A women's lacrosse stick isn't one product — it's three decisions stacked on top of each other. The head determines your face shape and legal pocket. The shaft determines your reach, weight, and material feel. The mesh determines how the ball actually sits and releases from your pocket. Get any one of the three wrong for your position and the other two won't fix it.
This guide walks through how those three pieces fit together, what to look for in each, and which in-stock options at Sanderson Lacrosse are worth a look right now. Whether you're outfitting a first stick or upgrading before the season, the goal is the same: understand the setup before you buy it.
The Three Parts of a Women's Lacrosse Stick
A complete women's stick is a head, a shaft, and mesh (or traditional stringing) combined into one unit. Complete sticks come pre-strung out of the box; many players eventually rebuild or restring their own once they know what pocket they like.
- Head — the plastic frame that holds the pocket and determines legal shape, sidewall count, and how the ball sits.
- Shaft — the handle. Length and material affect reach, weight, and how the stick feels in transition.
- Mesh — the netting strung into the head. Mesh type and stringing pattern control catch, hold, and release speed.
Women's field lacrosse rules keep the pocket shallower than the men's game — officials check that the ball breaks the plane of the top rail when the stick is held horizontally — so every piece of women's-specific gear is built around that shallower, more technique-driven pocket rather than the deep pocket you'll see on a men's stick.
Choosing a Head
Start here. The head sets your face shape (narrow for control, slightly wider for catching in traffic) and how forgiving your pocket will be while you're still learning to cradle one-handed.
We currently carry the ECD Halo Women's Field Lacrosse Head in a handful of colorways — it's a modern, tighter-face head that strings well for attackers and midfielders who want a defined channel without sacrificing catch radius. For a broader look at what's available across brands, our Women's Lacrosse Heads collection is the place to compare face shapes side by side.
What actually matters in a head
Face shape. Narrower faces reward stick skill and ball control — better for attackers and confident midfielders. Slightly wider faces make catching easier in a crowd, which is why a lot of defenders and newer players lean that way.
Sidewall count and stringing holes. More sidewall holes mean more room to customize pocket placement later. If you think you'll want to restring your own pocket down the road, a head with more stringing options gives you that flexibility.
Stiffness. A stiffer head holds its channel better under a check and lasts longer at the defensive end. A more flexible head gives a softer catch, which newer players and finesse attackers tend to prefer.
For a deeper dive into ranked head-by-head picks across every position, see our Best Women's Lacrosse Head 2026 buyer's guide.
Choosing a Shaft
Shaft length and material get less attention than the head, but they change how the stick feels in your hands more than almost anything else.
Unlike men's field lacrosse, which splits sticks into a short-stick length class and a separate long-pole class, women's field rules keep every position inside one overall legal length range. Within that range, players still self-select by role: attackers and midfielders generally run shorter shafts for quicker hands and faster passing lanes, while defenders often choose the longer end for extra reach on checks and interceptions.
We stock the Brine Krown Women's Field Lacrosse Shaft and the StringKing Composite 2 Pro Women's Field Lacrosse Shaft — both built specifically to women's field spec rather than cut down from a men's blank. Material matters here too: alloy shafts tend to run a bit heavier and more durable, while composite and carbon options shave weight for faster stick handling. We break down the tradeoffs in more detail in our shaft material guide.
Browse the full lineup in our Women's Lacrosse Shafts collection if you want to compare options currently in stock.
Choosing Mesh
Mesh is where a lot of players either fall in love with their stick or fight it every game. Because the legal women's pocket is shallower than the men's, the mesh you choose has an outsized effect on catch and release feel.
Softer mesh breaks in faster and gives a gentler catch — good for newer players still building confidence. Semi-hard and hard mesh hold their shape longer and are more consistent once dialed in, which is why a lot of experienced players eventually move that direction. The ECD Venom Women's Mesh Runner is currently in stock and strings up into a controlled, mid pocket that works well for attack and midfield.
Whatever mesh you pick, keep it inside the legal depth window — a pocket that's too deep is one of the most common reasons a stick gets flagged during a stick check. For the full rundown on mesh types and how they string differently, read our Lacrosse Mesh Types Explained guide, and for pocket setup specifics, see our guide to shooting strings.
How Position Should Shape Your Setup
The head, shaft, and mesh choices above aren't independent of each other — position ties all three together, and it's worth thinking through your role before you buy any single piece.
