Best Left-Handed Lacrosse Sticks in 2026

Buying Guide

Complete stick vs separate head and shaft

A complete stick comes with the head already strung and mounted on a shaft — the simplest choice for beginners, kids and anyone who doesn’t want to think about stringing. Buying a head and shaft separately lets experienced players mix a favorite head with the shaft weight and material they like, and pick their own pocket. The trade-off is cost and setup: unstrung heads need stringing, and you have to match the head to the shaft.

Stick length and the rules

Length is measured for the whole stick, head and shaft together. Under the current NFHS high school boys’ rules, a short crosse (attack and midfield) must be 40–42" and a long crosse (defense and long-stick midfield) 52–72"; goalie sticks can be 40–72". USA Lacrosse youth rules allow shorter sticks at the youngest levels — as short as 37" for 10U and younger field players — and limit how many long poles a team can use. Leagues can set local rules, so check yours before buying, especially a long pole for a young defender.

Head shape: face width, pinch and stiffness

Wide faces are easier for catching and scooping, which is why youth and defense heads tend to be wider. Narrow, pinched faces give more hold and a more consistent release, so attack heads like the ECD Rebel Offense lean that way. Stiffer heads hold their shape on checks and hard shots; softer heads are more forgiving but can flex. Most heads also have an offset — the head sits slightly below the line of the shaft — which helps keep the ball low in the pocket. None of these features is left- or right-handed.

Shaft material

Aluminum alloy shafts are durable and affordable and cover most beginner and intermediate sticks. Higher-end alloys blended with scandium and titanium (such as StringKing’s Metal 3 Pro) aim for strength at a lower weight. Carbon fiber and composite shafts are light, absorb vibration and have a different flex; they often cost more. Weight matters too: StringKing, for example, sells attack shafts in several weights and recommends lighter ones for younger players.

Youth vs adult sizing

Youth sticks are shorter and lighter, often with a wider head and a softer pocket to make catching easier. As players move into 12U and middle school, they typically switch to a full-length 40–42" stick. Don’t buy a long stick for a young child to “grow into” — a stick that’s too long or heavy makes it harder to learn good habits with both hands.

Position-specific considerations

Attack players usually want a narrow, stiff head and a mid-to-high pocket for quick, accurate shots and feeds. Midfielders need an all-rounder that can shoot, pass and scoop, which is why “V” or versatile heads exist. Defenders use a 52–72" long pole with a wider, stiffer head built for checks and ground balls. Face-off specialists and goalies use specialized heads, and girls’ and women’s lacrosse uses entirely different sticks with their own pocket rules.

Left-Handed Considerations

Is there such a thing as a left-handed lacrosse stick?

Not in modern field lacrosse. Traditional wooden sticks were built and strung with a handed shape, but molded plastic heads, introduced around 1970, are symmetrical. Manufacturers such as STX and StringKing sell one version of each stick, and the pocket is strung down the center. So every stick in this guide — and almost every stick you’ll find in a store — is effectively a left-handed lacrosse stick and a right-handed one at the same time.

That makes lacrosse one of the friendliest sports for lefties: unlike hockey sticks or baseball gloves, you don’t need to hunt for left-handed sports equipment or accept a smaller selection.

What “lefty” means in lacrosse

In lacrosse, “lefty” and “righty” describe your top hand — the hand nearer the head. A lefty holds the stick with the left hand on top, near the head, and the right hand at the butt end, and carries and shoots from the left side of the body. The top hand does the fine work of cradling, passing and shooting. Being left-handed in everyday life doesn’t guarantee you’ll prefer left on top; many players find it matches the way they swing a bat. Try both and go with what feels natural.

Pocket and shooting strings

Shooting strings and the pocket channel are strung symmetrically, so they release the same for either hand. What changes how a stick throws is pocket depth and placement (low, mid or high) and how much “whip” the shooting strings add — not your handedness. If you mostly play one side, a pocket can shift or bag out over time; a stringer can re-center or adjust it. Heads sold unstrung, like the ECD Rebel Offense, let you have the pocket set up exactly how you like.

Learn to play with both hands

Because the stick works either way, coaches push every player to catch, throw and scoop with both hands on top. A player who can only go to one side is easy to defend, and lefties are no exception. Start your strong side, but practise the other from day one — youth players especially. Gloves are sold as a pair, so there’s nothing handed to buy there either.

Girls’ and women’s sticks

Girls’ and women’s lacrosse uses different sticks with rule-mandated pocket limits: for high school and older youth levels, the top of the ball must be visible above the sidewall when the stick is held level, and field sticks are 35.5–43.25" long. They aren’t handed either. Don’t buy a men’s stick for girls’ lacrosse (or vice versa) — it won’t be legal.

Before you order: a left-handed checklist

• You’ve picked the right length for the player’s position and age group (40–42" short stick or 52–72" long pole in high school; shorter sticks allowed for 10U and under).
• It’s a men’s/boys’ stick for boys’ lacrosse or a women’s/girls’ stick for girls’ lacrosse.
• You know whether you’re buying a complete stick or a head that needs a shaft (and stringing).
• The stick is listed as legal for your level (NFHS, NCAA or your youth league).
• You’ve chosen a head shape for your position — wider for beginners and defense, narrower for attack.
• You haven’t paid extra for a “left-handed” stick — modern lacrosse sticks work for either hand.

The Bottom Line

The honest answer to “which left handed lacrosse stick should I buy?” is any good stick: modern heads are symmetrical, so lefties choose from the full range. Pick for age, level and position instead. The StringKing Complete 2 Pro Midfield is our best overall, the STX Stallion 200 is the easy beginner pick, the StringKing Complete 2 Junior suits young kids, and the StringKing Complete 2 Pro Defense is our long-pole choice. Then put your left hand on top — and practise with your right, too.

Looking for more? Browse all left-handed sports guides.