By Abigail Gannaban · Last updated October 30, 2026
If a solid brick or cement wall is close and you're allowed to use it, the wall is a great place for wall ball: it's free, it's big, and you can pick one brick as your target. A lacrosse ball rebounder is the better choice when there's no usable wall, when the only wall is the house, or when you want returns you can change, like ground balls or high catches. Many players use both: the school wall on weekends, a rebounder in the yard on school nights.
How do a wall and a lacrosse ball rebounder compare for wall ball?
| Criterion | Solid wall (brick or cement) | Lacrosse ball rebounder (The Varsity) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where it is | Wherever a solid wall is: school, park, garage | Free-standing; rolls on 10" spoked wheels to any spot | Lacrosse Drive routine · Varsity page |
| Accuracy target | Pick one brick or spot and hit it every time | 5' x 5' net (25 sq ft); aim at its center | Guardian Sports / PEARL tips · Varsity page |
| Return angle | One flat surface; the height you throw decides the return | 4 screen positions plus tilt for low, chest-high or high returns | Varsity page |
| Ground balls | Bounce the ball off the ground before the wall | Tilt the net forward for ground-ball returns | Varsity page |
| Footprint | None (uses an existing wall) | 5.33' wide x 2.75' deep | Varsity page |
| When it's the answer | A wall you can reach and use regularly | No wall, or you can't get to one regularly | USA Lacrosse league tips |
| Other sports | Any ball sport that bounces off a wall | Lacrosse, soccer, baseball, softball, basketball | Varsity page |
Specs checked October 30, 2026.
When is a wall the better choice?
A wall is the better choice when there's a brick or cement wall you can get to and use without bothering anyone. The Lacrosse Drive 8-minute wall ball routine runs on a brick wall, a cement wall or a rebounder, with timed sets of left- and right-hand reps. Guardian Sports' off-season tips suggest picking one brick and hitting it every time, which a wide wall makes easy. It costs nothing, and its size forgives a wild throw.
When is a lacrosse ball rebounder the better choice?
A lacrosse ball rebounder is the better choice when there's no usable wall nearby or getting to one is the hard part. A USA Lacrosse-hosted league page on wall ball suggests asking for a rebounder if you can't reach a wall regularly, and stresses having a routine either way. A rebounder also changes the return: tilt it forward for ground balls, stand it up for chest-high catches. All Ball Pro makes steel-frame, multi-sport ball rebounders, also called rebound nets, in St. Louis, Missouri. For a drill to run on it, see our no-catch wall ball drill.
Which one fits your player?
A wall suits a player with a school or park wall a short walk or ride away. A lacrosse ball rebounder fits a player who would otherwise throw at the house, a family without a nearby wall, or a player who wants ground-ball and high-catch returns at home. For the broader picture across sports, see our comparison of rebounders, pitchbacks and rebound walls.
How much target does a rebounder give for quick-stick wall ball?
At quick-stick distance, the Varsity's net is plenty of target. A sample routine on the Sigsbee lacrosse wall ball program puts quick sticks about 8 feet from the wall. At that range the Varsity's 5' x 5' net gives 25 sq ft to hit, and its stand takes 5.33' x 2.75' = 14.7 sq ft, so a full quick-stick station needs about 5.33' x (2.75' + 8') = 57 sq ft of yard.
FAQ
Is wall ball better on a wall or a rebounder? Both work. A solid wall is free and big if you can reach one; a lacrosse ball rebounder brings wall ball home and lets you change the return with tilt.
Can you do wall ball against your house? Many families would rather not; if the house is the only wall, a free-standing lacrosse ball rebounder in the yard gives the same reps.
Does a rebounder work for lacrosse ground balls? Yes. Tilt the net forward and a firm throw comes back low for ground-ball scoops.
A wall is free when you can reach it; a rebounder brings wall ball home. See The Varsity Multi Sport Ball Rebounder.