Which Lacrosse Goalie Stick Is Best for You?

Short answer: most lacrosse goalies should start with a complete goalie stick, already strung and ready to play. Goalies 14 and under should start with the Starter Goalie. Older goalies should get the Complete 2 Pro Goalie, or build their own with a Mark 2G Stiff head and Grizzly 2 mesh.

A goalie stick has a much wider head, 12-diamond goalie mesh and a longer shaft than a field stick. Below is how to choose each part, for boys' and girls' lacrosse.

Stiffest

Mark 2G Stiff

Our stiffest goalie head, for goalies facing the hardest shots.

Lighter

Mark 2G

Stiff and light, with a face shaped for more saves.

Stiffness is rated on our own 1 to 10 scale. Weight is for the unstrung head.

Both have the same face shape, built for the most saving area, and a shortened throat for control. The Mark 2G Stiff is made from our newest, stiffer plastic, so it holds its shape against harder shots. Both also come in women's versions: Women’s Mark 2G Stiff and Women’s Mark 2G.

Goalie heads need 12-diamond goalie mesh to fill the wider face. Field mesh won't work.

Both come in semi-soft (s) and semi-hard (x), and both have women's versions. Stringing your own? The Goalie String Kit has the sidewall strings, bottom lace and shooting strings you need.

Goalie shafts are 36 inches, longer than an attack shaft. Shorter young goalies can start with the 30-inch Starter Goalie Shaft, sized for ages 14 and under.

Girls' goalies: see the Women’s Metal 3 Pro Goalie, Women’s Composite 2 Pro Goalie and Women’s A Series Goalie.

Complete. Head, pocket and shaft chosen to work together and strung by our team. This is the easiest choice, and the right one for most goalies.

Build your own. Pick the head, mesh and shaft yourself, for goalies who want a certain shaft weight or a custom pocket.

In boys' high school and college lacrosse, a goalie head must be 10 to 12 inches wide, and the whole stick, head included, can be 40 to 72 inches long. Goalie pockets have no depth limit.

Girls' lacrosse has its own goalie stick rules. Check your league's rules.

Goalies wear a helmet with a throat guard, a chest protector and goalie gloves. See our full lacrosse equipment list.

What's the best lacrosse goalie stick for a beginner?
The Starter Goalie for goalies 14 and under. Older beginners should start with the Complete 2 Pro Goalie.

How long should a lacrosse goalie stick be?
Our complete goalie sticks are 52 inches, and the Starter Goalie is 46 inches. Boys' rules allow 40 to 72 inches.

Mark 2G or Mark 2G Stiff?
The Mark 2G Stiff, if you face hard shots. It's stiffer and holds its shape longer. The Mark 2G is 10 grams lighter.

Grizzly 2 or Grizzly 1?
Grizzly 2 is 20% lighter, for faster hands. Grizzly 1 costs less.

Can I use field mesh in a goalie head?
No. Goalie heads need 12-diamond goalie mesh.

Is there a warranty?
Yes. Every StringKing goalie head, shaft, mesh and stick comes with a 6-month warranty.

Complete 2 Pro Goalie · Mark 2G Stiff · Grizzly 2 · Lacrosse positions

Updated October 2026