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Throughout my lacrosse career as a midfielder, I loved many aspects of the game including offense, defense, and transition.
My favorite part, though—and probably what I was the best at—was facing off.
I attended Alex Smith’s faceoff camps before each season in high school to perfect my craft and get hundreds of live reps just days before the season started.
At that camp, I first realized the importance of a good faceoff head. Alex, like many other faceoff guys at that time, used an OG Blade. After searching eBay daily for one that wasn’t over $200 (they were discontinued by Warrior at the time), I finally found one.
I remember being shocked at how much easier it was to faceoff with and the advantage it gave me. The way it flexed on the ball was unlike anything I had ever experienced and allowed me to pinch and pop like never before.
Even though Warrior recreated the OG Blade a few years ago, there has recently been an influx of faceoff-specific heads to the market that are even better. This guide will go over those options to help you find the best faceoff head for your game.
Best Faceoff Heads for Lacrosse
When I was buying my most recent new faceoff head, I started off by considering 11 of the most popular options on the market today. After reading and watching countless reviews and traveling to my local sporting goods store to feel the heads for myself, I was able to narrow my list down to 7.
Below you can find those 7 faceoff heads including what type of player each is best for as well as specific information that is important to consider when choosing one such as warp resistance and flexibility.
I use the terminology “FOGO” and “FOSO” from here on out. These stand for “Face Off, Get Off” and “Face Off, Stay On” respectively.
If you only primarily faceoff for your team, then you can really consider any of the following heads since they are all great for faceoffs. If you stay on to play offense, however, you should choose a head that I marked as being good for FOSOs. You can read more about why each head is good for FOGOs or FOSOs in each review.
For an explanation of what some of the information you’ll find below means—such as “oblique flex” and “face flex”—check out the section below the reviews.
7 Best Faceoff Heads:
- StringKing Mark 2F: Best for FOSO or FOGO
- ECD Weapon X: Best for FOSO
- Nike CEO: Best for FOGO
- STX Duel 3: Best for FOGO or FOSO
- StringKing Mark 2F Stiff: Best for FOSO or FOGO who prefers stiff head
- Warrior Burn FO Recovery: Best for FOGO or FOSO
- Nike CEO 2: Best for FOGO or FOSO
1) StringKing Mark 2F
Best for: FOSO or FOGO
Details
- Weight: 4.37 oz
- Flexibility (10 = most flexible): 7
- Flex Type: Oblique
- Warp Resistance: Great
- Offensive Performance: Good
- Throat Type: Short, no throat plug
As mentioned above, the StringKing Mark 2F was in my final two choices for which faceoff head to buy. If this head was just slightly more offset, I probably would have gone with it.
The Mark 2F is also what I've found most elite college and high school players to be using as of late.
Much like the Weapon X, it has great warp resistance, many stringing holes, and a scoop that makes groundballs a breeze.
One of my favorite features of this head is how thin the plastic is. This makes it really easy to flex your head under your opponent's sidewall to grab the ball and drag it out.
And even though the plastic is really thin, this head is super durable and warp resistant. Much like the Weapon X, it snaps back into place very well after every faceoff—making it another great option for playing offense after facing off.
When you first get this head, it may take some getting used to and breaking in since it doesn’t crush down on the ball quite as well as the Weapon X and Nike CEO. For some players, it may seem to resist flexing in the way you are used to.
Overall, this is a great choice for both FOGOs and FOSOs, as shown by how many top college faceoff guys use it. I was very close to choosing this head and am sure I would be happy with it if it’s the route I decided to go.
Pros
- Very light
- Great warp resistance
- Good offensive performance
- Many stringing holes
- Shortened throat
- Thin profile helps it get under other heads while facing off
Cons
- Does not face flex well
- Takes time to break in
All Buying Options
2) ECD Weapon X
Best for: Face Off, Stay On
Details
- Weight: 5.6 oz
- Flexibility (10 = most flexible): 6
- Flex Type: Mostly oblique flex
- Warp Resistance: Great
- Offensive Performance: Great
- Throat Type: Short throat with plug
After all of my research, I ended up buying the ECD Weapon X primarily due to its performance on offense and warp resistance.
My final two were the Weapon X and the StringKing Mark 2F, but the Weapon X's full offset was the deciding factor. I carry the ball a lot for my teams and regularly initiate the offense, so having a head with a full offset gives me better hold and a release that I’m used to.
