Grip ‘N Rip: Mark McNeill

Each week Lacrosse Playground will be featuring a different lacrosse athlete as part of our “Grip ‘N Rip” series, where we’ll find out what the best use to fine tune their game. This week we are featuring St. Mary’s of Annapolis midfielder and UNC commit, Mark McNeill. Check out what this beast from Naptown uses to school people.

What head do you use?
I use a royal blue STX proton power.

What handle do you use?
My pole is an STX sci-ti premiere.

Where does your pocket sit/what type of pocket to you prefer?
My pocket sits in the middle and I like my pockets alittle shallow, not too deep.

Who is your stick doctor? Do you string it yourself or have a go-to-teammate/friend?
Yea I have a go to teammate/friend. Peter Boyle is my stick doctor. He has strung all of my sticks since freshman year.

What kind of mesh do you use (Hard, soft, traditional/leathers, marc , etc.)? Why?
I use hard mesh because I find it easier to deal with. Soft mesh streches too much and hard doesn’t change as much.

What is your preferred glove?
I prefer k-18’s. That’s what my high school team uses so I don’t really remember what other gloves I’ve used in the past.


How much whip does your stick have?
I like my sticks with very little whip or none at all.

Anything unique you do to your head or shaft (pocket up-keep, tape jobs, alterations, etc.)?
I kind of have a unique tape job. I don’t use a rubber butt and I like to have a strip of tape where I put my top hand for shooting. I also like to tape my stick from the butt to about 6 inches up.

How long do you keep a stick before you get a new one?
I keep my poles and heads until they break. I keep my mesh until it breaks or unless it’s so worn out and doesn’t function right.

What’s most important to you in a stick/what makes a good stick?
What makes a good stick is how it feels in your hands.

Lacrosse Playground

In 2009, Adam O’Neill, Harry Alford and Thomas Alford launched Lacrosse Playground as the preeminent site for lacrosse gearheads. For years Lacrosse Playground provided lacrosse fans with tutorials and tips on how to string a lacrosse head, up-close looks at the gear the top players used and sneak peeks at equipment and uniforms before they were released. More than 10 years and millions of visits later, Lacrosse Playground has relaunched with a focus on storytelling. Our mission is to provide comprehensive coverage of the latest lacrosse news, share insights into the sports betting and fantasy lacrosse world and showcase the lifestyles and personalities of the sport of lacrosse through articles, videos and podcasts.

6 Comments

  1. Bobjoe on March 15, 2010 at 8:20 am

    Your garbage crazy d4l i have seen mark play for about 8 years now and when he really applies himself he is amazing best all around athletic stm has ever seen….great great attitude and wonderful player

  2. Cam on January 22, 2010 at 10:46 pm

    I’ve never played on a field that bad.

  3. crazy d4l on January 22, 2010 at 12:16 am

    McNeil is garbage

  4. zach on January 20, 2010 at 10:00 pm

    it is its probly so messed up cuz when rabil went there all of his shots burn up the grass due to its fiery speed.. duuuh

  5. wow on January 20, 2010 at 2:17 pm

    wow dematha’s field is terrible. i thought they don’t even have a field tho.

  6. the journey is the reward on January 20, 2010 at 11:57 am

    field looks good, mcneill is literally leaving the competition in dust. he reminds me of an old nittany lion that used to rip high bouncers on that pasture.

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