Matt Mackrides is a stud on the attacking side of the field. Matt was a standout and four year starter at Penn State totaling 144 points and picking up 134 ground balls as an attackman. In the MLL, Matt was drafted 26th overall by the Bayhawks where he has become a key contributor to the Bayhawks midfield.
What head and shaft are you using?
An STX Proton Power (P2) and an STX Stallion SC-TI.
Do you string your own sticks? If not, who does?
Yes, I have strung my own sticks my entire career
What kind of pocket are you using?
Mesh: Stringking Type 2s
Pocket placement: Low/Mid
Shooters: One nylon and two shooters.
Whip: low amount of whip.
How do you tape your sticks?
I put a knob on the bottom of my shaft for more control. I also only use about 1 glove width on the bottom of my shaft and then place two pieces for shooting hand positioning and one piece near the throat of the stick for cradling with one hand.
Why do you like this set up? (Pocket and tape)
Offers the most control possible. My pocket allows for me to get the ball out quickly with both passing and shooting. The tape allows for me to have the correct hand positioning at all times.
How has your stick changed since college?
I used to have a lot of whip with a much lower pocket. I have had to adjust my game to become a quicker feeder off of initiating dodges.
Any superstitions or funny stories?
I’m not a very superstitious player. Just go out and play the game the right way.
What is your wall ball and shooting routine?
I do shoot mostly every day. I don’t have a set routine. Whatever I need to work on for that particular week. I.e. if I’m playing against a particular goalie I will practice shots that may have worked in the past against that goalie specifically.
Who have you enjoyed playing against the most in your career?
Tucker Durkin was always a battle throughout my high school days and Saturday’s in college. Recently, I have not gone 1v1 against him much due to my moving to midfield from attack in the pro’s.
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.
Predicting the PLL Protected Player Rosters (Pro Lacrosse Talk Podcast #129)
byPro Lacrosse Talk
On this episode of the Pro Lacrosse Talk Podcast, Hutton Jackson and Adam Moore are joined by Lacrosse Playground contributor Brian Andrews. They discuss the Atlas cutting Scott Rodgers, Jeremy Thompson, Kyle Hartzell and Callum Robinson, the trade that sent Rob Pannell to the Redwoods and Chris Hogan, Dalton Crossan and Garrett Thul joining the PLL. They also discuss the retirement of Matt Danowski and Brett Schmidt, provide their predictions for the protected rosters particularly with Dillon Ward, Connor Fields, Paul Rabil, Joe Walters and Kyle Harrison, and theorize what it would take for Coach Sean Quirk to trade the top pick in the PLL Entry Draft and presumably the chance to draft Lyle Thompson.
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Pro Lacrosse Talk is the flagship lacrosse podcast of the Lacrosse Playground network covering all three professional lacrosse leagues (NLL, PLL, Athletes Unlimited). Each week throughout the season we’ll recap the games, provide analysis on the teams and feature exclusive postgame and off-the-field interviews with professional lacrosse players, coaches and executives. If you’re a fan of lacrosse podcasts like the Unbuckled Chinstrap, The Inside Feed, Lacrosse Classified or The Crease Dive, then give us a listen.