Grip ‘N Rip: John Christmas

This week, our latest installment in the LPG “Grip ‘N Rip” series is Pro player, former UVA All-American and LEAPS Lacrosse founder, John Christmas. John talks about why he likes to have a high pocket and what shoes he is rocking this Fall.

What head do you use?
Maverik Prep.

What handle do you use?
H2 Maverik.

Where does your pocket sit/what type of pocket to you prefer?
Mark Mesh with a high pocket.


Who is your stick doctor? Do you string it yourself or have a go-to-teammate/friend?
Brendan Ronon who plays club ball at UMD.

What kind of mesh do you use? Why?

Mark Mesh, really like the soft feel.

What is your preferred glove?
Maverik zooms (available in LPG store).

How much whip does your stick have?
A little bit.


Anything unique you do to your head or shaft (pocket up-keep, tape jobs, alterations, etc.)?
Not really.

How long do you keep a stick before you get a new one?
Until it breaks…. Ive been using a Maverik Juice for 2 year at all my clinics, camps, tournaments training .

What’s most important to you in a stick/what makes a good stick?
High pocket, good hold, light shaft, a non bulky head.

Jersey Preference: Clean and classic or bold and wild? Why?
Classic, it’ll never go out of style.

Favorite brand/type of cleats?
Jordan and Under Armor.

What kicks do you wear off the field?
Encore (www.encorebrand.com)

Can you tell us a little bit about the LEAPS program?

LEAPS Lacrosse is a non profit in Philly and our mission is to use lacrosse as a hook to mentor and interact with youth in Philadelphia. Our slogan is bound for new opportunities and we serve more than 1000 kids in Philly current through the school district, recreation centers and our township select teams.

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.

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