Best Lacrosse Sticks 2026: Boys’, Girls’ and Youth Picks

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A Tuesday-night 10U practice: twenty kids lined up for wall ball, half of them chasing passes that pop straight out of their pockets, and one boy who suddenly catches five in a row and turns around grinning. A lot of that is practice, and some of it is the stick. The best lacrosse sticks for a new player are light, strung so the ball settles easily, and the right length for their age and position. This guide covers the difference between boys’ and girls’ sticks, the length rules by level, and eight real sticks worth buying in 2026, from lacrosse sticks for beginners to step-up sticks for high school.

Prices change often. The prices below are what we saw at the maker or a major retailer in October 2026; check the current price before you buy.

Our top picks

Lacrosse sticks compared

Stick	Game	Player	Key feature	About (Oct 2026)
STX Stallion 200	Boys’	Beginner, attack/midfield	Soft mesh, alloy handle	$50
STX Stallion 50 Youth	Boys’	Youngest players	39 in, softer head	$60
StringKing Complete 2 Int.	Boys’	Developing, attack/midfield	Type 3s mesh, no break-in	$130
STX Stallion 700	Boys’	Middle and early high school	Composite handle, Memory Mesh	$115
StringKing Boy’s Starter Defense	Boys’	New defenders	52 in shaft	$130
STX Exult 200	Girls’	Beginner, any position	Crux Mesh, soft scoop	$50
StringKing Girl’s Starter	Girls’	Beginner	Women’s Type 4 mesh	$100
STX Crux Pro Elite	Girls’	Advanced attacker	Lock Pocket, composite handle	$200

Boys’ vs girls’ sticks and length rules by level

Boys’ and girls’ lacrosse are different games, and the sticks are not interchangeable. A boys’ stick has a deeper mesh pocket that holds the ball through body contact, and the rules check depth: in USA Lacrosse youth rules, the pocket is too deep if the top of a ball sits below the bottom edge of the sidewall. Girls’ sticks follow their own head and pocket specifications, with a shallower pocket, and officials check pocket depth in the girls’ game too. The one place they mix is Flex6, USA Lacrosse’s small-sided beginner game, where girls’, boys’ or unified sticks are all allowed.

Level	Boys’ field stick	Boys’ long pole	Girls’
6U	No longer than ground to waist	None	Smaller sticks, no pocket limit
8U	37–42 in	None	Smaller sticks, no pocket limit
10U	37–42 in	47–54 in	Smaller sticks, no more than half the ball below the sidewall
12U and 14U	40–42 in	52–72 in	High school (NFHS) sticks
High school and college	40–42 in	52–72 in (max. 4 on the field)	College: 35½–43¼ in

Boys’ goalie sticks run 37–54 inches at 8U and 10U and 40–72 inches from 12U up. From 2027, high school girls’ sticks must be commercially available and on USA Lacrosse’s list of legal women’s sticks, so check that list before buying a girls’ stick for a high school player. Lengths include the end cap.

The best lacrosse sticks for 2026

1. STX Stallion 200 Boys Complete Stick: best first boys’ stick

This is the stick you see at almost every town-league practice. STX says the head is inspired by its elite Stallion U550, it comes strung with soft mesh for easy catching, and the handle is STX’s 6000 series alloy with “memory marker” graphics. It’s an attack/midfield complete stick and, per STX, meets NCAA and NFHS rules, so it can stay in the bag past youth ball.

• Good: low price; forgiving pocket; legal from youth to high school per the maker.
• Watch out: stock was low when we checked; a defense version exists but cost far more on Amazon.
• Best for: boys in their first or second season, 10U and up.

Check the STX Stallion 200 price on Amazon

2. STX Stallion 50 Youth Complete Stick: best for the youngest players

At 39 inches, the Stallion 50 fits inside the 37–42 inch range for 8U and 10U boys. STX molds the head from a softer material for a more forgiving response and gives it a shorter, thinner handle (7/8 inch) for small hands. STX is clear about its limits: it’s youth only, not for high school or college play, and not for girls’ lacrosse.

• Good: sized for small kids; easy to handle; soft mesh.
• Watch out: a child will outgrow it by 12U, when field sticks must be at least 40 inches.
• Best for: boys roughly 6 to 10 in their first season.

Check the STX Stallion 50 Youth price on Amazon

3. StringKing Complete 2 Intermediate Attack: best step-up stick

Once a player can catch and throw on the run, a better pocket makes a real difference. The Complete 2 Intermediate pairs StringKing’s Legend Intermediate head with Type 3s mesh in a mid pocket and an A 135 alloy attack shaft. StringKing says it’s ready for game time with no break-in, and it’s covered by the brand’s durability guarantee: if it breaks within the warranty period, StringKing replaces it.

• Good: game-ready pocket; versatile head; breakage guarantee.
• Watch out: more than twice the price of a starter stick.
• Best for: 12U and 14U attackers and midfielders who play club or school ball.

Check the StringKing Complete 2 Intermediate price on Amazon

4. STX Stallion 700 A/M Complete: best for middle school and early high school

STX says it built the Stallion 700 for middle school and early high school players. The Enduraform head has a two-sidewall brace for stability on shots, checks and ground balls, it’s strung with STX’s soft Memory Mesh, and the attack/midfield fiber composite handle has a grit coating for grip in wet weather.

