Nathan Branson – Lax Drip

STX Hammer 1k Head Review

Nathan Branson — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 17:00:00 +0000

The elite attacker option from ECD. The ECD Ion is for the quick attackman who loves to look good, play good.

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Embracing the Lacrosse Lifestyle: Uniting Passion, Skill, and Community

Nathan Branson — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 15:10:21 +0000

Lacrosse is more than a sport; it’s a way of life. For those who have fallen in love with the game, it becomes an integral part of their identity. It permeates in every aspect of their lives, shaping their values, routines, and relationships. As a lacrosse lifestyle company, we understand the unique bond that lacrosse enthusiasts share, and we celebrate the vibrant community that thrives around the sport. Lacrosse & Love of the Sport At the heart of the lacrosse lifestyle is a profound love for the sport. Whether you’re a player, coach, or passionate spectator – lacrosse becomes a central focus. The game embodies dedication, perseverance, and an unwavering competitive spirit. The lacrosse lifestyle embraces the joy of stepping onto the field, the satisfaction of improving skills, and the thrill of pushing boundaries. It’s about immersing yourself in the game’s rich history. Celebrating the sport’s rich traditions and feeling connected to a tradition that spans generations which sets the sport apart. The shared passion for the game brings strangers together and can create lifelong bonds. Lacrosse & Tradition, Innovation Innovation and evolution is at the heart of our sport while still recognizing the roots of the game. From the ancient roots of Native American origins to the modern-day advancements in equipment and training techniques, lacrosse encompasses both heritage and progress. Lacrosse enthusiasts appreciate the historical significance of the game, honor its origins, and respect its cultural significance. At the same time, they eagerly embrace technological advancements and new strategies that push the boundaries of the sport. Lacrosse Equipment View New Drops on Battle Lax Lacrosse & Daily Life The lacrosse lifestyle extends far beyond the lines of the field. It’s a mindset that influences daily life. Lacrosse players and enthusiasts exemplify qualities such as leadership, teamwork, discipline, and resilience. These attributes carry over into different aspects of life, whether it’s academics, careers, or personal relationships. The endless lessons learned from lacrosse shape individuals into well-rounded and determined individuals. The PLL has many names for it: the tough game, the skilled game, the passion game, and many more – learning how to harness these through the sport of lacrosse will help you harness these in your own life outside of the sport. Lacrosse & Fitness Lacrosse demands physical fitness and mental resilience. Engaging in the lacrosse lifestyle means recognizing the importance of maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. It involves disciplined training and year-round workouts to stay fit for the season. Lacrosse players not only strive to be stronger and faster but also focus on developing their mental toughness during their workouts in order to overcome challenges both on and off the field. The lacrosse lifestyle encourages a holistic approach to wellness, promoting self-care, proper nutrition, and injury prevention. Check out my other post on lacrosse drills here. Conclusion Lacrosse is an embodiment of passion, dedication, and community. It encompasses not only love for the game but also the values and traditions that have been passed down through generations. Through physical fitness, mental toughness, and the bonds formed with teammates and fellow enthusiasts, lacrosse creates a sense of purpose and belonging. As a lacrosse lifestyle company, we are proud to support and inspire individuals who live and breathe the lacrosse lifestyle, and we look forward to continuing to be a part of the community.

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ECD Ion Head Review

Nathan Branson — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 18:06:48 +0000

The elite attacker option from ECD. The ECD Ion is for the quick attackman who loves to look good, play good.

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PLL Events: Fan Experiences and Community Engagement

