No slap checks

Lacrosse Defense: The Poke Check

Defenders lose half a step on their opponent every time they throw a stick-check. Therefore, defenders should be selective about which stick checks to use. The most effective stick checks to knock the ball loose are the poke check and lifting your opponent’s bottom hand or the butt-end of the stick. One of the least effective checks is hitting your opponent’s arms and hands with the stick, known as a slap check.