It’s worth noting that the offset may take some getting used to when facing off if you are used to faceoff heads that have little-to-no offset.
Aside from the offensive capabilities, this is an amazing head for faceoffs. It does take some time to break in, but once you do, it will flex in almost any way you want.
A lot of this, as well as the warp resistance, can be attributed to the asymmetrical sidewalls which help the bottom sidewall flex up into the ball while the top collapses down.
The FlexForm plastic helps the head snap back into shape after every faceoff. Compared some other options such as the CEO and Burn FO, this head doesn’t warp easily and is much more durable over time.
You won’t have to worry about trying to pass and shoot with a crooked head which is really important.
>> Read full ECD Weapon X Review
Pros
- Great for offense
- Full offset
- Great warp resistance
- Has throat plug
- Many stringing holes
- Amazing scoop
Cons
- Heavier than some alternatives
- Takes time to break in
All Buying Options
3) Nike CEO
Best for: Pure FOGOs
Details
- Weight: 4.9 oz
- Flexibility: 9
- Flex Type: Face flex
- Warp Resistance: Poor
- Offensive Performance: Poor
- Throat Type: Standard throat; not shortened
The Nike CEO wasn’t designed to be a faceoff head. Originally Nike designed it to be used by attackmen who prefer a very tight pinch. It just turned out that the sidewall design made this an amazing head for facing off, and since it came out, it has been the most popular faceoff head since the OG Blade.
The design of the sidewall struts allows this head to collapse down on itself, creating great face flex allowing faceoff men to securely pinch the ball in the throat even if the rest of the head bends backwards.
If you are a pure FOGO who doesn’t have to worry about playing much offense, this is one of the best options. The way the head flexes and grabs the ball is unmatched—and is the reason why it has become one of the most popular faceoff heads of all time.
On the downside, this head warps… A LOT and isn’t very durable. The top of the head will quickly start bending forward (meaning the scoop will be more forward than the throat) and to the side. This makes it really hard to use on offense and you may have to worry about it being illegal.
Overall, if you are just looking for a head to faceoff with, the CEO is undoubtedly one of the best choices. Just be prepared to constantly bend the head back into shape and buy replacements once the head inevitably breaks or becomes warped beyond use.
Pros
- One of the most popular faceoff heads of all time
- Very flexible
- Best face flex of any head
- Great for "grabbing" balls in 50/50s
Cons
- Warps very easily, making it hard to use on offense
- Breaks easily
- Doesn't have shortened throat
All Buying Options
- Unstrung
4) STX Duel 3
Best for: FOGO or FOSO
Details
- Weight: Not disclosed
- Flexibility: 7
- Flex Type: Oblique flex
- Warp Resistance: Great
- Offensive Performance: Great
- Throat Type: Short throat with plug
This newest member of the STX Duel family is the best yet in my opinion.
The Duel 3 uses the same general shape as the original Duel but has Reflex plastic that helps it keep its shape longer and also has a straight throat unlike the Duel 2 that had an angled throat—something many faceoff guys didn't like.
This version of the Duel also comes with STX beloved Speed Scoop that is one of the best in the game.
It features many of the other great features of faceoff-specific heads such as a shortened throat with a throat plug and sidewalls specifically designed to flex well on the ball.
The Duel 3 is also one of the best heads for staying on the field and playing offense with its offset and shape retention. It also features many more stringing holes than previous Duel models, allowing for a more customized pocket.
On the downside, this head just came out in October 2021 so there is little longterm customer feedback. Many college players and pros, such as Joe Nardella (Whipsnakes faceoff man), have used the head for some time now and seem to like it.
Pros
- More durable than the Duel & Duel 2
- Great warp resistance
- Good offensive performance
- Shortened throat with plug
Cons
- Little longterm customer feedback since it's new
All Buying Options
- Unstrung
5) StringKing Mark 2F Stiff
Best for: FOSOs or FOGOs who prefer stiffer head
Details
- Weight: Not disclosed
- Flexibility: 4
- Flex Type: Oblique
- Warp Resistance: Great
- Offensive Performance: Great
- Throat Type: Short, no throat plug
I’ll leave this section a little shorter since much of what I said for the normal Mark 2F holds true for the stiff version of this StringKing head.
If you prefer a stiffer head for facing off or if you also play LSM/defense, then the Mark 2F Stiff is your best bet.
