How much does a wooden shaft weigh?

Short answer: A solid wood 30″ lacrosse shaft weighs about 190–285 g depending on species. Hickory, the heaviest, runs 250–285 g; Black Walnut, the lightest, an estimated 190–215 g. A 60″ defense pole weighs about twice that. Aluminum and carbon shafts run 130–195 g, so wood is heavier. That mass is the point on defense.

How much does each wooden lacrosse shaft weigh?

It depends on species and length. Hickory is heaviest, Black Walnut lightest, and the 60″ pole weighs about twice the 30″ shaft.

Hickory figures are calculated from Wood Database density and will be confirmed by weighing. The others marked "est." are estimated from density. Every First Grain shaft is the same octagon profile, 7/8″ × 1-1/16″, true end to end, so the species is what moves the scale.

Are wooden lacrosse shafts heavy?

Yes. A First Grain Hickory attack shaft weighs about twice what a premium carbon shaft does.

Here's how the 30″ numbers stack up:

Even our lightest wood outweighs every carbon shaft in that range. The difference is a solid core. Alloy and carbon shafts are hollow tubes. Wood is wood all the way through. If your whole game is a 135-gram stick, we're not your shaft.

For the rest of the material story, see wood vs. carbon and wood vs. aluminum.

Why use a heavier lacrosse shaft on defense?

Because mass carries momentum. At the same stick speed, a 280 g shaft carries roughly twice the momentum of a 140 g shaft.

Momentum is mass times velocity. Throw a slap check with a light hollow tube and it taps. Throw the same check at the same speed with a solid hickory shaft and it moves the stick. That's what a defender is paying for with the extra grams.

The trade is real: it takes more effort to swing quickly. Good defenders make that trade on purpose.

We're measuring balance point and swing weight for every species and length. Test T7, The Swing, will publish them on The Proof.

Who does a wooden shaft's weight help?

Players whose job is to take the ball away, and players who want to get stronger.

• Close defense. The 60″ Hickory is the heaviest check on our rack. Maximum authority on every slap and lift.
• Long-stick middies. You cover the whole field, so many LSMs want a lighter carry. White Oak or Black Walnut at 60″ gives you wood mass without the full Hickory load.
• Two-way and defensive middies. A 30″ Hickory or Red Oak gives you authority in ground-ball scrums and on the ball carrier.
• Strength training and wall ball. A heavier shaft builds forearm and wrist strength.

Who should not use a heavy wooden shaft?

Attackmen chasing the lightest possible stick. If your game is quick hands, fast dodges and a release that has to be gone before the slide arrives, every gram costs you.

Wood is not the shaft for that player. An attackman who wants wood anyway should go lighter. Our pick for attack is Hard Maple at 30″: tight grain and the smoothest surface we mill, for a clean release.

How can I get a lighter wooden lacrosse shaft?

Pick a lighter species. Black Walnut is about 24% lighter than Hickory by density, and Hard Maple and Red Oak sit in between.

Walnut density is 610 kg/m³ against Hickory's 800. That's the 24%.

Lighter wood is also softer wood. Janka hardness runs from 1,880 lbf for Hickory down to 1,010 lbf for Black Walnut. Every step down the ladder buys flex, swing speed and lighter carry. Harder isn't better. Harder is different. That's why we mill five species instead of one. For help choosing, see best wood for a lacrosse shaft.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a wooden lacrosse shaft weigh?

A First Grain 30″ shaft weighs 250–285 g in Hickory, an estimated 235–270 g in White Oak, 220–250 g in Hard Maple or Red Oak, and 190–215 g in Black Walnut. A 60″ pole weighs about twice that: 500–570 g for Hickory down to an estimated 380–430 g for Black Walnut. Species drives the difference, because every shaft shares the same octagon profile.

Is a wooden shaft heavier than aluminum or carbon?

Yes. Aluminum alloy shafts weigh 135–195 g at 30″ and carbon composite shafts weigh 130–165 g. A Hickory 30″ shaft weighs 250–285 g, about twice a premium carbon shaft. Even Black Walnut, our lightest, is heavier than most alloy. The reason is a solid core: alloy and carbon are hollow tubes, while wood is solid all the way through.

Is a heavier lacrosse shaft better for defense?

For most defenders, yes. At the same stick speed, a 280 g shaft carries roughly twice the momentum of a 140 g shaft, so checks land harder and lifts hold their line. The trade is swing effort. Close defense usually wants Hickory at 60″. LSMs covering the whole field often prefer White Oak or Black Walnut for a lighter carry.

What is the lightest wooden lacrosse shaft?

Black Walnut. It is about 24% lighter than Hickory by density, 610 vs. 800 kg/m³, with an estimated 190–215 g at 30″ and 380–430 g at 60″. It is also the softest wood we mill at 1,010 lbf Janka. Our current walnut is a limited batch with no restock. Hard Maple and Red Oak are the next-lightest options.

Will we publish measured weights?

Yes. Current weights are calculated or estimated from published wood density, and Hickory figures will be confirmed by weighing. Our test program includes measured weight and balance point for all five species, plus swing weight at each length. Results will be published on The Proof and the fact sheet as soon as the tests are run. We will not publish numbers we haven't measured.

What length wooden shaft do I need?

Attack and midfield play the 30″ short-stick shaft. Close defense and long-stick middies play the 60″ pole. Within those, species decides how heavy it feels. If you're between positions or buying for a younger player, our sizing guide walks through height, position, level and how to choose.

Sources

• Wood Database — Shagbark Hickory
• Wood Database — Hard Maple
• Aluminum alloy and carbon composite shaft weights from published manufacturer and review specs
• First Grain fact sheet
• The Proof