1. Maverik Metrik
Best Overall Lacrosse Head
With numerous colors to choose from, you can customize your experience, making this the only lacrosse head that you’ll ever need to own. Customers consistency praise Maverick for its high quality equipment, and this unstrung head is one of the best selling pieces on the market.
You’re going to see that you get all the precision and power that you crave with this piece of equipment, and because it’s made from quality materials, it’s sure to stand the test of time. Give yourself the performance that you crave with one of the many lacrosse heads to choose from by Maverick, and you’ll see that you’re never going to go back.
– Jonathan Maxwell
2. Warrior Evo
Best Overall Lacrosse Head – Runner Up
With 10 stock colors to choose from, you have the ultimate in color selection, so that you can find something that suits your style. Not only aesthetically pleasing, these lacrosse heads also perform with the best of them, giving you the control and performance that you need to succeed out on the field.
With so many options to choose from out there, you can be sure that when you buy this piece of equipment you’re getting something that is going to stand the test of time and improve your game. When it comes to lacrosse equipment, you can be confident that Warrior knows what they’re doing, and it shows with this unstrung Head-X model.
– Jonathan Maxwell
3. Gait
There is a multi-hole stringing system that also affords you multiple stinging patterns. With the drop-V scoop channels you’re going to see that you have the best possible accuracy and a faster release point. This lacrosse head is designed for minimum travel, and that means superior performance.
All in all, this is one of the top rated lacrosse heads on the market because it is designed to exceed all expectations out on the field. With a number of styles and colors to choose from, Gait Lacrosse gives you the options that you crave and the quality that you need. Their lacrosse heads are consistently praised by customers for good reason.
– Jonathan Maxwell
Lacrosse Head Comparison
 Maverik Metrik |
 Warrior Evo |
 Gait |
 Warrior Rabil |
 Maverik Tank |
 STX 200 U |
 Maverik Optik |
 Stick Doctor |
 Brine |
 STX Stallion |
|
| Color | Multi Color |
Multi Color |
Navy / White |
Multi Color |
White / Grey / Black |
Black / White |
Multi Color |
Purple /Neon Green /Neon Pink |
Multi Color |
Multi Color |
| Bottom Rail Level |
3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| No of Struts | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Weight (Ounces) |
2.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 4.80 | 2.00 | 3.00 | 2.00 | 2.40 | 1.60 | 2.00 |
| Dimension (Inches) |
10.00 x 5.00 x 2.00 | 12.10 x 5.12 x 2.15 | 11.20 x 4.97 x 2.11 | 12.10 x 5.12 x 2.15 | 10.00 x 5.00 x 2.00 | 11.20 x 4.97 x 2.11 | 10.00 x 5.00 x 2.00 | 11.20 x 4.97 x 2.11 | 10.00 x 5.00 x 2.00 | 11.20 x 4.97 x 2.11 |
| Warranty (Months) |
6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 6 |
Lacrosse Head Buying Guide
What is a Lacrosse Head?
Originally played by Native Americans as a medicine game, today lacrosse is a popular sport played around the world. In those early days lacrosse sticks were made from wood, and they were hand carved so the individual could connect with the game and with nature, making a stick of their own that was personal to them.
Today, we have numerous companies that produce lacrosse sticks with quality plastic heads, and these include names like Maverick, Under Armour, Gait, Epoch, and many more. These companies provide players with the latest innovations in lacrosse stick technology. But one thing will never change; the connection that a player feels to their lacrosse stick, just like the Native Americans had.
Your lacrosse stick is an extension of your personality, and it reflects your tastes and playing style. When you are looking for the right lacrosse head for you, look for something that suits your needs, and not the needs of someone else. There are so many lacrosse heads on the market, and you need to find what’s right for you.
Just because a stick is great for your buddy, doesn’t mean that it’s going to be perfect for you too. You need to figure out what your personal needs and tastes are. Lacrosse is a very individualized sport, but it’s still a team game. Each player is going to have their own style, and lacrosse sticks should reflect that.
The Most Basic Question
Walking into any sporting goods store, you’re most likely going to be overwhelmed by your options when it comes to lacrosse stick heads. Most players ask the question; what is the difference between these lacrosse heads?
The difference that you’re going to find in pricing is largely technology-based, and it involves the quality of plastic that is being used. This will effect the overall durability of the head.
