The Best Beginner Lacrosse Stick: Why We Recommend StringKing Starter Sticks
Getting the right stick can make or break a beginner’s experience with lacrosse. We’ve seen it time and time again: kids struggling to throw or catch with poorly strung or low quality sticks, and parents left wondering why their kid can’t “get it.” Spoiler alert – sometimes it’s not the kid; it’s the stick.
For players who are just starting out, we always recommend StringKing Starter Sticks – the Mark 1 Starter for boys and the Legend Starter for girls. These sticks solve a lot of the issues beginners face, and they set kids up for success from their very first practice. (PS - we have them linked and you can get them directly from StringKing!).
Ready to Play, Right Out of the Box
If you’ve ever had to deal with fixing a terrible pocket on a beginner stick, you know how frustrating it can be. Many entry-level sticks come with pockets that are too shallow or too tight, or just straight-up unplayable. As the parents of a beginner player, if you don’t have lacrosse experience, it can also be impossible to understand whether a stick is quality or not. .
The StringKing Starter Sticks skip all that nonsense. Both the boys’ and girls’ versions come with pockets that are dialed in from the start – no adjustments, minimal break-in, no excuses. The ball sits where it should, throws come off clean, and catching feels more natural. This alone makes a huge difference for kids trying to pick up the game.
Wide Heads and Consistent Pockets Make Learning Easier
For beginners, lacrosse can feel hard enough without the added frustration of equipment that doesn’t do its job. StringKing nails the two most important design elements for new players:
Wider Heads: Both the Mark 1 and Legend Starter sticks feature wider head shapes, making ground balls and catches much easier.
Consistent Pockets: The mesh pockets are strung to perform well right away. Kids can focus on learning to throw and catch rather than trying to figure out why their stick doesn’t work.
These small details give players confidence in their equipment, which translates to confidence on the field.
Affordable, High-Quality Sticks That Last
One of the biggest complaints we hear from beginner parents is that lacrosse gear can get expensive fast. StringKing Starter Sticks hit a sweet spot: they’re affordable (around $99) but built to last.
They don’t feel cheap, and you can use them for years until your player has an understanding of their preferences. A beginner can start the season with a StringKing stick, use it every day, and still have a stick that continues to work as they improve. That’s not something we can say about a lot of other beginner sticks out there!
They’re Sticks We Trust
StringKing has built a reputation in the lacrosse community for producing quality gear. The Starter line shows they’ve thought through what a beginner actually needs to enjoy the game and improve quickly. These sticks aren’t gimmicky; they’re reliable tools that perform.
Whether it’s a kid picking up a stick for the first time, or a parent looking for a solid option that won’t hold their player back, the Mark 1 Starter and Legend Starter are our go-to recommendations. These are the sticks we buy to give to players for beginner clinics, and we’d recommend them for any beginner.
The Bottom Line
If you want to make lacrosse fun and frustration-free for beginners, the right stick makes all the difference. StringKing Starter Sticks are lightweight, game-ready, and designed to help new players learn the game the right way.
They’re the sticks I wish I had when I was starting out, and they’re the ones I recommend now when parents ask me, “What should I get for my kid?”
Because when the stick works, everything else becomes easier – and that’s what keeps kids coming back to the game.
Pick one up and get out on the field!