Best Attack Lacrosse Heads

What to Look for in a Lacrosse Head for Attack

With so many lacrosse heads designed for attackmen, it can be hard to decide which is right for you. To help you decide, I've put together a list of some of the most important things to consider when choosing.

1) Face Shape

Most attackmen like heads with a narrow face shape, especially around the bottom half of the head. A tight pinch helps keep the ball in your stick better which is very important for someone who typically carries the ball a lot.

There are some exceptions. If you are a crease attackman, for example, you may prefer a wider head to help you catch passes easier. Newer players may also prefer wider heads until they are more confident in their catching.

2) Weight

Weight is probably the next most important thing to consider. Lighter heads are easier to handle and can help you shoot faster since you can move your stick faster. 

I consider any offensive heads under 5 oz to be light, with extremely light heads checking in at under 4.6 oz.

3) Stiffness & Durability

While stiffness doesn't matter as much for attack heads as they do for defensive heads, it is still worth considering. You don't want a head that is going to bend to the side every time you go down to scoop a ball. Stiff heads also hold their shape better when getting checked, helping them stay consistent when passing and shooting.

In addition, it's not enough to just feel how stiff a brand new head is. You should read reviews to see how sticks hold up over time. Less durable heads may feel stiff when they are new but may become flimsy in heat or break easily after some use. 

3) Pocket Placement

You should look for a head that is optimized for your ideal pocket placement. The easiest way to tell is by looking at the side profile of the head to see where the max offset (the part where the bottom rail is the lowest) is. 

Most attackmen prefer a low pocket to help with one-handed cradling. In this scenario, you should look for a head where the max offset is towards the throat. 

If you prefer more whip, on the other hand, you may choose to go with a head that's ideal for mid pockets.

4) Scoop

Making sure you like the way the scoop feels is important for any type of lacrosse head. Having a good scoop allows you to be confident in picking up ground balls at a variety of angles.

Scoops that area more angled/curved (when looking down your stick) allow you to pick up balls at a higher angle in relation to the ground, whereas flat scoops force you to bend over a lot which may slow you down.

5) Stringing Holes

Unlike when I played in high school, most heads nowadays come with many stringing holes, giving you plenty of options for stringing your stick. There is still some fluctuation from head-to-head, however. 

Before choosing a stick, check out the number and size of the sidewall holes to make sure they look like they will work with your preferred stringing pattern.

6) Strung vs. Unstrung

The last thing to consider is whether to buy a strung or unstrung head. A few years ago, I would have told you to always go with an unstrung head and either string it yourself or find someone that knows how to do it for you.

More recently, however, a lot of companies such as ECD and StringKing have started offering much better string jobs on their strung heads, making them viable options.

If you decide to go with a strung head, do some research to see if customers typically like the string job and if it meets your preferences. Avoid factory-strung pockets—which are typically very shallow—at all costs.