The Maple
Tight, pale grain and the smoothest surface we mill. A glass-clean release.
guarantee
one of one
Specs
- SPECIES
- Hard Maple
- HARDNESS
- 1,450 lbf (Janka)
- PROFILE
- Octagon · 7/8″ × 1-1/16″
- WEIGHT
- 220–250 g (est.)
- FINISH
- Oven-cured conversion varnish
- LEGALITY
- NCAA · NFHS · box approved
- CORE
- Solid wood, not a tube
- MADE
- Milled in America · stamped by hand
Care for a wood shaft
Wipe it dry after rain or a wet field. Store it out of hot cars and off radiators. Tape your grip the way you like it — the finish takes tape and lets it go cleanly. Check the shaft for cracks now and then; grain-checked hardwood fails progressively, so you'll see it coming. Full care guide →
Shipping & returns
Ships from Idaho in a long, capped box sized to the shaft. Every order is covered by the 30-day check guarantee: play with it, and if you don't feel the difference, send it back. Shipping details →
less sting than alloy
lbf Janka hardness
vibration damping, wood class — alloy is 0.5–1.3%
no two grains match
Your name. Your number. Engraved in the grain.
Engraved into the wood itself, not printed on top. It wears with the shaft and never peels.
Hard Maple lacrosse shafts, straight answers.
Is hard maple a good wood for a lacrosse shaft?
Yes. Hard maple (1,450 lbf Janka) has tight, pale grain and the smoothest surface we mill. Maple can break suddenly if its grain runs off the side, which is exactly why every blank is held to our Grain Spec: slope of grain 1:20 or straighter, no knots. It is our pick for attackmen and middies who want wood with a clean release.
How much does a hard maple lacrosse shaft weigh?
A hard maple 30″ shaft weighs about 220–250 g (est.); a 60″ pole about 440–500 g (est.). For comparison, aluminum alloy 30″ shafts run 135–195 g and carbon 130–165 g. The extra mass is the point on defense: at the same stick speed, twice the mass carries twice the momentum into a check.
Who is The Maple for?
Best for: Attack. Tight, pale grain and the smoothest surface we mill. A glass-clean release. Want a glass-smooth release? Maple.
Is a hard maple lacrosse shaft legal?
Yes. NCAA men's Rule 1-18 says the crosse shall be made of wood, laminated wood or synthetic material, and NFHS high school rules use the same language. Wooden shafts are approved for box in Canada, and pro rulebooks don't restrict shaft material. Women's and girls' rules are written separately — check your own rulebook.
Comparing materials? Read wood vs. alloy vs. carbon, the best wood for a lacrosse shaft and how much a wood shaft weighs.
What you're actually buying.
The full proof →Solid, not hollow
Every metal and carbon shaft is a tube. Yours is wood all the way through — you'll hear it on the first check.
Sting stays out
Wood damps vibration about 10× better than alloy. Deliver the force to him; keep the ring out of your hands.
Warm in November
Aluminum pulls heat from bare hands about 3× faster than wood. Fall ball at 7am feels different.
Finished like furniture
Oven-cured catalyzed conversion varnish — the premium cabinetry finish. Resists sweat, rain and scuffs; never goes tacky.
Built for the best D in the game.
The Defensive Ten →Our picks for the best defenders in lacrosse right now, and the First Grain shaft that fits each game. Players shown are not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsing First Grain Lacrosse. Stats verified October 2026.