9 Best Faceoff Lacrosse Heads – (Updated Novembar 2024)

As a Lacrosse player, I can relate to the anxiety you feel when it comes to faceoffs. They can be pretty scary and stress any player easily, be it an attackman or defenseman. I have been in a similar position, and the only thing that has helped me make the game is the right faceoff Lacrosse head.

But choosing the right match can be an uphill task, especially if you have not yet decided on your playing technique. And let me tell you, there is no simple formula to find a Lacrosse head that is compatible with your skills. For instance, some players like oblique flex and stiff heads, while others are fond of face flex and flexible heads.

Are you struggling to find the best faceoff Lacrosse heads? Don’t know which one will work for your game? Don’t panic and follow this in-depth review and buying guide based on the type of flex, flexibility, warp resistance, style of the head, and throat length. So, don’t waste more time and let’s get in for more.

9 Best Faceoff Lacrosse Heads

Specifications:

I am starting my list of the best faceoff Lacrosse heads with this Mark 2F for its multi-purpose design. After using it for a long time, I thoroughly enjoyed the tight pinches and multiple flex angles. Also, it has an in-between flexibility that works for both FOGO and FOGO players.

Firstly, this head is engineered for attackmen and midfielders, for the most part, with a higher sidewall and flare. This one has an elongated face for better reach and attack potential. While I was using it, there was not a single time I felt moving against the face shape.

The manufacturers have used hybrid plastic for the head, which is pretty durable and has incredible warp resistance. I broke into them during the Lacrosse season, which can be rough, and it survived the abuse well. It’s been a year now, and the structure is still intact.

It is further accompanied by a shortened throat so that players can get a hold of the head in no time. This, along with a tri-locking bolt system, makes the recovery quicker for mid-level players. Hence, the entire time, it is easy for them to keep their hands closer and generate enough power.

Last but not least, it has a perfectly rounded steep scoop that has immense potential for ground balls. I was easily able to scoop and attack in a matter of seconds. This helped me a lot in dominating the entire game and improved my recovery reflex.

Wrapping up, this StringKing 2F head is an all-time favorite for me, all credit to its well-engineered design. It comes with a short throat and multiple stringing holes so that you can customize it to your liking. The fact that it is easy to handle makes it suitable for newbies.

Specifications:

The runner-up on my list of the best faceoff Lacrosse heads is the ECD Weapon X for its warp resistance and offense performance. I have been using it for two years now and would say it is perfect for new to mid-level players. This is all thanks to the in-between flex style and stiffness.

The first thing I liked about this head is its shorter throat plus, as it increases durability and reduces wobbling. It doesn’t take more than 15 to 20 reps to get a complete hold of the throat. Similarly, with this one, I was able to generate more power for offensive faceoff reps strategies.

This head has an asymmetrical sidewall that maintains a combination of strength and power for face flex angles. It further feels stiffer for offensive faceoffs. But I tried breaking into them, and after around 70 reps, I found it softening up, making it easy to flex however I wanted.

This Lacrosse’s head has a pretty good scoop, which makes it easy for you to suck up ground balls with absolute convenience. It is designed with rounded edges with a 45 degrees closing angle. So, even if your head is perpendicular to the ground, getting the ball won’t be an issue.

In the end, another thing to appreciate about the design is that it has a number of stringing holes. This means that you have more sidewall, string, bottom, and top string holes to maneuver with faceoffs. Also, it offers great scope to customize the pocket as per your role in the game.

Final thoughts, this ECD Weapon X Lacrosse faceoff head is suitable for players with an offensive role in the game. It is equipped with a rounded scoop and shorter throat, which makes it best for multiple flexes. Similarly, I found it pretty easy to break in this head for its in-between flexibility.

Specifications:

Here comes yet another quality Lacrosse head for people who prefer an oblique flex angle and want to groom their skills. The strongest point of this head is its durable nature, which makes it resistant to warp. Further, it has a decent scoop for you to conveniently grab the ground balls.

This Face-Off Stay On head is designed with a shorter angled throat plug that allows you to achieve strength for offense tactics. This is further accompanied by a sidewall design for face flexes. Here, the fact that the throat is angled makes it optimized for midfielders and attackmen.

Likewise, this Lacrosse head is designed with optimized stiffness that works great for professional players. So, if you are new to the game, this will take you time to get used to. I tried breaking into this head, and it took me around 150 reps, which is more than the usual count.

