the side you have already finished. Tie the nylon off at the bottom edge of the head where two holes should be pre-cut in the leather (pic. 15). You already know how to do a coil. So apply that knowledge and run the nylon through the bottom precut hole in the leather. Run the nylon up to the hole on the left Wrap around the nylon to form the coil. Tie off at bottom. Tie a strong knot (pic. 16). Do this to both sides using the left most and right most holes of the mesh. Make sure to tie off with a strong knot (pic. 17). You are almost finished. Apply the same principles in making a coil to stringing a shooter. Run a straight-line form edge to edge. Wrap-around pulling firm each time. Hockey laces work best (pic. 19). Three, four, or five shooting strings may be used, depending on preference. 3- More Whip 4- Medium Whip 5- Less Whip *To tighten the pocket, pull the X coils at the bottom of the pocket tighter and re-tie the knot (pic. 20). This will adjust the channel without disturbing the way the pocket throws.

The "Homegrown",

"Level",

"Complete",

and "X" Pockets

will be featured soon!


String-O-Meter

Each pocket design found in the Stick Tech Workshop will be assigned a String-O-Meter rating. This is just a relative measure of how difficult it is to string the sticks.

	EASY - This refers mainly to mesh pockets and those for the novice and first time stringer.
	MEDIUM - This refers to sticks such as the six and eight diamond stringings from August. The designs aren't too tough, but require some concentration and time.
	DIFFICULT - This refers to sticks like THE "Dog Track" in September. These sticks are usually variations from the basic traditional pocket.
	ADVANCED - This refers to sticks that take more time and careful attention to string properly. Overall stringing capability and ability to tie more complicated knots are usually needed to string a pocket reading 4 on the String-O-Meter.