Field hockey and lacrosse balls seem very similar from a distance but upon closer inspection, they have several key differences. In particular, there are significant discrepancies in the size, weight and surface characteristics in these two balls. Both can have potentially concussive impacts and should only be used with proper protective gear.
Size
Both field hockey and lacrosse use balls that are perfectly spherical in shape, although some field hockey balls are dimpled. Lacrosse balls are slightly smaller than their field hockey brethren; regulation lacrosse balls must have a circumference between 7.75 and 8 inches, while field hockey balls must have a circumference ranging from 224 to 235 millimeters, which corresponds with 8.8 to 9.25 inches around.
Weight
The official rules of field hockey stipulate that the ball must weigh between 156 and 163 grams, which corresponds to a range of approximately 5.5 to 5.75 ounces. This allowable range is slightly heavier than a lacrosse ball, which must weigh between 5 and 5.25 ounces.
Surface Characteristics
The surface of a field hockey ball and a lacrosse ball differ across three primary characteristics. The surface of a field hockey ball consists of a hard, nonelastic plastic shell, while a lacrosse ball is composed of bouncier, smooth rubber. Since lacrosse balls are designed to bounce, they have a completely smooth surface, while field hockey balls can have either a smooth surface or a surface that is uniformly covered with small indentations like a golf ball. These indentations are typically found on balls that are used for outdoor play, while indoor field hockey balls are more likely to be smooth.
Ball Safety
The National Operating on Standards for Athletic Equipment, or NOCSAE, conducts tests measuring the safety of equipment used in sports popular in the United States. In January 2012, NOCSAE issued a report indicating that facial protectors and helmets often fail to protect players struck in the head by field hockey or lacrosse balls. In field hockey, several balls that have struck face protectors have shattered the protector, while in lacrosse balls striking the helmet often cause injuries including fractured skulls. NOCSAE notes that non-competition caliber lacrosse balls that do not meet international standards are more likely to cause injury than regulation balls. Balls that meet NOCSAE specifications and safety regulations feature a logo on the packaging that reads "MEETS NOCSAE LAX STANDARDS."
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