Moreover, the manufacturers have used Reflex plastic, which is more durable than any other competitor. This adds to the warp resistance and maintains the structure of the head on the field for a longer time. It is also the reason why this feels a lot stiffer when you first hold it.

The next good thing about this faceoff head is its deep scoop design, making it easy for you to suck up ground balls, even if you are in an awkward flex position. Part of the reason is the New Speed technology that cuts the time in half and makes the entire flex faster and more convenient.

In essence, this STX Duel 3 is a perfect alternative for midfielders who are struggling with control and strength. Its angled throat plug and optimized flex design make it great for offense roleplay. It is equally worth noting that this head has incredible warp resistance against damage.

Specifications:

If you are someone who likes using stiffer heads for Lacrosse faceoffs, there is nothing better than this StringKing 2D Stiff head. It is equipped with an unrivaled durable structure and stiffness that works for both defense and attackmen. And it is equally easy to get a hold of this head.

The strongest characteristic of this Lacrosse head is its stiffer material. It uses a specialized 2F hybrid plastic, which is durable and allows you to dominate the game. Though it is a bit difficult to break in this head, I find the warp resistance incredibly powerful, as it survived the roughest of rough situations.

One thing I really like about this head is its shorter throat, considering that it helped me a lot with control and power. It has straightened sidewalls and a higher flair, which definitely gives you leverage against the enemy. This is because this setup generates more power and keeps your hands closer to each other, away from the plastic.

Likewise, the manufacturers have added a slightly angled scoop area for better ground ball dominance. It works like a vacuum in a way that it grabs the ground balls without even you moving a lot. Moreover, you can always attack a loose ball while it is in the angled scoop and the head is perpendicular.

In the end, this one has a fairly decent amount of string holes, along with the StringKing signature three connection points. It offers a large scope of customization. So, whether you are a defense or attackman, you can install this with the self-tape conveniently according to the player’s role.

Finally, this Mark 2F Stiff head is the most versatile option you can find out there. It comes with a well-put design that integrates an angled scoop, multiple stringing holes, stiff hybrid plastic, and a shorter throat. This entire setup makes it easy for players to install the head according to their preferences.

Specifications:

The FO Recovery head from Warrior Sports is an improved version of the FO Original, with a hybrid design that makes it great for mid-level players. It has an unusual face shape and optimized throat length, providing players with a great practice scope.

The first thing to appreciate about this head is its universal pinch design. This design can pull off almost all the flex styles, allowing you to experiment with all the roles and choose which one comes naturally to you. In addition, the warp resistance is equally good.

The design has a resin boost head shape that is slightly angled from one side and offers better recovery. This makes sure you can generate power and shoot the ball without bothering about balance and stability. The fact that most hits are a success adds to the player’s confidence.

It is further accompanied by a shorter throat plug to build the confidence of players who are new to this game. It keeps your hands closer to each other and allows you to take charge of the head. This also offers leverage for tight pinches, which is a primary requirement of a newbie.

Finally, talking about its scoop abilities, this one has an angled scoop that immediately grabs the ground balls and allows you to attack. The manufacturer has also added multiple string holes for customization. So, you can always switch whenever you decide to stick to one role.

In conclusion, this Warrior Sports FO Recovery head is a best-suited alternative for anyone in search of something easy to handle and versatile. It is designed for new to mid-level players who are yet to decide their role in the game. And it is value for money.

Specifications:

Coming from Nike, this CEO 2 is definitely a pure FOGO head for attackmen who want extra strength and better flexibility. It has a sidewall structure that maintains its structure and gives you a tight pinch and little scope for movement. So, handling this head is easy and comes naturally.

The thing that immediately impressed me about this Nike’s head is that it is really flexible, with a rating of 9 out of 10. It has an interlocked sidewall design that helped me with easy breaking in and a lot of scopes to practice attack. It was pretty easy to straighten this head after the ground flexed.

It is equally great in resisting the warp and making sure the structural integrity of the head is intact. I have used this during the seasonal matches, and they can be rough for the faceoff heads. Yet, this one seems perfectly fine, even after long and tiring matches of 50 reps.

Next, speaking of the design, this one has a wider scoop and a number of string holes, which makes it easily customizable. Though I don’t really like sharpened and widened scope, the overall proportion of this head came together nicely. All in all, it is convenient to dig up the ground balls from the field.