How Do I Know Which Head To Get?
This largely comes down to how much experience you have playing the game. The lacrosse head that you purchase is going to come down to your level of skill. Lets take a look at the four different classifications.
Beginner: For a beginner, you’re pretty much just learning the basics, and it’s smart to get a complete stick. This stick should have a head with a wide face, and this makes catching much easier. When you have a softer mesh it will minimize the ball bouncing off too hard, and this is going to make cradling the ball easier for you. You’ll also find that complete heads feature a flatter scoop, and this will give the beginner a faster and easier pick up of the ball.
Intermediate: Once you get better at the game you can begin to try different types of heads with various face shapes, and be able to choose the one you want. Once you become more advanced, you should look for a head that is going to make passing and shooting more accurate, as well as something that will make picking up ground balls easier. Then it’s time to look for heads by the position that you play on the field. More advanced heads are going to have superior technology in the plastic, and they’re also going to be more durable in the long haul.
Advanced: If you have been playing lacrosse for many years then you are skilled enough to transition from complete sticks to lacrosse heads that have more advanced technologies at work. That is going to mean more holes for stringing and a more aggressive pinch on the face with a more rounded scoop. You can also decide at this point what type of pocket that you prefer, and where you want the ball to sit in the head. Many players at this level also learn to string their own lacrosse heads.
Elite/Pro: A pro level stick is the kind that is being used at the NCAA level, but these heads are still available for purchase by any player. What you’re getting is the absolute highest grade plastic materials in their lightest form. They’re also the stiffest and strongest heads that you will find. These generally will have the same amount of stinging holes as the advanced heads, however the face of the head is going to be much tighter with these.
Head Shape In Relation to Position
In the past couple of years lacrosse head manufacturers have begun to design heads based upon position. Whatever position that you play isn’t necessarily the defining factor on which head that you should buy, but it is going to make it a whole lot easier for you to narrow down your search.
Offensive: These players are the centerpiece of the offense side, and they need optimal control with the ball. You need to be able to pass and shoot with the best possible accuracy and power to be successful on the field. You need to look for a tighter throat, as this will help you to keep the ball in the pocket, and you also need nice pocket placement to make powerful passes.
All-Around: If you’re in the all-around position, you need a stick that is going to be able to handle playing both sides of the ball, and that means offense and defense. The kind of head that you’re looking for should be able to protect the ball while you’re carrying it on offense, and then it needs to be able to handle throwing checks while intercepting passes on defense. You want to ideally be able to throw with accuracy and speed and then on defense you need the ability to stand up to anything a defender gives your way.
Defensive: A defensive player needs to be able to stop the offense, and therefore they need a head that makes it possible to withstand checks and ground balls. Defensive heads will have a flatter scoop and they are stiffer in design, thus preventing any warping. You also want to look for a head that is wide enough to get your stick into passing lanes and then be able to intercept a pass.
Goalie Heads: Goalie heads are pretty simple. You need to stop the ball, and therefore you need the largest head on the field. You also need a head that is able to take up the net and be accurate enough to make outlet passes. Look for something that is sturdy enough to combat fast shots while still being light enough to make outlet passes.
One of the most important considerations that you need to take into account is that your lacrosse head should be based upon your unique needs. Don’t just look for what everyone else is using, or what your buddy says is the best head. Should you have any questions, it’s best to ask your local sporting goods store representative, or read reviews online.
Conclusion
Finding the right lacrosse head is the key to improving your game out on the field. With so many heads to choose from, it can seem daunting at first to find the right one for you. The best thing to do is know yourself; your skill level, your position, and your preferences.
Your lacrosse head should be an extension of yourself, and that means doing a bit of research to see what features are available to you. In the buyer’s guide, we highlighted the key features of lacrosse heads, and which ones are suited towards different kinds of players.
If you’re a beginner, then you can go ahead and choose a complete stick, but if you’re looking to advance your game then a more specialized lacrosse head is the way to go. You can be sure that if you purchase one of the top rated lacrosse heads that you’re getting a piece of equipment that is going to seriously get the job done.
Resources
- http://maveriklacrosse.com
- http://gaitlacrosse.com
- http://www.warrior.com/Evolution/EVO2,default,pd.html
