Lacrosse Heads

At all levels of play, the lacrosse head is an essential part of a lacrosse stick. The head is attached to the shaft at the top of the stick. Based on the level of play and the position of the player, lacrosse heads can greatly vary in style, size, and design.

What are lacrosse heads used for?

A lacrosse head is found on top of the shaft of a lacrosse stick and is used for catching, picking up ground balls, and cradling the ball. The top of the head is a curved area known as the scoop, which is made for players to easily pick the ball off the ground. The side of the head is known as the sidewall and varies in shape and thickness based on the position of the player. At the bottom of the head is a thicker area known as the throat, which attaches to the top of the lacrosse stick’s shaft. Throughout the inside of the lacrosse head, strings and mesh are weaved together in a specific pattern to create the pocket of the stick. The pocket serves as a container for the lacrosse ball, as it is used by players to catch and carry it as they run.

Things To Consider

When looking for a lacrosse head, you'll want to consider the following:

• What position do you play?
• How much do you want to spend on a lacrosse head?
• What size lacrosse head are you looking for?

Types

There are several different types of lacrosse heads based on the position of the player including attack, defense, goalie, and midfield.

Attack

The primary role of attackmen in lacrosse is to handle, distribute, and shoot the ball. Therefore, lacrosse heads for attack players should be narrow with a mid to low pocket, which provides greater ball control. Furthermore, the sidewalls of the head should be slimmer, making the head lightweight and allowing for quicker movements.

Defense

Compared to lacrosse heads for attackmen, heads for defenders are usually wider and have a high pocket that allows them to get rid of the ball faster when clearing it down the field. The sidewalls of defensive heads are also thicker, making them more durable and able to withstand intense checks by defenders.

Midfield

Lacrosse heads for midfield players are a mix between those of attack and defensemen. Since midfielders play both offense and defense, the heads need to be lightweight for handling and shooting the ball yet strong enough to play defense and throw checks. The heads also have notably rounded scoops to help midfielders easily pick up ground balls from various angles.

Goalie

Out of the four types of lacrosse heads, goalie heads are the most unique. To increase their chances of making a save, the width of a goalie head is much wider than the heads of the other positions. In addition, the pocket depth of goalie heads can be much deeper than other positions. This prevents the ball from rebounding out of the pocket when a goalie makes a save.

Materials

Lacrosse heads are commonly made of two different materials including nylon, resin, and wood.

• Nylon Resin: Nylon resin is the most common material used to make modern lacrosse heads. This is a type of hard plastic that is melted down and molded to make heads for all positions.
• Wood: Traditional lacrosse sticks were crafted out of wood, where the shaft and the head of the stick were one piece of wood bent in the shape of a J. Hickory wood was commonly used to make the lacrosse sticks.

Brands

A few of the most popular lacrosse head brands include Maverik, STX, and Warrior.

• Maverik: Maverik is one of the top lacrosse brands that offers a variety of heads for men and women. It also offers a quiz for customers to figure out which head is best for them.
• STX: STX is another top brand that offers a wide variety of heads for both men’s and women’s lacrosse, including goalie heads.
• Warrior: Warrior is a popular lacrosse brand that offers a mixture of both strung and unstrung heads. The brand also offers a wedge that helps to widen the throat area of the head.

Considerations

A few things to consider when choosing a lacrosse head include durability, cost, and size.

Durability

Depending on the position, some lacrosse heads are more durable than others. Defensive heads are generally the most durable to withstand hard checking while attack heads are the least durable because of their lightweight nature. Out of the top lacrosse brands, STX makes some of the most durable heads on the market.

Cost

The cost of a lacrosse head is largely determined by its brand, style, and quality. Depending on these factors, heads can range from approximately $35 to over $100.  In addition, it may cost an extra $10 to $25 to have someone string an unstrung lacrosse head. Some of the most expensive brands include Maverik, ECD, STX, Nike, and Warrior.

Sizes

The size of a lacrosse head can vary based on the style of play, along with position. For field players (attack, midfield, defenders), the typical length of the head is 10 inches while the width ranges from 6 to 10 inches. For goalies, the typical length is 16.5 inches and the width ranges from 10 to 12 inches.

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