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How to Cradle a Lacrosse Ball
Cradling is the fundamental skill needed in lacrosse. Without it, it is very difficult to play at your highest level.
1. With a ball in your stick put your dominant hand right under the throat of the head of the stick. This will be the hand you use to control the stick. Place your bottom hand loosely at the very bottom of the stick over the butt end. Remember you will be controlling the stick entirely with your top hand; the bottom hand is only for stability.
2. Roll top wrist to full extension while using your bottom hand loosely to stabilize the stick, using the thumb and fingers to make a loose "C" shape. When cradling, you should feel the weight of the ball in the stick. Initially, practice without gloves until you master it and then with gloves.
3. Cradle from your ear to your eye. Keep it near your face at all times so that you don't get checked. Keep your stick vertical to the ground.
4. Practice picking up ground balls. To do this throw a few balls on the ground, get your elbows locked and scoop the ball up. Be sure to bend your knees and get your stick as parallel to the ground as you can in order to ensure the retrieval of the ball. Don't stop when the ball is in your stick, but go through it and drop your bottom hand down in order to keep the ball in your stick.
**Cradling will make the difference between a good lacrosse player and an average lacrosse player!**
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