Greasers Are Ruining Your Game: Insights from Lacrosse Players at PEARL
One thing’s for sure – the ball never lies. Especially when it’s a greaser.
Greasers are the silent killer of performance, holding players back at every level. Traditional rubber balls slick up and harden over time, throwing off shots, ruining passes and wrecking confidence. Lost grip means lost control — and that can cost you time, money and even games.
No one knows this better than the crew at PEARL. A great deal of the PEARL team played in high school or college, and they’ve experienced the greaser struggle firsthand.
Playing with greasers is like playing a totally different game. You lose your grip, your confidence and your edge. I wish I grew up playing with PEARLs.
At PEARL, our team strives to ensure that every athlete plays, practices and trains with the lacrosse ball they need and deserve.
At Guardian Sports, our mission has always been to make the game of lacrosse better for athletes at every level. PEARL is a big part of that — made right here in the USA, built to perform and designed to help players and coaches focus on the game, not the equipment.
MEET JAKE HANSON
Chief Operating Officer at Guardian Sports
Years Playing Lacrosse:
College: Georgia Tech
PEARL is the only lacrosse ball built to perform like new every time you pick it up. Made in the USA and trusted by athletes and coaches nationwide, PEARLs never grease, never harden, and stay game-ready longer than traditional balls. From practice to championship games, PEARL gives players the grip, control and confidence they need—while helping programs save money in the long run.
MEET JAKE BOVA
Northeast Sales Manager, PEARL
Years Playing Lacrosse: 14 Years
College: Post University
Lacrosse has always been Jake’s “life and passion.” Between playing in men’s leagues and pickup games, coaching high school and youth teams, and working at PEARL, it’s clear he hasn’t lost an ounce of love for the game.
When you found a ‘greaser’ in the ball bucket, that had a one-way ticket to being launched into the woods since it was basically declared ‘unplayable.’ Since day one of working for Guardian/PEARL, I knew this company was special with the type of culture being built and loved the vision they had for PEARL. Revolutionizing and innovating the lacrosse ball to become greaseless… I didn’t know that was possible!
It was a game changer. No reps were wasted, and you knew you could rely on the ball to make it through the whole season without greasing or getting slippery. Working for PEARL, I get to provide a superior ball to kids and coaches all around the country.
MEET BEN REED
PEARL Account Executive
Years Playing Lacrosse: 15 Years
College: Reinhardt University, University of Georgia
Growing up in North Georgia, lacrosse wasn’t a big focus at Ben’s high school. He played with whatever lacrosse balls he could get his hands on. But when he switched to PEARL at the college level, the difference was night and day.
MEET SOPHIE BAEZ
PEARL & LOOP Senior Marketing Associate
Years Playing Lacrosse: 16 Years
College: Ohio State University
Working at PEARL allows Sophie to channel her lifelong passion for lacrosse into something bigger — helping players at every level get the high-quality equipment they need to perform at their best.
One of the biggest setbacks as a lacrosse player is the fact that lacrosse balls get slick and hard so fast. Even while playing at Ohio State, our coaches would refill our buckets and within a week they were filled with greasers. PEARL has the opportunity to complete eliminate greasers as a whole. I think we change the game completely by taking it to the next level.
Back when I played, greasers were a constant problem. I even used to line tennis ball canisters with sandpaper to try and fix them — but it never lasted more than a week. PEARLs, they just don’t grease.
MEET PIERSON MEIER
PEARL & LOOP Social Media Associate
Years Playing Lacrosse: 7 Years
Pierson knows firsthand how frustrating greasers can be for coaches and players. That’s why he loves helping athletes and teams invest in PEARLs — lacrosse balls that never grease and last longer, saving programs money and ensuring athletes always train with the best.
MEET ANNA BRANON
Senior Operations Manager at Guardian Sports
Years Playing Lacrosse: 4 Years
Anna loves keeping lacrosse a part of her life through her work at Guardian Sports, helping make the game better and safer. Lacrosse is fast and physical, and the ball matters more than most people realize. PEARL balls aren’t just long-lasting, but they’re also designed with player safety in mind, earning both NOCSAE certification and SEI approval.
PEARL is changing the game by offering a ball that is not only in-spec, but also safer — it does not feel like you are getting hit with a rock-hard cue ball. Plus, with PEARL, you know you are getting a consistent, grease-free ball every time. That means your reps in practice translate directly to how you play in games. You can train with confidence, knowing the ball will perform the same way every time.
