LaxTV Forums | A Forum About The MCLA

Kyle Harrison has stated that he is designing his own line with STX. Which player (past, current) would you like to see design equipment and who's equipment would you most likely use?

I'd like to see individuals who play lacrosse and graduate with a degree in engineering or physics that can actually design something worth buying.

No one ever designs something different or with function in mind. The last great lacrosse equipment (not counting stick technology) change was the Cascade helmets. And they really haven't changed in the last 10 years unless you count the changes in the visor, face mask, and padding. Even then, they're still just "canoe" helmets adapted for lacrosse.

Shoulder pads are just modeled after ice hockey. Which is not a bad thing, but kind of shows where the companies heads are. I guess silver shoulder pads with zany designs that sparkle are here to stay.

Me....so stuff would actually fit..

No one ever designs something different or with function in mind.

Amen to that. I played in the early 70's when you basically had a choice of a traditional "Patterson" type crosse or a wood-shafted hi-wall (string it your damn self!). Later mesh came on the scene and the buzz was enormous. Now--I can't keep up from year to year with all the constantly evolving "styles" (mainly in heads, but in the other stuff too) my sons drool over. Offsets, "fingers", pinched throats, zippy sidewall designs, weight and flex data, yada, yada. The head still just holds the important thing--the pocket, yet the kids have to keep up with the hype, and the marketing spirals out of control.

Amen to that. I played in the early 70's when you basically had a choice of a traditional "Patterson" type crosse or a wood-shafted hi-wall (string it your damn self!). Later mesh came on the scene and the buzz was enormous. Now--I can't keep up from year to year with all the constantly evolving "styles" (mainly in heads, but in the other stuff too) my sons drool over. Offsets, "fingers", pinched throats, zippy sidewall designs, weight and flex data, yada, yada. The head still just holds the important thing--the pocket, yet the kids have to keep up with the hype, and the marketing spirals out of control.

It's called evolution and it's due to the hype that the lacrosse community is experiencing today. Without it, we would not see Riddell--the largest football helmet retailer today--making a helmet specifically designed for lacrosse. We wouldn't see Harrow, Serpent, Goss, etc. We wouldn't see the Gaits designing gear...or Shock Doctor...or Nike, which will start to make an appearance. The helmets are not the only thing to undergo changes in design. Gloves are becoming more flexible while still providing the protection they need. Shafts are undergoing different designs with different material (see above) AND becoming stronger while they do it. Yes, some of the companies are swinging gimmicks more than they are developments in R & D, but others are relying on improving existing products, and I am filled with anticipation every year when a company rolls out its next product line--regardless of how lame it may be.

I'd like to see individuals who play lacrosse and graduate with a degree in engineering or physics that can actually design something worth buying.

While playing lacrosse and obtaining my Mechanical Engineering degree, this was a dream of mine. What greater way to do something I love, in both fields? Sadly, many companies are not looking for the "Next Mechanical Engineer" to push their products and those types of jobs are not realistic for Engineers. Go figure. If I could get a reasonable paying job with a major lacrosse gear supplier designing products, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

heated gloves!

Seeing where the world is today concerning metals, I'd say we'll start to see a big shift away from alloy shafts--especially titanium. That, or they'll become more expensive or the metal will not be a high quality product. More products will be made with composite material (carbon, graphite, cc, etc.) I'd be willing to bet there will be a carbon fiber helmet shell in the next few years AND carbon fiber shafts will only heat up in development with the technology being used today. In the aerospace industry, we've already begun to see shifts away from using metal in part production. Take the B787 for example: The fuselage and wings are all carbon fiber. 110m Dia wind blades are all being constructed from carbon fiber. CC is on the rise.

Titanium was the biggest gimmick the sport has ever seen, which might be the best sports marketing ploy ever. The sports superstars pushed titanium as the next great thing and it sounded scientific enough because NASA and aerospace companies used it.

What's the % of titanium in the poles anyways?