What Is the Fastest Lacrosse Shot?
From Paul Rabil's 111 mph to Nick Diegel's reported 127.4 mph, here are the five fastest shots in lacrosse history and how these guys generate that kind of heat.
Nick Diegel's shot from a March 2020 training session is the fastest ever reported.
Patrick Luehrsen holds the official Guinness record, set in 2015. The PLL record is Jarrod Neumann's 121 mph.
Watching guys fly down the field is fun, but nothing gets the adrenaline going like a shot that leaves the goalie grabbing at air. If you know that feeling, you've probably wondered: what is the fastest lacrosse shot ever?
The power behind some of the fastest shots in lacrosse is nothing short of electric.
In this article, I've listed the top 5 fastest lacrosse shots, the players behind them and what makes them so fast.
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Top 5 fastest lacrosse shots
Here are the fastest lacrosse shots in the history of the sport, from pros and amateurs alike.
| # | Player | Speed | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nick Diegel | 127.4 mph | Training session, March 2020 (reported) |
| 2 | Jarrod Neumann | 121 mph | PLL All-Star Weekend, July 2023 |
| 3 | Patrick Luehrsen | 119.9 mph | Guinness record, Libertyville, Ill., Sept. 2015 |
| 4 | Zack Dorn | 116 mph | MLL All-Star Game, 2014 |
| 5 | Paul Rabil | 111 mph | MLL All-Star Game, 2009 |
1. Nick Diegel: 127.4 mph
Nick Diegel sits at the top of the charts with a reported 127.4 mph shot. He posted it from a training session in March 2020, beating his own mark of 123.1 mph from LaxCon the year before.
It happened in a radar-measured session rather than a live game, which let him put everything he had into it without a defender in his face. It hasn't been officially certified like a Guinness record, but it's the fastest shot anyone has reported.
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2. Jarrod Neumann: 121 mph
The second-fastest shot belongs to Jarrod Neumann, who ripped a 121 mph shot in the fastest-shot competition at the 2023 PLL All-Star Weekend in Louisville. It's the fastest shot in PLL history.
Neumann's shot ranks just below Diegel's, and it's even more impressive because he's a defenseman. He proved shooting heat isn't just for the offensive guys. He even forgot his sticks for the event and set the record with a borrowed one.
And his story should fire up any late bloomer. As he put it, "I picked up a stick at 18 years old, it's never too late."
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3. Patrick Luehrsen: 119.9 mph
Patrick Luehrsen shot 119.9 mph at the Libertyville Sports Complex in Illinois on September 29, 2015. That shot made him one of the top speed record holders in the game.
It's the shot Guinness World Records lists as the fastest lacrosse shot, and USA Lacrosse has covered lacrosse's Guinness records too.
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4. Zack Dorn: 116 mph
The amazing part of Zack Dorn's story is that he wasn't a pro when he did it. Dorn clocked a 116 mph shot at the 2014 Major League Lacrosse (MLL) All-Star Game, right in front of the pros at their own event.
The shot made him famous overnight, and later that year he became the first non-professional player to sign an endorsement deal with a lacrosse manufacturer, Epoch Lacrosse.
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5. Paul Rabil: 111 mph
Paul Rabil is one of the most influential figures in lacrosse history. You've probably heard his name tossed around as a legend of the game.
Rabil clocked a 111 mph shot at the 2009 MLL All-Star Game. Plenty of players have topped that since, but his shot set the bar that everyone else chased.
In 2018, Rabil co-founded the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) with his brother Mike. He's considered one of the best midfielders ever, and a lot of people know him as "lacrosse's million-dollar man."
Now that you know the fastest shots in lacrosse, let's talk about why speed matters and how you can shoot harder yourself. If you want to build your shot, check out our list of the best lacrosse goals for practice.
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Importance of speed in lacrosse
In a game as fast as lacrosse, speed is everything. A faster shot gives the goalie less time to react, so you're more likely to score. Fast players and fast shots make the game more unpredictable for the defense.
Techniques for shooting faster
So what lets these guys shoot that hard? It's not just raw power. Shooters use a mix of strength, technique and equipment to get the most out of every shot.
- Rotate fully. Power comes from the ground up. Use your hips and torso to drive momentum into the shot.
- Snap your wrists. Finishing the rotation with a wrist snap launches the ball out of the pocket faster.
- Follow through. A full follow-through transfers the most energy into the ball.
It sounds simple on paper, but these guys spent years refining it. Most top shooters also put serious time into strength training, especially their core and upper body.
Coach's note: Speed means nothing if you miss the cage. Every kid I've coached from Virginia Beach to upstate New York wants to rip it, but pick corners first and add heat second. Put targets in the corners of your goal and make every rep count.
Pick your corner first. The heat comes later.
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Game ballsPearl X Greaseless Balls (3-pack)$19.99 at BattleLaxWant more? Check out our 10 essential lacrosse skills every player should develop.
People also ask
What is the fastest men's lacrosse shot?
The fastest reported shot is 127.4 mph by Nick Diegel, from a training session in March 2020. The fastest official record recognized by Guinness is Patrick Luehrsen's 119.9 mph from 2015.
What is the fastest shot in the PLL?
The PLL record is 121 mph, set by defenseman Jarrod Neumann in the fastest-shot competition at the 2023 PLL All-Star Weekend in Louisville.
How fast can a man throw a lacrosse ball?
The fastest reported shot is 127.4 mph by Nick Diegel. Most elite pros in shooting contests land somewhere between 100 and 120 mph.
What is a good lacrosse shot speed?
It depends on age and level. A lot of high school players shoot in the 70s to 80s mph, strong college and pro shooters are in the 90s, and the hardest shooters in the world top 100 mph.
Who holds the record for the fastest lacrosse shot?
Guinness World Records lists Patrick Luehrsen at 119.9 mph, set in 2015. Nick Diegel has the fastest reported shot at 127.4 mph, and Jarrod Neumann holds the PLL record at 121 mph.
From Paul Rabil's 111 mph to Nick Diegel's reported 127.4, every one of these shooters left a mark on the game, no matter what position they played. As the sport keeps growing, so will the records. The question is, who's next to break the speed barrier?