It has the same warp resistance and shape as the normal 2F but uses a stronger plastic to keep it stiffer.
All Buying Options
Pros
- Good for those who prefer stiff heads
- Great warp resistance
- Good for offense
- Many stringing holes
- Great scoop
- Shortened throat
Cons
- No throat plug
6) Warrior Burn FO Recovery
Best for: FOGO or FOSO
Details
- Weight: N/A
- Flexibility: 8
- Flex Type: Mix of face & oblique flex
- Warp Resistance: Great
- Offensive Performance: Decent
- Throat Type: Short throat with plug
Warrior teamed up with Trevor Baptiste to create the Burn FO, which quickly emerged as one of the best faceoff heads on the market.
In 2022, Warrior released the updated version—the Burn FO Recovery—which is a HUGE improvement on the original.
Like the Burn FO, the Recovery has a face flex on top and oblique on the bottom, but it “grabs” the ball much better. Whereas you had to almost fully clamp to pinch the ball with the Burn FO, the Burn FO Recovery is much better at pinching the ball without having to fully clamp.
Another big improvement with the Burn FO Recovery is the plastic. Even though it's a bit more flexible than the original, it has much better shape retention. It consistently snaps back into place after each faceoff.
If you were a fan of the original Burn FO, you'll love the Burn FO Recovery. It has many of the same features, including the face shape, but flexes better and has much better plastic.
If you didn't like the original Burn FO, you may not still like the Recovery due to the shape of it, but overall, it's a huge improvement.
Pros
- Great warp resistance
- One of the few heads that face flexes well
- Flexible and ready to use out of the bag
- Has shortened throat with plug
Cons
- Pretty heavy
- Wide face shape
- Not much offset
All Buying Options
- Unstrung
7) Nike CEO 2
Best for: FOGO or FOSO
Details
- Weight: Not disclosed
- Flexibility: 5
- Flex Type: Face flex & oblique flex
- Warp Resistance: Decent
- Offensive Performance: Decent
- Throat Type: Short throat with plug
Once the original CEO took over the faceoff market, Nike decided to release an updated version that was supposed to fix many of the issues that the original had.
While they definitely did solve a lot of the durability issues, the CEO 2 doesn’t flex quite as well or the same as the original.
Much like the Burn FO, it has a pretty wide throat, making it harder to grab the ball. In addition, it still face flexes some but not nearly as much as the original CEO.
With all that being said, if you are tired of going through CEOs every couple of months, the CEO 2 is still a good option to consider.
It should be easier to switch to than a completely different head as it feels somewhat similar to the original.
We recommend giving yourself some time to make the transition from CEO to CEO 2. If you can wait until the offseason to do so, you should have a smoother transition.
Pros
- More durable than OG CEO
- Decent warp resistance
- Shortened throat
Cons
- Not as flexible as original CEO
- Wide face shape
All Buying Options
How to Choose a Faceoff Head
With countless heads available, it can be hard to figure out which one is best for you. The following are things I considered when choosing my new faceoff head and creating the list of the best faceoff heads above:
1) Face Flex vs. Oblique Flex
If you were confused by the terms face flex and oblique flex above, let me explain. These are mostly relevant for when you do a pinch and pop.
This image gives a good visual of the difference between the two:
Most heads flex on an oblique angle. This means they flex somewhat sideways when you pinch the ball. When you lift your left hand up to do a pinch and pop, the throat will still bend backward some, but the head primarily flexes so the throat is to the left of the rest of the head.
Face flex, on the other hand, is when the throat goes primarily perpendicular to the rest of the head instead of sideways. Heads need to have a very specific sidewall design to be able to face flex.
As for which is the best, there’s no right answer. It comes down to what you’re comfortable with. If you have used heads that flex obliquely in the past, then you will probably do better with another oblique flexing head—and vice versa if you’ve used face flexing heads in the past.
2) How Much You Stay On the Field Outside of Faceoffs
As I briefly touched on earlier, it’s important to find a head that is decent for offense and defense if you are going to be regularly staying on the field. If you just face off then get off, then it’s much less important.
Good face off, stay on heads have at least some offset and good warp resistance. You don’t want a head that is going to warp so much that it’s difficult to pass, catch, and shoot with.
