Best Lacrosse Goals

Choosing Which Type of Lacrosse Goal is Right for You

It can be hard to choose a lacrosse goal with so many to choose from. They come in different shapes and sizes, are made of different materials, and all have unique features.

It’s not too difficult, though, once you consider the type of player that will be using it and know what to look for.

Here are the most important things you should keep in mind when looking for the top lacrosse goal for yourself or your child:

1) Size

The first thing you need to consider is what size goal you need.

Most players will need a standard 6 ft by 6 ft goal. This is what most levels of field lacrosse use from youth to professional.

If you are a box lacrosse player or want a goal for a smaller space, you should look for a 4 ft by 4 ft goal—the standard box lacrosse goal size.

Finally, if you have a young child who is just learning the game, you could look for a youth-specific goal. These are usually around the size of a box goal or smaller and are great for young players to learn on.

2) Official Goal vs. Practice Goal

The next thing you should consider when shopping for a lacrosse goal is whether you want a regulation-shaped goal like high school and colleges use or if a practice goal is fine.

Regulation-shaped goals have square corners and are typically more expensive but heavier and more durable.

Practice goals (sometimes referred to as backyard goals) often have rounded corners and are lighter than official goals.

3) Weight & Frame Material

If you are a harder shooter, you should look for a heavier steel goal that won’t move if you hit the pipe or net. You should look for a frame with at least a 1.5 inch diameter that is over 30 lbs.

Younger players, on the other hand, may be better off with a lighter goal that they can move around themselves. These may be made out of fiberglass, plastic, or a lighter metal.

4) Collapsibility or Foldability

Think about where you plan on keeping and using your goal.

Do you want to store it inside or in a tight space? Do you plan on taking it to different fields with you?

If so, you may want to look for a portable lacrosse goal that is designed to easily collapse down (if planning on traveling with it) or fold flat (if just want to store it in smaller spaces).

If you don’t mind leaving your goal in your yard or wherever else you shoot, you should be fine with a standard goal. You can almost always still break these down to smaller pieces if you need to move the goal—it may just take a bit longer.

5) Net Thickness

You should also make sure to choose a lacrosse goal with a net that won’t tear when you shoot on it.

Here is the net thickness you should look for based on your level of play:

• Youth: 2.5 mm+
• U14: 3 mm+
• High School: 5 mm+
• College & Professional: 6 mm+

If your net starts ripping, you may be able to extend its lifespan some by using zip ties or string to close up holes. Just know that this will cause other parts of the net to be tighter, possibly leading to more holes.

Note that there are also many replacement nets available online. If you find that the net on the goal you purchased isn’t strong enough, you can always buy a stronger replacement.

6) How Net is Attached

There are two main ways lacrosse nets are attached to goals: by looping the string around the frame or by using a net lacing rod.

While it doesn’t make a huge difference in the performance of the goal/net, it’s much easier to attach a net through a net lacing rod.

This is a thin piece of metal on the backside of the goal frame that you can loop string through to attach the net as opposed to looping it around the entire metal frame.

7) Assembly

Finally, you should consider how difficult it is to assemble the goal.

The initial assembly is usually the hardest part—and there are definitely some goals that are easier than others.

You may also want to choose a goal that is easier to take apart and reassemble should you ever have to move it to a different location.

Look for a goal that comes with clear assembly instructions and read customer reviews to learn about their experience with it.

Drills You Can Use Your Lacrosse Goal For

When I was in high school and college, I used my goal a few times a week for various drills. Aside from the whole improving my skills part of it, I absolutely loved going outside with my friends and just shooting for hours on end.

Below you can find some of my favorite drills. It’s super important to use both hands equally when shooting. It may feel weird shooting with your off-hand, but you’ll never get better unless you practice it.

Time and room shots
This is the simplest form of shooting. Line up anywhere from 8 to 15 yards away from the goal and simply shoot the ball. You can also have a friend feed you the ball or use a rebounder for a more game-like experience.

On the run shots
While it’s much more difficult, shooting on the run is one of the most crucial skills to develop of attackmen and middies. Start wherever you usually play on the field (towards the top of the box, side of the box, or from X), pretend like you are dodging your defender (or dodge a real defender), and shoot the ball while you are running.

Catching feeds on the run and shooting
In this drill, you are still shooting on the run, except that instead of dodging, you have a friend (or rebounder) throw you the ball after you begin running. Catch the ball and shoot without ever stopping your feet.

In-close shots
Last but not least, you can practice your crease shots on your new goal. Work on changing your levels in close and throwing fakes to keep the goalie off balance. In addition, you should keep your feet moving like you would in most games.

How We Rate Lacrosse Goals

We take our ratings seriously and only recommend products that we would use ourselves.

To come up with our ratings for each product, we test the product ourselves whenever possible, review product specifications (weight, materials used, etc.), and read customer reviews/talk to lacrosse players we know that use the product.

While we can't physically test out every single lacrosse goal on the market, we do our best to try out each that we rate. When testing lacrosse goals, we mainly consider the frame materials used and the net thickness. Aside from that, we consider if the materials seem high quality to get a gauge of whether the goal will hold up well over time.

If you ever have any feedback for any of the products listed on this page or have a recommended addition, please contact us and let us know!

What Else You May Need With Your Lacrosse Goal

Buying a lacrosse goal is a great first step to improving your skills. There are, however, many other lacrosse training aids you can use in conjunction with your goal to take your game to the next level.

Here are some you may want to consider:

Backstop
If you are shooting around houses, cars, or anything else that you don’t want to break, it’s always a good idea to get a backstop for your goal. These are very large nets that you can set up behind your goal to stop any misses from flying away. They also make collecting your balls much easier. Check out our recommended lacrosse backstops here.

Rebounder
Using a rebounder while shooting is a great way to practice receiving feeds. You can throw the ball off the rebounder, receive it, and shoot it—similar to how you would do in a real game. Check out our recommended lacrosse rebounders here.

Targets/Shot blockers
There are many shooting targets and goal blockers (anyone heard of Hector the Rejector?) that you can use to practice your accuracy and simulate having a goalie in goal.

Replacement net
If the net that came with your goal didn’t hold up well, you can purchase a replacement net. Check out the “Net Thickness” section above to get an idea of what thickness to look for or check out our replacement lacrosse net guide here.

Cones
Though they are simple, cones are a great compliment to a lacrosse goal for setting up drills and making sure you are shooting from where you want to. You can check out cones on Amazon here.