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After many years of playing lacrosse, I knew one thing for certain, having a lacrosse ball to play with is essential. However, depending on the level you play, you might not be able to easily find one. We’re here to help. These are some of the best lacrosse ball alternatives that you can use for playing lacrosse.
- A Tennis Ball
- A Racquet Ball
- A Soft Foam Ball
- A Hockey Ball
- A Pinky Ball
These 5 lacrosse ball alternatives are the best for playing lacrosse because they are all relatively the same size. These five balls are different in texture making each one unique to some people who prefer a softer ball alternative to a lacrosse ball. Keep reading to know which lacrosse ball substitute is right for you!
What kind of ball is used in Lacrosse?
In general, a solid vulcanized rubber ball is used for playing lacrosse. This vulcanized rubber is condensed with high pressure and high heat to create a lacrosse ball. Since a lacrosse ball is made out of round solid rubber, it is very dense and aerodynamic making it perfect for lacrosse shots.
While lacrosse balls are made specifically for the game of lacrosse, other alternatives could be used just as well.
Practicing lacrosse with other balls is a good way to build up to playing with a solid ball such as a lacrosse ball.
*By the way, I recently wrote an article about If It Is Possible for A Lacrosse Ball To Break A Bone. This article talks about if it is possible to break a bone when getting hit by a lacrosse ball and what to expect. You can check out this article here!
What Can I Use Instead of a Lacrosse Ball?
As a general rule, you can use a tennis ball, a racquetball, a soft foam ball, a hockey ball, or a pinky ball instead of a lacrosse ball when playing lacrosse. Since all five balls are relatively the same size, they’ll be able to be shot and caught by a lacrosse stick just as well as a lacrosse ball.
Some novices to the sport of lacrosse want to use an alternative ball that is not as hard as a lacrosse ball when practicing. This is because lacrosse balls tend to hurt if you get hit by one.
Other people who just start out playing lacrosse simply do not have the access to a lacrosse ball and still want to play the sport!
Either way, these 5 lacrosse ball alternatives work great for playing lacrosse.
If you are looking for a new set of lacrosse balls, I recently came across great Champion Sports Official Lacrosse Balls which you can check out on Amazon!
A Tennis Ball
A Tennis Ball could work just as well as a lacrosse ball since it is also made out of rubber. To make it feel more realistic, I recommend removing all the fuzz that is put around the tennis ball.
This will make sure that the ball doesn’t have too much traction when hitting the floor, net, or the inside of a lacrosse stick. The inside of the tennis ball will resemble the same rubbery texture as a regular lacrosse ball.
When using a tennis ball, you have to remember that a tennis ball is hollow compared to a lacrosse ball which will make it act different when coming into contact with hard surfaces.
A Racquet Ball
A Racquetball could also work as a substitute for a lacrosse ball since it is also the same size and has a rubber-like surface.
Just like tennis balls, racquetballs aren’t as painful as lacrosse balls since they are hollow on the inside and would work great for any novice trying to practice lacrosse without getting hurt.
A Soft Foam Ball
A Soft Foam Ball is just that, a ball fully made out of foam. While this ball will not have the rubber exterior as a lacrosse ball or other balls in this list, a foam ball could still be used as an alternative to a lacrosse ball.
This alternative is mostly meant for people who don’t want to get hurt by the ball while playing lacrosse. While it is soft, the foam ball can still be fit into a lacrosse stick during an intense game.
A Hockey Ball
Like a lacrosse ball, a Hockey Ball is a ball that is made of fully solid plastic. A fully solid plastic ball could definitely be used as a lacrosse ball since it is dense enough to have the right aerodynamics to be shot from a lacrosse stick.
Since rubber is denser than plastic, a solid plastic ball will also hurt much less than a solid rubber ball like a lacrosse ball.
A Pinky Ball
Similar to a racquetball and a tennis ball, a Pinky Ball is made from hollow rubber that has a mixture of a half-foam-like material too.
This combination of foam and hollow rubber makes it a perfect fit to replace a lacrosse ball.
This ball is called a pinky ball since they are all made pink in color making it definitely stand out during a lacrosse game.
*By the way, I recently wrote an article about If It Is Possible for A Lacrosse Stick Can Break A Bone. This article talks about if it is possible to break a bone when getting hit by a lacrosse stick and what to expect. You can check out this article here!
Does Getting Hit with a Lacrosse Ball Hurt?
As a general rule, getting hit by a lacrosse ball hurts. However, if you are wearing the proper lacrosse safety equipment, it is less likely to hurt when getting hit by a lacrosse ball. Safety equipment cushions the impact of the lacrosse ball when it hits the body.
Always Wear Your Safety Equipment!
Getting hit by a lacrosse ball is not fun. Because of their solid nature, lacrosse balls sting when getting hit by one. However, as you play more lacrosse games, you will notice that you get better at either taking the hit or avoiding it altogether.
FAQs:
Are lacrosse balls made of cement?
In general, a lacrosse ball is not made out of cement nor do they have cement in them. A regular lacrosse ball is made out of solid vulcanized rubber. Vulcanized rubber is made by applying high temperature and high pressure to the rubber squeezing it into a round ball.
Can I use A tennis ball instead of a lacrosse ball?
Since a tennis ball is almost the same size as a lacrosse ball, it could be used instead of a lacrosse ball for playing lacrosse. Tennis balls are hollow inside while lacrosse balls are made out of solid rubber. This makes tennis balls hurt less than a lacrosse ball when getting hit by one.
Are tennis balls and lacrosse balls the same size?
As a general rule, a standard tennis ball is slightly larger than a standard lacrosse ball. However, there is not a large difference in size between these two balls at first glance. A lacrosse ball is made out of condensed rubber making it much denser and heavier than a hollow tennis ball.
