r/StickDoctor 12d ago

Women’s stringer here - AMA!

Post image

Grace from @heartstringswlax here!

Seeing a lot of men attempting women’s pockets on here and asking for help. Way to go guys! Glad you’ve delved into women’s stringing!

I’m here to answer any questions or give feedback on any pocket pics you want to send. My contribution to growing the game is educating people on women’s stringing (an area that is lacking, even among women’s players themselves).

Shoot your questions :)

45 Upvotes

42 comments sorted by

3

u/ConsiderationNo2608 12d ago

Can you drop your favorite/most recommended tutorial sources/videos?

9

u/Goodtimeyaknow 12d ago

My go to favorite tutorial will always be Laxtractive on YouTube. She’s no longer stringing but she is the OG women’s stringer. This 4 part tutorial is the best.

Lars/Sidewall Jedi also has an abundance of resources but his stringing style can be a bit advanced for some😂

I am planning on making tutorial videos myself in the coming months!!

2

u/onthenut 12d ago

Do you have a preference, recommendation as to what is the superior mesh for both stringing and game use

4

u/Goodtimeyaknow 12d ago

For women’s - I really like the Jima W mesh for a mesh channel style pocket. Mesh dynasty Ignite cut into a channel is good too. Jima is $10 and TMD is $20 which is excellent.

Armor Valkyrie is goated of course but is more for advanced players and def more expensive.

2

u/imacheckya__ 12d ago

What would you call this pocket? It needs a name

2

u/Goodtimeyaknow 12d ago

Nicely done btw. Looks fantastic

1

u/Goodtimeyaknow 12d ago

O-Channel leather trad :) I string these too!

2

u/Gullible-General-637 10d ago

What do you use for cross lace?

2

u/Goodtimeyaknow 10d ago

Jimalax crosslace but I’m beginning to dabble in 275 paracord

1

u/frannois 12d ago

Hi! First, I want to say thank you for providing feedback on my valkyrie mesh. Will look into it.

That was for my oldest daughter. Now I'm thinking about stringing something for my 10yo. Any recommendations for that age group? She's getting really comfortable but I do think she still needs something more forgiving.

2

u/Goodtimeyaknow 12d ago

Mesh channels are super versatile. I recommend them to everyone. The one in this photo was for a 12-year-old. This one has women’s mesh which has varying diamond sizes to create a sweet spot. If you want to be even more beginner friendly (if the sweet spot is too advanced), I would use a piece of mesh with all the same diamond sizes so you could cut a piece of men’s mesh down into a five or six diamond strip and use that.

1

u/dreakon 11d ago

For the runners, are you using the same string as the shooters? That looks really cool.

2

u/Goodtimeyaknow 11d ago

Yes! It’s paracord.

1

u/dreakon 8d ago

Could you show how to tie nylon runners? I'm new to stringing and have only used leathers or the ones built in to the Valkyrie Mesh.

2

u/Goodtimeyaknow 8d ago

Basic poachers knot or universal knot

2

u/Goodtimeyaknow 12d ago

I’d also recommend a nylon trad. Obviously more forgiving than a leather trad but very customizable in terms of shape. You could string it with a sweet spot and varying twists (like the photo), or keep all twists the same and have less of a sweet spot (for a beginner).

1

u/frannois 12d ago

Whoa that's a challenge. Do you have the grocery list for that one?

1

u/Goodtimeyaknow 12d ago

https://tribalwest.com/products/twl-womens-string-kit tribal west seems to have a kit, but I order in bulk then measure out.
1 length crosslace: wingspan
1 length sidewall: arm length
1 length thick nylon (top string on Jima): arm length (fingertips to armpit.

Nylon trad: 3 sidewall, 3 crosslace, 6 “top string” thick nylons (thick nylon string is called topstring on jimalax. You can also use 550 paracord.)
Mesh channel: 3 sidewall, 2 crosslace, 1 slice mesh (Jima w is good), 4 topstring/thick nylons

I’d go on jimalax and order spools or segments. Good luck!!

