Will the Iroquois Top String Be Legal According to the New NCAA Stringing Rules

Iroquois Top String

I’ve been emotionally and physically shaken up by the new stringing rules imposed by the NCAA. How could they take something so personal away from the player? The stick is an extension of your body. Players sleep with their sticks, take them to class, on the bus, on dates, and etc.

stx stallion

There was a time when you were defined by how your pocket looked, but times they-are-a-changin’. Lacrosse used to be like kickball. You could pinpoint who the best players were simply by looking at their pocket.

Now, every stick will virtually look the same. Shooting strings cannot be lower than four inches from the top of your head (no “V” or “U”). The NCAA, oblivious coaches, and lame fans wanted to take “hold” away from the player, in order to speed up the game by encouraging the ball to fall out more. More turnovers equates to more fastbreaks, which in turn, leads to a faster game. I don’t necessarily agree.

lacrosse top string

Here’s a quote from one of our best resident stringers:

If someone wants to come up with a 6 inch iroquois topstring, and string the middle of the head so tight that it has whip and can still throw and hold the ball, it should be legal. It would go against the spirit, but not the letter of the rule.

Iroquois Top String

Moreover, where does the Iroquois Top String fit in? Analyze the pictures I’ve included and ask yourself this question, “can I get away with it?”

Iroquois Top String

Hypothetically, if there aren’t any shooting strings within my pocket, can I do an Iroquois Top String down to the middle of my stick? The top string is just one example of a player showcasing his stringing ability. Will we see a lack of creativity in stringing in 2013?

ttyl,

B.R.O.

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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.

17 Comments

  1. […] AlfordCategories: Stringing, videos ShareBufferEarlier this month we posed a question, “Will the Iroquois Top String Be Legal According to the New NCAA Stringing Rules?” And – “Hypothetically, if there aren’t any shooting strings within my pocket, […]

  2. Zuus on October 3, 2012 at 12:13 pm

    The rule states that you may not have a shooting string lower than 4 inches from the top of the head (Plastic). In my read of the rule, the Iroquois portion of the stringing is perfectly fine. What makes any of these heads illegal is the presence of any of the throw strings.

    Head #1: The lower hockey lace is illegal, the upper one is borderline
    Head #2: The hockey lace is illegal, remove that and the head is fine
    Head #3: Hard to tell because you don’t see the rest of the head but the bootom throw string makes it illegal
    Head #4: Can’t see the whole head but you may be fine with that
    Head #5: The lowest black hockey is borderline but everything else is legal.

    A general rule of thumb that I have been able to apply in creating a measuring template for this rule: in a normal mesh head, you hare free to have anything across the top 8 rows of the mesh. You are on the border with the 8th row, anything below that is a no go.

  3. Zuus on October 3, 2012 at 12:13 pm

    The rule states that you may not have a shooting string lower than 4 inches from the top of the head (Plastic). In my read of the rule, the Iroquois portion of the stringing is perfectly fine. What makes any of these heads illegal is the presence of any of the throw strings.

    Head #1: The lower hockey lace is illegal, the upper one is borderline
    Head #2: The hockey lace is illegal, remove that and the head is fine
    Head #3: Hard to tell because you don’t see the rest of the head but the bootom throw string makes it illegal
    Head #4: Can’t see the whole head but you may be fine with that
    Head #5: The lowest black hockey is borderline but everything else is legal.

    A general rule of thumb that I have been able to apply in creating a measuring template for this rule: in a normal mesh head, you hare free to have anything across the top 8 rows of the mesh. You are on the border with the 8th row, anything below that is a no go.

  4. chirp on October 2, 2012 at 7:24 pm

    All of those sticks are still illegal. Its 4 inches from the top of the head not the start of the mesh idiot

    • saucy on October 2, 2012 at 8:04 pm

      “Hypothetically, if there aren’t any shooting strings within my pocket, can I do an Iroquois Top String down to the middle of my stick?”

      think before you speak

      • chirp on October 3, 2012 at 10:41 pm

        I said all of the sticks shown in this article, and they all have shooting strings, and theyre all below 4 inches. Thats what im talking about. Without shooting strings it doesnt matter what type of iroquis bullshit you try to do its not gonna help

        • kbourp44 on October 12, 2012 at 3:01 pm

          They all were string be for the rules came out. My friend did the traditional one 2 yeas ago. They are just examples

      • chirp on October 3, 2012 at 10:41 pm

        I said all of the sticks shown in this article, and they all have shooting strings, and theyre all below 4 inches. Thats what im talking about. Without shooting strings it doesnt matter what type of iroquis bullshit you try to do its not gonna help

    • saucy on October 2, 2012 at 8:04 pm

      “Hypothetically, if there aren’t any shooting strings within my pocket, can I do an Iroquois Top String down to the middle of my stick?”

      think before you speak

    • Max McCool on October 2, 2012 at 9:41 pm

      If you read the rule, you might realize it only refers to shooting strings. If there aren’t any shooting strings, what makes it illegal? Watch your mouth, punk.

    • Max McCool on October 2, 2012 at 9:41 pm

      If you read the rule, you might realize it only refers to shooting strings. If there aren’t any shooting strings, what makes it illegal? Watch your mouth, punk.

  5. chirp on October 2, 2012 at 7:24 pm

    All of those sticks are still illegal. Its 4 inches from the top of the head not the start of the mesh idiot

  6. phillaxin on October 2, 2012 at 7:01 pm

    how a player strings his stick separates himself from every other i get pocket requirements and and head requirements lacrosse is already a fast paced sport no need to attempt to speed it up more and take away from the talent

  7. phillaxin on October 2, 2012 at 7:01 pm

    how a player strings his stick separates himself from every other i get pocket requirements and and head requirements lacrosse is already a fast paced sport no need to attempt to speed it up more and take away from the talent

  8. phillaxin on October 2, 2012 at 7:01 pm

    how a player strings his stick separates himself from every other i get pocket requirements and and head requirements lacrosse is already a fast paced sport no need to attempt to speed it up more and take away from the talent

  9. Max McCool on October 2, 2012 at 6:49 pm

    I don’t see why it wouldn’t be legal, since the new rule only discusses shooting strings. If someone wants to string up with a 6 inch iroquois topstring with a low pocket, and string the middle of the head so tight that it has whip and can still throw and hold the ball, it should be legal. It would go against the spirit, but not the letter of the rule. As long as it follows the other roll-out specifics, not having shooters should make your stick legal the way it’s written now.

  10. Max McCool on October 2, 2012 at 6:49 pm

    I don’t see why it wouldn’t be legal, since the new rule only discusses shooting strings. If someone wants to string up with a 6 inch iroquois topstring with a low pocket, and string the middle of the head so tight that it has whip and can still throw and hold the ball, it should be legal. It would go against the spirit, but not the letter of the rule. As long as it follows the other roll-out specifics, not having shooters should make your stick legal the way it’s written now.

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