Summary

Pocket pounders are a tool that get over looked but are a very important to help the initial break in of a fresh string job. Pocket pounders come in all variations, from hand made to ones that can be purchased from major lacrosse manufacturers and lacrosse retailers. Most are just a ball with a hole drilled in and either a wooden dowel, drumstick or piece of broken shaft as a handle. Others which I personally have found to work the best is a free standing. These are usually constructed of a base plate with a shaft and lacrosse ball mounted on top. While they all serve a purpose, the floor free standing are great because it allows to place both feet on the base and then have both hands on the head. This allows for more control of where the pocket is broken in.

The advantages of using a pocket pounder when stringing is especially important in traditional pockets. Once a pocket is strung and adjusted close to where you want, you use the pocket pounder to start "setting" the traditional interlocks onto the leather. This helps to stabilize the pocket and to make further adjustments if needed to the sidewall or string tension. A quick tip when using is to not get carried away. While most of us like a well formed and defined pocket, if you use too much force and the pocket does not have the proper tension it can lead to premature string, leather and mesh failure and a pocket that is not in the desired location. Start easy and check tension, adjust and then proceed with more pressure.

Weather you use a home made or buy a pre-manufactured pocket pounder, there's no doubt of how important one can be when stringing a lacrosse stick and the intial break in of a great pocket.

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