1

u/Goodtimeyaknow 12d ago

Hey! I have two recs - a mesh channel and a nylon trad.

1

u/seanyb0y38 12d ago

No questions, just here to say I’m a fan

1

u/Goodtimeyaknow 12d ago

Thank you!!

1

u/Fresh30Lacrosse 12d ago

Every try your own form of Valkyrie or something similar?

1

u/Goodtimeyaknow 12d ago

Valkyrie is brilliant and I will never get close to creating something similar hahah.
A few years ago, a company sent me some similar thin string to toy around with in hopes of me creating a new pocket piece product. I came up with absolutely nothing lol

1

u/Equivalent-Food-2674 12d ago

Have you tried Antrea Mesh or Airwire? How do they compare? 

Btw. Last week, I checked to see if you had any stringing videos on YouTube..

3

u/Goodtimeyaknow 12d ago edited 12d ago

None on YouTube yet but stay tuned!

I haven’t tried either. Been wanting to try Antrea, heritage did a great job with that.

Not in a huge hurry to try Airwire bc armor mesh was first and stealing ideas/designs from a small business isn’t cool 🙂

1

u/Equivalent-Food-2674 12d ago edited 12d ago

Sorry to hear that. Valkyrie is an amazing product. The Antrea mesh is a fun cradle. 

1

u/PauseMedical7825 12d ago

How do you like stringing with updog

1

u/Goodtimeyaknow 12d ago

Not falling for that

1

u/rog-glav21 12d ago

Biiig fan!! Thankss for the help and keep uploading and showing us the col stuff u make

1

u/rubberducky475 8d ago

My daughter is going to be getting into lacrosse next year. I dont know anything about women's lacrosse heads, and dont know anyone that does. The generic info online isnt a big help. I would like to get her a girls stick that is beginner friendly, but is actually good quality that wont hold her back either.

Do you have any recommendations for a head? Is factory stringing usually good on women's heads? Do you have thoughts on mesh vs traditional? What do you usually look for in a head and stringing, is it still an act of balancing whip/hold like it is for men's heads? Thanks for any info you can share!

3

u/Goodtimeyaknow 8d ago

Love this question!!!
I would recommend the STX Crux 300 or 400 or the Powell Alula. Epoch purpose 10 degree (not 15°, too advanced) is also good.
Factory stringing is usually garbage. That’s why I do what I do! Buy it unstrung, get it strung.
Mesh is fantastic for beginners, specifically a mesh channel pocket. Leather trads are for more advanced players but a nylon trad could be good for a beginner too. You can check out all the stringing options on my website heartstringswlax.com.
I look for a) good shape and b) good quality plastic. We want offset but not too much, and flexibility but not too much. For example, I don’t think the gait whip or epoch purpose 15° would NOT be good for her because of how aggressive the offset is (that’s for more advanced players). Also, stiff plastic is popular rn, personally I don’t love it because the head can crack and it makes ground balls harder.
As far as the beginner sticks on the market, they’re usually strung very flat. This makes no sense to me; a bad pocket will be hard to play with and discouraging to someone starting off. But also a pocket that’s too advanced like Valkyrie (which has a deep sweet spot) might not be great either.
All in all, I’d recommend a mesh channel or a nylon trad in a crux 300/400, Powell Alula, or epoch purpose 10°.
Also check out sideline swap! You can get a good deal on a lightly used head.
Or message me on instagram @heartstringswlax, I might have a few for sale 😉

1

u/rubberducky475 8d ago

You are the best, thank you so much!

1

u/Electrical-Acadia733 7d ago

Do you have a tutorial for a flex mesh esque pocket?

1

u/Goodtimeyaknow 7d ago

Coming soon!

1

u/Electrical-Acadia733 7d ago

Does this Look fine like my second time stringing Gait Flex mesh 

1

u/Electrical-Acadia733 7d ago

Wont let me add a photo for some reason 

1

u/Goodtimeyaknow 7d ago

You can dm it to me on instagram?