Page:Lacrosse- The National Game of Canada (New Edition).djvu/150

130 a crosse, rotate to a certain extent, but they are more circular than rotatory,—that is, they revolve more around the circle, as when thrown along the ground, then spin on their own axis. The effect of a mere circular spinning ball when blocked by the goal-keeper, is, at the most, to revolve up or down the length of the netting; but a rotatory ball twists across the face of the netting, from right to left, or left to right. The result is evident. The width of the netting being much narrower than the length, the ball is more likely to twist off into goal. You cannot twist grounders in this way. To twist straight and curved balls, requires a knack of the wrists and arms, to give the ball a twist from right to left on the crosse as it is leaving. It should leave the crosse at the bend, or if the throw is short, a little below. The ball should have a ring painted around it, by which you can see the spin. If the ball and crosse are wet, the spin is greater. If a perfect twist could be given to the ball, so that it would spin from right to left, or left to right, when it is blocked, there is no doubt but that "blocking" such shots would be almost as risky as trying to catch them. Here is a chance for invention—how to make the