The lacrosse ball is a solid rubber ball with a distinctive set of properties. It has enough weight for throwing yet bounces and moves quickly across grass or turf. But does this unique ball float when it lands in water?
The Simple Answer
A regular lacrosse ball will not float if dropped into a pool, lake, or other body of water. The ball will immediately sink to the bottom. This is due to the lacrosse ball’s solid rubber construction and weight.
Why Lacrosse Balls Sink
There are a few reasons why lacrosse balls lack buoyancy and do not float:
- Their solid rubber material is denser than water. Solid rubber naturally sinks.
- The interior is not hollow or air-filled like many sport balls, so they cannot float.
- Regulation weight ranges from 140-150 grams, making lacrosse balls heavy enough to sink readily.
- Moisture is readily absorbed, adding interior water weight that pulls balls under.
- The textured cover further hinders flotation by reducing smoothness needed for water resistance.
- Dimpled indentations grab water, creating drag versus buoyancy.
While strings can be woven into some balls for visibility, this is purely aesthetic and does not make the balls float.
Specialty Floating Lacrosse Balls
There are specialty lacrosse balls engineered specifically for use in the water. Aqua lacrosse balls contain foam fillings so the interior is not completely solid rubber. The foam offsets weight to allow flotation.
Water lacrosse balls also have smoother exterior shells to reduce water drag. Their performance differs from normal lacrosse balls, limiting use to aquatic play.
So if you treasure your quality lacrosse balls, keep them safely on the field and out of lakes or pools. Or invest in aquatic lacrosse balls for water play that can float instead of sink.