3) Your Faceoff Style
You also need to consider your faceoff style when choosing a head. If you like to pinch and pop, then you need to choose a head that has some flexibility. If you are more of a power clamper or like to push other people off the ball, on the other hand, then you should look for a stiffer head.
4) Durability & Warp Resistance
Since you bend your head so much when facing off, durability can be a big issue. You should check out customer reviews and guides like this to get an idea of how heads will hold up after hundreds of reps.
There are certain heads (like the Nike CEO) that are amazing for faceoffs but break and warp so easily that you’ll have to buy a new one every few months. As you can imagine, that can get expensive quickly.
5) Throat Length
Lastly, be sure to take a look at the length of the throats on the heads you are considering.
When facing off, the closer your hand is to the head, the more control and power you will have. Since you are not allowed to put your hand on the plastic, heads with shorter throats give you an advantage.
Breaking in Your Faceoff Head
It’s very important to “break in” your faceoff head before you use it in a live game. By breaking in your head, I mean making it more flexible in the ways that you regularly clamp/flex your head over the ball.
Even the most flexible heads are somewhat stiff when you first start using them. Depending on the head, it may take anywhere from 50 to 500 faceoff reps before your head starts flexing in the way you prefer easily.
It’s important to break in your faceoff head before you start using it in games so you are used to the way it performs and are confident that it will bend the way you want it to.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common ways to break in faceoff heads and which are a good idea:
1) Boil Your Head – Not Recommended (Usually)
If you ever dyed a lacrosse head in boiling water, you probably noticed that is was more flexible after.
This can be a decent strategy for very stiff heads that you want to faceoff with, but for any of the heads listed above, I don’t recommend it mainly because it’s not necessary.
Overtime you’ll head will break in and boiling it may just compromise the plastic making it less durable.
2) Bake Your Head – Not Recommended
Similar to boiling your head, exposing your head to extreme heat through baking it will also soften the plastic.
For the same reasons listed above, I don’t recommend baking any of the heads mentioned on this page to make it more flexbile.
If you really want to soften a head without doing it the natural way (see below), I recommend boiling it over baking it.
3) Just Faceoff With It – Recommended
My preferred way of breaking in faceoff heads is to simply take a bunch of faceoffs with it.
All heads will naturally soften up somewhat over time and that tends to be especially true for faceoff-specific heads since they are designed to flex over the ball. You’d be surprised how much your head breaks in with even just 50 to 100 reps.
A Note About Warping
As your head breaks in, it will likely warp a bit. In most cases, this isn’t a bad thing (up to a point).
As you flex your head over and over in the same way, the plastic will start to bend in that direction naturally. The benefit of this is that you’ll have to flex your head less to pinch the ball.
Think of it this way: if your top sidewall is 2 centimeters over the ball when it is brand new, that’s 2 centimeters that you either have to clamp down over the ball or flex down to pinch it. If your head warps so it is only 1 centimeter over the ball, though, it requires less movement on your part, increasing the chances that you’ll win the clamp/pinch.
Warping gets bad when your head is either hard to pass and catch with or when it becomes illegal. In these cases, you should try bending the head back towards its original position as much as possible, use a softball or other object to keep the throat wide enough or purchase a new head.
Keeping Your Faceoff Head Legal
Over time as your head warps, you may have to use tools to keep it wide enough to be legal or so the ball pops out of the back easily.
When I play, I often grab a baseball or softball and put it in the throat of my head every time I come off the field. It works pretty well for me and it isn't too hard to get used to the head’s width changing throughout the game.
Here are some popular objects that you can use to keep your head in the ideal shape:
- Baseball
- Softball
- Hockey puck
- Block of wood
More recently, ECD and Warrior have developed products to keep your faceoff head legal. ECD’s comes with the Weapon X and is simply a rounded block that slides into your throat. Warrior offers the Wedge (see image below) that slides into your throat. You can buy the Warrior Wedge separately for just $19.99.
You may also want to make a habit of bending your head back towards the center after faceoffs. If you regularly pinch and pop, your head will start bending to the left when looking at the face of it. Whenever I play, as soon as the ball leaves my stick after a faceoff, I instantly push the left side of my head towards the center so it is straight and ready to go for offense.