Nathan Branson — Mon, 21 Aug 2023 19:31:21 +0000

pll events, Premier Lacrosse League tickets have been selling at record numbers this year – growing 93% over the first 2 weeks from 2019’s ticket high and a few weekends even selling out. (PLL League Growth) It’s clear that the PLL is attracting many new customers including a variety of famous athletes and influencers. This makes the PLL gameday experience all the more important for the growth of the sport and league. Premier Zone The Premier Zone is where everything happens before the games! This is the place to hang out and do fun stuff before games. The PLL has some tents for the pll events Academy and the Fan Experience. There’s tons more to do in the Premier Zone like cornhole, fiddle stick lax, and even meet a PLL player in the LAX World Zone! LAX World The LAX World Zone is a brand new edition to the Premier Zone. LAX world (https://lax-world.com/) is a rejuvenation of the old LAX World “with a new brand and a new vision” as RJ Kaminski puts it. They are now an online retailer specializing in premium lacrosse based apparel and equipment. They have gifted us with an incredible area to relax and have a little competition. In the LAX World zone, there is a lounge and an awesome virtual lacrosse game. The lounge has PLL players taking pictures and signing autographs every game day and some couches to relax in between games. The virtual lacrosse game is an accuracy challenge on an interactive wall much like a golf simulator. You will be facing up against Sean Sconone of Chrome LC trying to score on him with targets popping up along the screen that you need to hit to score points. There is a leaderboard for each week with top players for each week (with potential giveaways to the winners). PLL players and some of your favorite YouTubers will also be testing out the wall so you get to compete against them as well! Lacrosse Equipment View New Drops on Battle Lax https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmriV7hITto Bar Down Club (21+) The Bar Down Club is a fan experience for fans 21 and up. This field-side lounge is a great place for people to hang out and have a specialized drink! The field-side action is awesome to witness as you really get to see how amazing the athletes actually are. There’s also cornhole and jenga to get your own competitive spirit going. PLL Events App The PLL app offers fans an immersive experience outside of the weekend games. You can make a profile and start earning XP right away! They have pickems every week with who will win and a variety of other questions to answer. Fantasy is one of my favorites as I get to compete against friends to see who has the best team (see the post I made about it here). In addition to all of those fun weekly games, there are articles about a variety of PLL topics and live stats for games every weekend. Each game day weekend, there is a QR code at the site for PLL app users to scan and earn a boat load of XP and a badge for that weekend. Each level you get to offers different rewards so check out the app to see what those are! ABC & ESPN Deal The PLL has a deal with ABC and ESPN where every game is streamed on ESPN+ with many of the games also on ABC or one of the ESPN networks. That means every game will be available to you to watch on ESPN+ and many new fans will be made when they are shown on the bigger networks. Themed Weekends The PLL has a few themed weekends. They have a kids weekend, indigenous heritage weekend, and more. These weekends exist to engage different communities and promote inclusivity in lacrosse. The kids weekend had the PLL junior championships while the indigenous heritage weekend featured special jerseys. Be on the lookout for these weekends because they have limited time PLL gear during them. Conclusion The PLL does a great job promoting the game of lacrosse. Their socials and events draw new fans every weekend. With so much access to players, the PLL is unique in giving fans an immersive experience. Be sure to try and get to a weekend before the end of this summer, but if you can’t, the PLL is here to stay and there will be plenty of opportunities to get to a game!

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ECD DNA 2.0 Head Review

Nathan Branson — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 15:00:00 +0000

The “swiss-army knife” of the ECD head line. Designed to be effective for any position on the field (other than faceoff and goalie). Check it out here!

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ECD Carbon MTX Shaft Review

Nathan Branson — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 18:52:03 +0000

Overview of ECD’s strongest carbon shaft. Designed for the aggressive offensive middie, two-way middie, or defensive middie.

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STX Sc-Ti Alloy Lacrosse Shaft Review

Nathan Branson — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 16:17:31 +0000

A look at the STX Sc-Ti Alloy shaft! Many options at a good price, see what this shaft has to offer.

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PLL Fantasy Lacrosse: Tips and Strategies for Success

Nathan Branson — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 18:52:47 +0000

PLL Fantasy lacrosse has gained popularity among lacrosse enthusiasts, providing an interactive and engaging way to follow the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) season. Building a successful fantasy lacrosse team requires a combination of knowledge, strategy, and a keen understanding of player performances. What is PLL Fantasy: PLL Fantasy uses a weekly “Salary Cap” system where you get 200 coins to make the best team you can. Players are valued a certain amount depending on their previous fantasy scores for each game. You can join groups and face off against your friends in “Challengers”. It is a great way to feel like a part of the game. Understand the Scoring System: This is the most important thing to understand in PLL fantasy lacrosse. Because of the way the scoring system is set, high producing offensive players will get the most points. Typically, attackmen score the highest, with goalies next, middies, and defense last (I’ll get to fogos later). The best goalies will score more than a majority of the rest of the league because of saves gaining that player 3 points. Below is the scoring system for the PLL Weekly Fantasy. (https://premierlacrosseleague.com/fantasy#royale-scoring) Lacrosse Equipment View New Drops on Battle Lax FOGOs: For this 2023 season, faceoff guys are tricky because some teams don’t have a faceoff guy at all. Picking a fogo that is playing against a team that isn’t fielding a fogo at all is going to earn you a lot of points. Fielding Trevor Baptiste every week isn’t a bad idea, but this week he goes against Sisselberger and I think they’ll be pretty even, so just picking him isn’t always the best idea. Beware of defenders and LSMs that take faceoffs. If you choose those players at defense, they will lose you a ton of points. Utilize Low Player Costs: As mentioned earlier, PLL fantasy uses a “Salary Cap” system for fantasy coaches to pick their players each week. Each PLL player is valued on their average fantasy points of all games. This means if they don’t play that week they get a zero regardless of if they were on the roster or not and this is added into their average. The top player costs 50 coins, with every other player’s cost based on their average against the top player’s average. This can be a huge advantage when good players have a bad game or two, or miss a few games. They cost lower than they should be valued because their average is lower. Some players just have bad seasons, so be sure to pick lower costing players who have the potential to do really well so you can save coins for players who are currently hot. Pay Attention to Matchups and Game Schedule: Look at player matchups and the PLL game schedule. Which teams have faceoff guys and which teams don’t? Has this goalie or defense struggled against this offense? Who is going to be guarding the player I’m putting in? These are questions that will be beneficial to answer before picking your players. This can take a lot of time to research, but if you want to win this will be immensely helpful. Look at Injury List and Active Rosters: The injury list and rosters for each team are posted each week on their social media accounts. Look at these to make sure the players you choose are actually playing that week. Engage with the Lacrosse Community: Engaging with the lacrosse community can provide valuable insights, tips, and perspectives. There are various X and Instagram accounts that analyze the PLL as their job. Dan Arestia and Joe Keegan are two that I follow in order to get good information. PLL fantasy lacrosse offers an exciting opportunity to immerse yourself in the sport and compete against fellow lacrosse fans. A good understanding of the sport and how the PLL fantasy system works is key to do well against your friends. Watch the games on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN+ every weekend to learn which players would be the best for your team!

