KEEPING YOUR HEAD ON STRAIGHT – 3/20, 2012
For us at Rock-it Pocket mesh-fits-the-head-right is job one and our first step with building any pocket. Head shape and dimension tell the stringer where the pocket works best. Or, the player has a style of play that calls for a special head design that works extra well using a certain pocket placement.
TUXEDO POCKET
We have fooled around with having just the mesh piece strung to the shape of the head, and with no cross strings or laces at all to start with. The shape of all the mesh diamonds and how they look inside the head are crucial elements for obtaining the best pocket performance possible. We throw the ball endlessly at our angled, high bounce very hard, very concrete rebound wall that we have inside the outer Rock-it Pocket walls. We are always looking for a feel or a channel with every toss. Cross lacing, etc. is added as needed.
LACING UP
We have tried lace segments that come in from the side but stop so the ball tracks through that opening space on the mesh in the center.
Rock-it Pocket has done some of the horseshoe style laces, but also thinks they make for a ‘sloppier’, less consistent pocket. They do offer more whip….
GOOD OLE’ JIMILAX
Many who have used some of the other styles of custom mesh often ‘return’ to regular hard mesh with 10 diamonds because of the feel they get with that mesh set up just the way they like. Discussion on the pros and cons of mesh of different sizes and hardness appear around the site. Feel free to poke around.