Resources for Learning About Facing Off
If you are interested in learning more about faceoff heads and techniques, here are a few of my favorite resources that you may want to check out:
- Green Knuckles Lacrosse YouTube Channel
- Greg Gurenlian YouTube Channel
- 10 Minutes of Faceoff Whistles – YouTube (for practicing)
Products to Consider Alongside Your Faceoff Head
If you’ve found your next faceoff head, you may be interested in some other products that can help take your game to the next level. Here are some of my favorites:
- Faceoff-specific shafts: Faceoff heads aren’t the only lacrosse equipment designed specifically for faceoffs. Some companies have also started offering faceoff-specific shafts such as the StringKing Composite Pro Faceoff Shaft. Check out our best faceoff shafts guide to see our top picks.
- Faceoff mesh: A few companies have also started offering mesh specifically designed for faceoffs. This mesh is softer, lighter, and usually has other features to help you win at the X.
- Full stringing kits: StringKing Type 4f Kit or ECD Hero 2.0 Semi-Soft Kit
- Mesh only: StringKing Type 4f Mesh or ECD Hero 2.0 Faceoff Mesh
- Warrior Wedge: As explained above, this is a tool that you can put in your head when you’re not playing to ensure that it stays legal. You can purchase it on lax.com.
- Tape: I always tape up the top quarter or so of my shafts to give myself a better grip for faceoffs. Most athletic tape will do the job but I recommend this MLL tape that’s designed specifically for lacrosse.
How We Rate Faceoff Lacrosse Heads
We take our ratings seriously and only recommend products that we would use ourselves. As a faceoff man myself, I know how difficult can be to judge faceoff heads based on manufacturer descriptions alone.
To come up with our ratings for each faceoff head on this page, we tested the products ourselves, reviewed product specifications (weight, number of stringing holes, etc.), and read customer reviews/talk to lacrosse players we knew that use the product.
When testing heads, we conducted at least 500 draws with each head in order to better understand how they break in, warp over time, and generally perform at the X.
If you ever have any feedback for any of the products listed on this page or have a recommended addition, please contact us and let us know!
Tying It Up
I hope this guide helped you find a new faceoff head. If you have any questions or want to share your experience with a faceoff head, feel free to comment below or contact me.
Interested in seeing our other top picks for lacrosse heads and shafts? Check out our guide to the best lacrosse heads, best attack/midfield shafts, and best faceoff shafts.
Photo source: Flickr
I just got the Weapon X because I’m a FOSO. I’m looking for a shaft to go with it, the ECD alloy shaft is out of stock. I read alloy is the best for FOGO/FOSO, but what do you think? Also, what shaft do you use, I’m not sure if this head fits all shafts.
Hi Alex,
Sorry for the late reply. The Weapon X should fit any metal shaft. You can see my top suggestions here: https://laxdrip.com/shafts/best-lacrosse-shafts-attack-middie/
Just be sure to choose a metal shaft or a hollow carbon shaft.
Thanks, Dave! This is a great article. Really informative and well written!
My 12-yr old son is just learning the science of faceoffs so we are new to all of this. He currently is staying on after faceoffs with his club team. He keeps telling me that his current head (Warrior Burn FO) is making it challenging because it is warping a fair amount (even w/the wedge) and he can’t pass/shoot well. Do you think it makes sense for us to buy the ECD Weapon X and give it a try given your review?
Hi Todd,
Thanks for the comment and the kind words!
I think the Weapon X is a great option. I’ve used it for over a year now and it’s held up well for playing offense and defense on top of facing off.
I know a lot of faceoff guys that use the StringKing Mark 2F for both facing off and playing the field as well.
I think either of those options would work well for your son!
Brilliantly written! My 2f stiff died on me (after 2 seasons). Im a 2way mid (Foso) playing with the weapon X as my backup. Was browsing the web looking if I would need to consider the new Duel 3. Back in the days I fell in love with the scoop of Stringking (I’m a 68kg lightweight, but pretty fast, so against heavier opponents i would benefit from a 50/50 gb). Now that stx’ speedscoop is the duel3… that drew my attention. Because of the stiffness rating I will continue with the 2f Stiff as I anticipate it will probably keyhole less than the Duel 3 (!time will tell).
Recognise a lot of the points you mention, having tried all of these aside for Ceo2 (not a face flexer) and the Duel3.
Thanks for the comment Lieven! I still haven’t been able to extensively test the Duel 3 yet but I suspect it’s going to be a fan favorite pretty quickly. The Speed Scoop is definitely a huge improvement and should make it competitive with the 2F’s scoop.