Attack
Attackers generally want the tightest, most controlled setup on the field: a narrower head face, a shorter shaft for quick hands in tight spaces, and mesh that releases fast without sacrificing hold on a dodge. Ball control under pressure matters more than reach for this position, since most of the work happens inside a few yards of the crease.
Midfield
Midfielders cover the most ground of any position and need a setup that works on both ends of the field. A balanced, mid-width head and a shaft in the shorter-to-mid length range give you the versatility to defend, transition, and finish without feeling like you're fighting your stick in any one phase of the game.
Defense
Defenders benefit from extra reach for interceptions and checks, which usually means leaning toward the longer end of the legal shaft range. A slightly wider face shape also helps with catching in traffic, and semi-hard mesh holds up better under the wear that comes with a more physical role at that end of the field.
Beginners and Youth Players
New players are usually better served by a forgiving, wider head and softer mesh that's easier to catch with while stick skills are still developing. A shorter, easier-to-control shaft also helps younger or first-time players build good habits before they start optimizing for a specific position.
Position Cheat Sheet
None of this needs to be complicated. Here's a quick reference for how most players at each position tend to set up their stick.
| Position | Face Shape | Shaft Length | Mesh Preference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attack | Narrower, tighter channel | Shorter end of legal range | Softer to mid mesh for quick release |
| Midfield | Balanced, mid-width | Shorter to mid length | Mid mesh for all-around control |
| Defense | Slightly wider for catching | Longer end of legal range | Semi-hard mesh for durability |
| Beginner / Youth | Wider, forgiving | Shorter, easier to control | Soft mesh for easy catching |
Complete Stick vs. Building Your Own
Not every player needs to pick a head, shaft, and mesh separately. A pre-strung complete stick is a legitimate option, especially for newer players.
Complete sticks arrive strung and ready to play, which takes the guesswork out of pocket setup. We currently have the Gait Air 2 Women's Complete Stick and the StringKing Women's Complete 2 Pro Midfield in stock — both good options if you'd rather not build from scratch.
Building your own gives you full control over pocket depth, mesh hardness, and stringing pattern, but it takes more knowledge (or a trip to our stringers) to get right. Most players who go this route have already played on a complete stick for a season or two and know what pocket feel they're chasing.
Either path is fine. The complete stick gets you on the field faster; building your own lets you fine-tune every detail once you know what you like.
Getting the Sizing Right
Before you check out, double check that your shaft length actually fits your height and position — a stick that's too long or short changes your mechanics more than most players expect, especially for younger and first-time players. Our Lacrosse Stick Sizing Guide breaks sizing down by age, height, and position if you want a more detailed reference.
Caring for Your Setup
A well-built stick still needs upkeep. Rinse turf debris and sweat off the head and mesh after games rather than leaving gear zipped in a bag, and avoid storing your stick in a hot car or trunk for long stretches — repeated heat exposure is one of the more common ways a head warps or a pocket loosens over a season. Check sidewall string tension periodically, especially early in the season after a stick has been sitting through the off-season. A pocket that's shifted or stretched out will change your release before you even notice it happening in a game.
FAQ
Do I need a women's-specific head, or can I use a men's head?
You need a women's-specific head. Women's field lacrosse rules require a shallower legal pocket and different sidewall specifications than the men's game, and men's heads aren't built to meet that standard.
What shaft length should a beginner start with?
Most newer players do best on the shorter end of the legal range — it's easier to control while you're still learning to cradle and pass one-handed. Check our sizing guide linked above for specifics by height and age.
How do I know if my pocket is too deep?
Hold the stick horizontally with a ball in the pocket. If the ball doesn't stay visible above the sidewall, the pocket is too deep and needs to be restrung shallower to stay legal.
Should I buy a complete stick or string my own?
If this is your first stick, a complete stick is the simpler choice. Once you've played a season and know what pocket feel you prefer, building your own gives you more control.
How often should I replace my mesh?
Mesh wears out with use and weather exposure — watch for a pocket that's stretched out, lost its shape, or won't hold a consistent channel anymore. That's your sign it's time to restring.
Shop Women's Lacrosse Gear
Every head, shaft, and mesh option above is available now through Sanderson Lacrosse, either online or in person at our shop at 56 Broadway in Orangeville. Browse the full lineup in our All Women's Lacrosse Gear collection to build the setup that fits your game.