• Good: composite handle with grip; stiff, stable head.
• Watch out: the maker’s warranty listed on Amazon is 30 days.
• Best for: competitive 14U and freshman or JV players moving up from a starter stick.

Check the STX Stallion 700 price on Amazon

5. StringKing Boy’s Starter Defense: best first long pole

New defenders often get a long pole that’s too heavy and too long. StringKing’s Starter Defense is a complete defense stick with a shorter 52-inch shaft, with the head, pocket and shaft designed to work together and no break-in needed. Remember that long-pole limits are measured on the whole stick: 47–54 inches at 10U and 52–72 inches from 12U up, so check the total length against your division before game day.

• Good: easier to handle than a full-length pole; durability guarantee.
• Watch out: measure the complete stick for your age group; stock was low when we checked.
• Best for: 12U and 14U boys starting at defense or long-stick midfield.

Check the StringKing Starter Defense price on Amazon

6. STX Exult 200 Girls Complete Stick: best value girls’ stick

STX built the Exult 200 for the beginner midfielder who might end up on attack or defense. It’s light for learning stick skills, has a wide catching area and a soft scoop for ground balls, and comes strung with Crux Mesh on a 6000 alloy handle. On Amazon it’s sold by Lacrosse Unlimited.

• Good: lowest-priced real girls’ complete stick here; good for any position.
• Watch out: the Amazon listing has few details; high school players should confirm it’s on USA Lacrosse’s legal list from 2027.
• Best for: girls in their first seasons, 10U to 14U.

Check the STX Exult 200 price on Amazon

7. StringKing Girl’s Starter: best girls’ beginner stick

StringKing pitches the Girl’s Starter as an easy, affordable first stick for women’s lacrosse, strung with its Women’s Type 4 performance mesh and ready to play off the shelf. For younger girls there’s a Girl’s Starter Junior (about $70), a smaller complete stick with the same mesh.

• Good: performance mesh on a starter stick; junior size for little ones.
• Watch out: twice the price of the Exult 200; very few Amazon reviews so far.
• Best for: new players who want a pocket that feels like a more advanced stick.

Check the StringKing Girl's Starter price on Amazon

8. STX Crux Pro Women’s Elite Complete: best for girls’ attack

For a varsity or club attacker, the Crux Pro is STX’s elite complete stick: a light head with DropRail sidewalls for ball retention, Speed Scoop for ground balls, and STX’s adjustable Lock Pocket, on a 7/8-inch composite Crux Pro handle with a molded end cap that can’t come off. STX’s Shaft Lock design aims to cut rattle between head and handle.

• Good: adjustable pocket; high-end composite handle; built for attackers.
• Watch out: expensive; overkill for a first or second season.
• Best for: experienced high school and club attackers.

Check the STX Crux Pro price on Amazon

How to choose a lacrosse stick

• Buy for the right game: boys’ and girls’ sticks follow different rules, so buy the one made for the game your player is signed up for.
• Match the length to the division: use the table above and measure the whole stick, end cap included. Too long or too short means an illegal stick.
• Start with a complete stick: a factory-strung head and handle costs less than separate parts and needs no stringing skills.
• Check the pocket often: mesh stretches, so drop a ball in and look from the side, as officials do.
• Step up when skills do: upgrade the stick when a player is catching and throwing on the run, not because a teammate got a new one.
• Mind the wrists: a stick that’s too heavy can make practice hard work. If a wrist, thumb or elbow stays sore, see a sports medicine doctor, physical therapist or athletic trainer.

The stick is only one piece of the kit: our lacrosse gear guide covers NOCSAE helmets, ND200 chest protection and girls’ goggles, and the youth lacrosse guide explains age groups and checking rules. For bumps and bruises, see lacrosse injuries. Start at the lacrosse hub, read more in our lacrosse blog, or check our best speed training equipment and best recovery shoes guides.

Lacrosse stick questions

What is the best lacrosse stick for a beginner?

A complete, factory-strung stick for the right game and age. For boys, the STX Stallion 200 (or the 39-inch Stallion 50 for the youngest); for girls, the STX Exult 200 or StringKing Girl’s Starter.

Can a girl use a boys’ lacrosse stick?

Only in Flex6, USA Lacrosse’s small-sided beginner game, which allows girls’, boys’ or unified sticks. In league play, girls’ rules set their own stick and pocket specifications, so buy a girls’ stick.

How long should a youth lacrosse stick be?

Under USA Lacrosse boys’ youth rules: no taller than ground to waist at 6U, 37–42 inches at 8U and 10U, and 40–42 inches at 12U and 14U. Long poles are 47–54 inches at 10U and 52–72 inches at 12U and up.

How long is a high school lacrosse stick?

For boys, 40–42 inches for short sticks and 52–72 inches for long poles, with no more than four long poles on the field. College women’s sticks are 35½–43¼ inches.

How do I know if a pocket is too deep?

Drop a ball in and look from the side. In USA Lacrosse boys’ youth rules, it’s too deep if the top of the ball sits below the bottom edge of the sidewall. In girls’ 10U play, no more than half the ball should show below the sidewall.