Lacrosse Balls
Are you on the hunt for the best quality lacrosse balls but feeling overwhelmed by certifications? Look no further than the Ultimate Lacrosse Ball Buying Guide from Stringers Society! Whether you’re a coach, player, or team manager, our guide provides unbiased information and valuable tips based on our experience playing lacrosse. We’re here to help you make an informed decision and get the best bang for your buck.
Official Lacrosse Balls – What’s the Scoop?
Depending on where you play lacrosse, a governing body makes the rules and regulations for equipment. Some standard lacrosse rule makers include NOCSAE, SEI, NCAA, NFHS, and the CLA.
Official lacrosse balls have stamps of approval from the corresponding governing body in your region and are considered certified for play for games. With multiple governing bodies in lacrosse, not all lacrosse balls will be approved for your region.
Stampless lacrosse balls are not certified for play and are usually made of lower-quality materials. While we always recommend higher quality choices, stampless lacrosse balls can be an excellent alternative for those on a budget who just want to practice.
What are greasers?
Greasers, commonly called ‘shiners,’ are worn-out lacrosse balls that become slippery, leading to inconsistent passes and shots. Using these balls can disrupt the vital consistency between you, your stick, and the ball. Maintaining consistency in every aspect— from your pocket and balls to your stick. When throwing a shiner the ball feels like it has grease on it and is really slippery. Think of Steph Curry pointing out a hardwood floor issue before a game. It underscores the importance of precision and feeling at the pinnacle of sports.
Best Lacrosse Balls
Whether you are just learning how to play lacrosse or showing out in the NCAA championship, you’ll want to buy the best lacrosse balls that last and are consistent. Here we’ll go over what makes up a good ball, what types of balls are available on the market today, and what lacrosse ball brands are the best.
Types of Lacrosse Balls
Bulk Lacrosse Balls
Get ready for the season with bulk lacrosse balls approved for all levels of play, including youth, high school, and college lacrosse. Whether you’re coaching a youth team, leading a high school squad, or competing at the collegiate level, having quality lacrosse balls is essential.
Practice Lacrosse Balls
Practice Lacrosse Balls are a must-have for all lacrosse players and coaches looking to improve their skills. These high-quality balls are designed for indoor and outdoor practice sessions, offering a realistic feel and bounce.
Soft Lacrosse Balls
Soft sponge practice lacrosse balls are perfect for gyms, indoor, youth, and damage control. They are also great for young players who might not be ready for a real lacrosse ball.
Lacrosse Ball Buckets
Lacrosse Ball Buckets come with 36 lacrosse balls and are great for schools, leagues and coaches, and players looking for a easy way to travel with 3 dozen lacrosse balls.
Lacrosse Ball Material
Some lacrosse ball manufacturers have experimented with different materials, like polyurethane, in the construction of their lacrosse balls and even created lacrosse balls with ridges or dimples that are not totally smooth like most lacrosse balls.
Why buy new Lacrosse Balls regularly?
Lacrosse balls wear down over time and there is nothing worse than only having old “greasers” to practice with because they are inconsistent.
- When you are practicing with fresh lacrosse balls, it’s more like a game situation where brand new lacrosse balls are usually used. And you know what they say, “you play like you practice.”
- Practicing with bad lacrosse balls creates bad habits and should be avoided when possible. If you’re unable to get new lacrosse balls, try scuffing up the outside of your old lacrosse balls for some better grip while you wait for your new lacrosse balls to arrive.
Unfortunately, lacrosse balls can be hard to keep track of when you shoot and miss the goal without a backstop. It’s always a good idea to have a solid supply of lacrosse balls when practicing your skills.
What types of lacrosse balls are there?
Lacrosse balls must adhere to lacrosse ball standards chosen by the governing body of a competition to be considered a lacrosse game ball, but adhering to the standards and getting a certification must be done prior to the production of the actual lacrosse ball.
Lacrosse Game Balls
A lacrosse game ball is a certified lacrosse ball that meets the standards of the governing body organizing the competition. Multiple stamps of certification may be acquired by a lacrosse ball, but the most popular are the NOCSAE, SEI, NCAA, NFHS, and CLA certification stamps. Lacrosse game balls weigh between 5 and 5.25 ounces and measure 7 3/4 inches to 8 inches in circumference.
Lacrosse Practice Balls
Some companies make lacrosse balls with no certifications but are still good enough for practicing your skills and improving. Generally cheaper than lacrosse game balls that must pay a royalty for the certification stamp, lacrosse practice balls are usually blank and may not be as consistent in their performance or quality. However, the savings may allow smaller lacrosse programs to continue to grow and improve on a tight budget.
What makes a lacrosse ball certified?
The NOCSAE certification is the most popular in lacrosse and most other sports for official regulation equipment. NOCSAE sets their own lacrosse ball standards that are then used as a metric for testing when lacrosse balls are submitted to SEI for testing. If a lacrosse ball meets the multiple requirements of the NOCSAE lacrosse ball standards, then the lacrosse ball receives both a NOCSAE and SEI stamp. The NOCSAE lacrosse ball standards include multiple aspects of the lacrosse ball that manufacturers must meet. The weight, circumference, outer surface, compression displacement, and coefficient of restitution are some of the NOCSAE measurements.
Lacrosse Ball FAQ
What are lacrosse balls?
A lacrosse ball is made of a solid rubber ball in many colors. Generally, white lacrosse balls are used for men’s lacrosse games and yellow for women’s, but lacrosse balls come in all colors like orange, pink, green, blue, and more!
How much does a lacrosse ball weigh?
Lacrosse Balls are rubber balls that range between 5 and 5.25 oz in weight used for the sport of men’s or women’s lacrosse.
How big is a lacrosse ball?
Lacrosse Balls are 7 ¾ to 8 inches in circumference used for the sport of men’s or women’s lacrosse.
We hope this guide has helped you understand the benefits of lacrosse balls and how to choose the type of lacrosse ball that suits your needs. You can also head over to our Lacrosse Gear Guide for more information on choosing gear in general. Please let us know if there is anything else we can help with!
