Pocket-Channeling Lacrosse Head

A lacrosse head, comprising:

• a stop member;
• a first sidewall extending from the stop member in a forward direction;
• a second sidewall extending from the stop member in the forward direction;
• and
• a scoop connecting the first sidewall and the second sidewall opposite to the stop member,
• wherein the scoop has a forwardmost edge and a rearwardmost edge,
• wherein the scoop defines a plurality of lateral stringing holes disposed in the
• scoop generally along an arc,
• wherein the scoop defines a forwardly offset stringing hole that is disposed in the scoop along a longitudinal centerline of the lacrosse head and forward of the arc,
• wherein the rearwardmost edge of the scoop has an arc shape generally corresponding to the arc of the plurality of lateral stringing holes, except for a recessed portion disposed at the longitudinal centerline and adjacent to the forwardly offset stringing hole,
• wherein the recessed portion is recessed with respect to a first lateral portion of the rearwardmost edge on a first side of the longitudinal centerline and a second lateral portion of the rearwardmost edge on a second side of the longitudinal centerline opposite to the first side,
• wherein the scoop defines:
• a first lateral stringing hole disposed laterally beyond the recessed portion and adjacent to the first lateral portion of the rearwardmost edge, and
• a second lateral stringing hole disposed laterally beyond the recessed portion and adjacent to the second lateral portion of the rearwardmost edge,
• wherein the recessed portion defines a generally trapezoidal recess having a curved forward side, a first lateral side angled inwardly toward the longitudinal centerline in a rearward-to-forward direction, a second lateral side opposite to the first lateral side and angled inwardly toward the longitudinal centerline in a rearward-to-forward direction, and an open rearward side,
• wherein the first lateral stringing hole has a rearwardmost edge extending generally parallel to the rearwardmost edge of the scoop and an inside lateral edge extending generally parallel to the first lateral side of the recessed portion, and
• wherein the second lateral stringing hole has a rearwardmost edge extending generally parallel to the rearwardmost edge of the scoop and an inside lateral edge extending generally parallel to the second lateral side of the recessed portion.

A lacrosse head, comprising:

• a stop member;
• a first sidewall extending from the stop member in a forward direction;
• a second sidewall extending from the stop member in the forward direction;
• a scoop connecting the first sidewall and the second sidewall opposite to the stop member,
• wherein the scoop has a forwardmost edge and a rearwardmost edge,
• wherein the rearwardmost edge of the scoop defines a recessed portion that is disposed at a longitudinal centerline of the lacrosse head and is recessed with respect to a first lateral portion of the rearwardmost edge on a first side of the longitudinal centerline and a second lateral portion of the rearwardmost edge on a second side of the longitudinal centerline opposite to the first side,
• wherein the scoop defines:
• at least one offset stringing opening disposed forward of the recessed portion,
• a first lateral stringing opening disposed laterally beyond the recessed portion and adjacent to the first lateral portion of the rearwardmost edge, and
• a second lateral stringing opening disposed laterally beyond the recessed portion and adjacent to the second lateral portion of the rearwardmost edge;
• and
• a mesh material attached to the at least one offset stringing opening, to the first lateral stringing opening, to the second lateral stringing opening, to the first sidewall, to the second sidewall, and to stop member, and
• wherein attachment of the mesh material to the at least one offset stringing opening pulls a central portion of the mesh material more forward of remaining forward portions of the mesh material that are attached to the first and second lateral stringing openings, and tensions the mesh material in a longitudinal direction from the scoop to the stop member, in a first diagonal direction from the recessed portion to the first sidewall, and in a second diagonal direction from the recessed portion to the second sidewall, thereby forming a channel in the mesh material,
• wherein the recessed portion defines a generally trapezoidal recess having a curved forward side, a first lateral side angled inwardly toward the longitudinal centerline in a rearward-to-forward direction, a second lateral side opposite to the first lateral side and angled inwardly toward the longitudinal centerline in a rearward-to-forward direction, and an open rearward side,
• wherein the first lateral stringing opening has a rearwardmost edge extending generally parallel to the rearwardmost edge of the scoop and an inside lateral edge extending generally parallel to the first lateral side of the recessed portion, and
• wherein the second lateral stringing opening has a rearwardmost edge extending generally parallel to the rearwardmost edge of the scoop and an inside lateral edge extending generally parallel to the second lateral side of the recessed portion.