Lastly, the thing most unusual about this head is its slightly longer throat plate, which may not appeal to most defensive players. Despite this, I was able to do everything an attacker was supposed to do to me. I usually did face flex, and there was no apparent problem in doing so.

In essence, this Nike CEO 2 is a well-suited alternative for attackmen, all thanks to its wider scoop structure and high flexibility rating. It allows players to grab the ground balls and get a hold of the head. Similarly, I used this faceoff head in extremely rough conditions, and the structure still survived, which is an added advantage.

Specifications:

If you feel like you are unable to use Duel 3 because of its complexity, try out its predecessor Duel II. It has a pretty good combination of scoop and throat, which helps you with recovery and attack. This head further feels light, which is an added advantage for mid-players.

Speaking of the design, this one has a traditional sidewall design with an elongated rail. This helps you with a tighter pinch with less power and better control. The lower part of the head is flexible enough for you to move it around and break into it without having to bother with extra effort.

Likewise, it comes with a unique Duel II shortened throat plug that provides you with close proximity between the hands and better control. It has helped me a lot with improved hand movement and fast recovery. And if you are a FOGO, you will get the punch even faster.

The next good thing about the head design is its New Speed scoop. It is the same as in Duel 3, which is steep and offers incredible ground ball-grabbing potential. If you are an attacker, sucking the ball from the ground and making an attack would be no challenge with this head.

Moreover, the manufacturers have added a decent amount of holes for the net. And it didn’t take me any time to install the head together with tape or screws. All being said, I feel like the quantity of plastic is a bit excessive, though it resists warping well and maintains its structure.

This STX Duel II Lacrosse Head is for people who are upgrading from a beginner’s head, all thanks to the fact that it has great scope for practice. I have used this in the past and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The best part is that it feels lighter and is easy to control.

Specifications:

Coming from STX, this one is yet another faceoff Lacrosse head with an optimized design. It is best known for its special flex zones and revolutionary flex throat that helped me a lot in improving my art. I would say it was equally easy to break into this head.

So, the first thing that attracts most players to this head is its revolutionary patented throat design. It is a lot shorter than a standard throat, which keeps the players’ hands closer to each other from a reference of position X. It also helps players with better power generation.

Next, it has specific flex zones placed in the middle section of the head. This distributes the weight ideally and makes it easy for players to defend their stance. This also has a hybrid plastic that resists the wrap and maintains the structural integrity of the head.

This head further had a dual sidewall design with extra braces. It helps defensemen with stability and ball control, especially when the attacker is in close proximity. I also find it easy to put together the dual sidewalls with the third screw.

Finally, this one has multiple stringing holes that allow you to put in the net to your liking. The scoop is steeper than usual, making it great for grabbing the ground balls. That said, I didn’t like the recovery time and would say that its attack potential is not the best.

Final thoughts, this STX Duel U Lacrosse Head is a well-suited option for defensemen. This head has a dual sidewall design with a short throat and a specific flex zone for players to practice and improve their game. It can also handle abuse well, which is unusual for a defense head.

Specifications:

Last but not least on my list of the best faceoff Lacrosse heads is this Maverik Lock Special for its technologically advanced design. It is engineered with extra rugged construction and tension lock for optimized performance. I would recommend it to anyone who is working on his/ her skills.

First, the manufacturers have used the Flex-Rail technology that gives you leverage while attacking. It has a wider middle spot that improves recovery and adds to the flexibility. This, along with a level-2 bottom rail, makes sure you are able to generate enough power for attacks.

Similarly, this head is made up of dura-flex, which is rugged and has high warp resistance ratings. It helps you break into the head and keeps the structural integrity intact. It also has a steeper scoop for grabbing the balls and quickly hitting them towards the enemy.

Speaking of the throat, this one has a shorter throat plug that provides you control and keeps the ball closer to the plastic area. It helped me a lot with a better grip on both hands. This also keeps the ground control quick, making it easy for me to dominate the midfielders and the defenseman.

In the end, I would like to appreciate the addition of a tension lock. It is responsible for enabling the stringer to launch the ball precisely from a considerable distance. And, with this feature, I find it pretty easy to flex in different angles without having to put in extra effort and power.