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STX Stallion 1k Lacrosse Head Review

Nathan Branson — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 16:07:14 +0000

An in-depth look at the new STX Stallion 1k lacrosse head. We take a look at various aspects of the head to make sure it's good for you to use on the field.

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Lacrosse Training Drills

Nathan Branson — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 19:30:00 +0000

Lacrosse is a dynamic and fast-paced sport that requires a combination of skills, agility, and teamwork. To excel in the game, beginners and intermediate players need to develop a solid foundation of fundamental skills and continuously work on improving their technique. In this blog post, we will explore a variety of lacrosse training drills suitable for players at the beginner and intermediate levels. With a variety of individual and group drills, these will help enhance individual skills, build teamwork, and take you or your players’ performance to the next level. Ground Balls: Ground balls are the most important part of the game – if you don’t have the ball, you can’t score. Coaches will put players on the field that can get a tough ground ball. These drills help develop those skills to secure ground balls under pressure. Individual: Scatter lacrosse balls across a field with a bucket near. Pick up each ground ball and put it in the bucket. Be sure to use good form so it becomes muscle memory. That’s it. It’s a simple drill, but will increase your ability to get ground balls and help you get on the field. (Our faceoff players did this drill in college with tennis balls) Group: Have players divide into any number of lines. Every other line is a team: 2 lines: they are against each other 3 lines: the two on the outside are on a team and the one on the inside is by themself 4 lines: lines 1 and 3, 2 and 4 are on a team Etc. On the coach’s signal, a ball will be thrown out and players will race to pick up the ball working as a team. Emphasize working as a team and using a protective stance to pick up the ball. Wall Ball: Wall ball is a fundamental drill that improves stick skills, hand-eye coordination, and overall ball control. The best players play wall ball for 20-30 minutes a day. Find a sturdy (and preferably smooth) wall and stand about 10 yards away from it. Use both hands and practice a variety of throws focusing on accuracy and speed. Find a wall ball routine that compliments your game and time yourself to see how fast you can finish. This is an individual drill, but can become a competition between players for the best time. Below is a wall ball routine I used in college. 25 right & left hand overhand passes 25 right & left hand sidearm passes 25 right & left hand underhand passes 25 right & left hand quick stick passes (stand about 5 yards away) 25 right & left hand twisters 25 right & left hand cross body 50 right to left & left to right splits 25 right & left shovel passes 25 strong hand behind the back passes Repeat and/or get creative, switching up passes and adding new ones to your repertoire https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLQB_hrszBwhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgYBdTTUBRk Lacrosse Equipment View New Drops on Battle Lax Shooting: Going out to the field and shooting is a favorite of pretty much any lacrosse player. Some people like going out to just shoot, when I wanted to work on something however, I liked doing sets of shots that I would see in games. Just going out to shoot can produce more creativity, doing sets of shots helps with consistency. Below are the types of shots I worked on most times I went to shoot. If you have a friend, alternate passing to each other and work on a quick release. Form shooting: This was my favorite thing to do. Stand about 5 yards away from the goal and really focus on your form and your release, aiming for the middle of the net and shooting hard. Eventually, you can start picking corners once you’re comfortable. Do this until you’re comfortable with your release and then do a few more. This is partially how I was able to shoot over 100 mph, working on releasing my energy from the ground to my abs to my stick. I was strong but by no means the strongest, but was able to shoot the fastest on my team. Other things contribute to my shot speed (leg and ab strength to be specific), but this helped me really focus on what I was doing and getting proper form to shoot that fast. Step down shooting: during this drill I would focus more on placing my shots. Stand 8 to 12 yards away from the goal and try to place them in the lower and upper corners, but not too far in the corner. Yes, those shots look cool, but as I have experienced, when I aim for the perfect corner shot in a game it tends to miss the goal because of outside forces and you will have less touches in a game than you do shots on game day. So focus on hitting the goal. On the run shooting: Focus on your form and how you’re shooting on the run. Again, work on placing these. Typically, I started with a dodge. Above the net, start about 20 to 30 yards and run down an alley, behind the net, start about 5 yards away from the endline and do whatever dodge you’d like. In-close finishing: The best place to finish is as close as you can get to the goal. I like to act like I’m getting a pass running down the crease, and faking and finishing to score. This doesn’t need to be a big fake, but just enough to get the goalie moving or freeze him. I am a big fan of the leaner which is when you dip your head and shoulders to get the goalie thinking low, then you bury it high. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qQtuH38UbEhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35c_reV3p-A Sides: This drill has two teams on either side of the field split into 4v3 or 5v4. No one can cross the midfield, so to clear, the defense has to move the ball to the offensive players on the other side without crossing. Each side is even with

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