The lacrosse head is one of the most essential components you need to play the game. Basically, it’s that thing at the end of your stick which allows you to cradle and shoot the ball. There are so many different brands and models available, selecting the right head can get just a bit overwhelming. That's why we've come up with this guide, it will walk you through all of the necessary things to keep in mind when you're ready to purchase a lacrosse head.
Player position is a good place to start and from there you'll want to take things like league regulations, weight, and shape under consideration when making your choice. But there is no other prevailing factor beyond skill level that you should heed first, as most beginners don't need expensive, advanced equipment.
A standard head with a wide catching area and a pronounced scoop are enough for the new player to get a feel for the game. This will help them learn the basics of lacrosse through ball control, movement, and ground recovery. But as the player's skills progress and become more fine-tuned, then an upgrade in gear will be warranted.
Lacrosse Heads by Position
Attacker/Midfield
Attackers are the driving force behind the team's offense, so naturally they want a head that gives them better control and shot accuracy. That means the head should have a tighter throat and a pocket allowing for enough ball protection when things get heated near the crease.
These heads are usually lighter in weight because midfielders need to move fast and avoid checks from the defense while maintaining enough power to send line drives at the cage. Midfield players also want a little more stiffness to their head so they can deliver some hard checks to their opponents, scoop up grounders on the fly, and pass the ball with precision.
Defenseman
Players on the defense are tasked with taking the ball away from the opposing offense. These players will opt for a head that's wider for more available surface with which to intercept or deflect passes. Defensemen also favor a head that's much stiffer than the attack, so they can make those hard checks into the other guy's stick count. The stiffness will also make the head able to withstand the action it sees in traffic and on the ground when it comes to grabbing grounders. These heads are usually a bit heavier in comparison.
Goalie
The very nature of the position is all about defense. The guardian of the net has been endowed with the biggest head of anyone else on the field, designed specifically for preventing the ball from making it to the back of the cage. The goalie's head has the widest stopping area available while still affording the player enough stiffness and ball accuracy to take on all comers and clear the ball away from the crease with the most efficiency and care.
Lacrosse Head Components
Sidewalls and Stringing
The pocket is a vital part of any lacrosse head and every player has his or her own preferred way of stringing their pocket. You could almost compare them to snowflakes, as you're likely not to find two similar pockets on the field at the same time. These are very personal to the player's preferred style of play.
The way to get the perfect pocket is to string the mesh to the head in just the right way and that versatility requires plenty of stringing holes. The more holes there are and how they're placed along the sidewall rail increases the number of ways you can string their pocket to your liking.
The sidewall rails are also important when it comes to flex, weight, and strength in the head. More material in the rail will obviously add to the overall head weight, while the height of the sidewalls will contribute to the way the ball moves in and out of the head. The sidewalls also give the head its resilience, so keeping that in mind will help you find a happy medium combining all the essentials in a head that works best for your style of play.
Pinch
This refers to how wide or narrow the head is at the throat. The more pinch on the head, the tighter it is and that affects the way the ball moves in and out of the pocket. This also contributes to how the ball is safeguarded inside the head and certain players prefer more pinch while others prefer less. The position you play can influence how much pinch you really need.
Scoop
This is the area of the head that is used to literally scoop the ball up off the ground and it also assists in the release of the ball when passing and shooting. You'll find heads with a more rounded and marked curve which are better suited for attackers because it affects shot accuracy, while others have a flatter scoop which makes picking up the ball easier. There is a whole range of scoop gradients available from the leading manufacturers.
Legality
Whether it's a youth league, high school, or the NCAA, there are certain regulations governing the requirements lacrosse equipment must comply with if they’re to be used in specific types of gameplay. Naturally, not all heads are in compliance with all leagues, but there are those which are classified as “universal” which makes them suitable for all regulations. A head's specified compliance doesn't necessarily make the head better than others.