Wrapping up, this Maverik Lock special is a value-for-money alternative for Lacrosse attackmen. It comes with a tension lock feature and an angled scoop, not to mention a shorter throat that helped me a lot with control and accuracy. All in all, the fact that it is easy to break into this head makes it worth the money.

How to Find the Right Faceoff Lacrosse Head: A Complete Guide

Choosing the right type of Lacrosse faceoff head can be a challenge, especially when you are new and are yet to decide your role in the game. That said, having some things in mind can help you understand which type of head will work for you. I have brought quick tips and tricks to help you in this search journey.

Type of Flex:

The first and foremost thing you should look into while buying the best Lacrosse faceoff head is the type of flex. Now, this is all dependent on the angle of the flex and determines whether you use the faceoff head for the most part.

Typically, you will find that most Lacrosse heads have an oblique flex angle. This means that when you pinch and pop the ball sideways with your left hand in the upward direction, they flex, and the throat bends backward. Yet, the primary movement is the flex of the head.

On the contrary, the face flex is when the throat is in the perpendicular direction to the head. These heads are built a little differently than the traditional ones. This is why you will find these heads with a sidewall design, as this makes it easy to make a face flex.

But the question is, which flex type is best for you? Well, there is no simple answer, and I would say that the one you are comfortable with is appropriate for you.

Warp Resistance of the Head:

The next important thing here is the construction material of the faceoff head. In simple terms, you need a faceoff head that is resistant to warp or changes in its structural integrity. This is because the head is used and bent repeatedly, which makes it inevitable to change its shape.

The traditional heads used to be made of plastic material. But recently, most brands have come up with durable materials that are resistant to war and give you a longer life span. So, while you are buying one, make sure it is stiffer and has the strength to handle rough use.

Throat Length:

Another thing that matters a lot while buying a faceoff head is its throat length. This is because it is responsible for keeping you in control of the head throughout the game. The key to more control is having a short throat.

This is because it makes sure that both your hands are in close proximity, which means better control and more power generation. And given that you are not allowed to get your hand in contact with the plastic, a shorter throat helps you with this.

Flexibility Rating:

Similarly, flexibility is as important as any other element while you are out there searching for the right match. Now, the faceoff heads are usually made up of plastic. The plastic used in the construction has different degrees of flexibility.

For instance, some are stiffer than others, and vice versa. But the thing is that it isn’t always true that stiffer is better than flexible, and so on. It is a matter of preference, as some players like handling a stiff head because of stability, while others are more comfortable with flexible Lacrosse heads.

Style of the Head:

When it comes to faceoff heads, there are two styles, FOGO and FOSO. Now, the choice of style comes down to your playing role. Yet, if you are new to faceoff heads and not sure of your playing style, there are many in-between options for you to consider.

FOGO, also known as Face Off Get Off, is used when you take a faceoff and substitute the field immediately, followed by the draw. In contrast, FOSO, also known as Face Off Stay On, is used when you take a faceoff and remain in the field for your duty as an offensive middie.

Is It Difficult to Break into Your Faceoff Head?

Though many people ignore it, it is extremely important to break in your faceoff head in order to get comfortable with it. Even if you have a flexible faceoff, it matters a lot to get a hold of it. And it is not really challenging, as there are multiple ways in which you can break into your Lacrosse’s heads.

How to Break into the Faceoff Head?

Although there are many ways to break into the faceoff head, I would only recommend practicing with it. All you need is to take as many faceoffs as possible, so over time, they soften up, and you become comfortable with them. I would say it takes between 50 and 100 reps to completely break in the Lacrosse heads.

Does Boiling or Baking Your Face-Off Heads Work?

The majority of Lacrosse players prefer baking and boiling their face-off heads over the struggle of doing reps with them. However, it is not at all recommended, as doing so will only damage the head. So, let’s talk about what is wrong with both these methods.

When you boil the faceoff head in the water, it damages the plastic and compromises its durability. Hence, after some time, you will feel like it is losing its structure because of the warps. Though it can be effective, it is only temporary and can do more bad than good.

Likewise, it is the same with baking. This is because baking exposes your head to extreme heat that can soften the plastic in no time, compromising the quality and durability of the faceoff head. Hence, it is always better to put in some effort and do reps for breaking into your head.

Finally, I hope you know how to find yourself the best faceoff head for lacrosse that is comfortable and easy to play with over a long period of time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Also see: Best Defensive Lacrosse Heads