Cheap Lacrosse Heads

How to Choose a Cheap Lacrosse Head

Each passing year brings another wave of cheap head options discounted or put on clearance to make way for that season’s new crop of product. This floods the market with so many options, which is a very good problem to have.

It’s important that you are equipped with the tools needed to navigate this flood to find a head that is not only affordable but meets the needs of your play and position. Here are some things to consider when choosing a head that works best for you.

Your Position

This is the biggest key to this whole equation because it will inform every other category we go over. Different positions require or value specific elements to a lacrosse head that you should consider before clicking buy.

Specific aspects in a head will be highlighted as being preferable for attack, middie, defense, or goalie as we rundown your subsequent considerations before purchasing.

Shape

The shape is no doubt the first thing you will notice when combing through thumbnail after thumbnail of head options—it’s the literal structure of the head from top to bottom.

As a rule of thumb, attacking players and those left to carry the ball for prolonged periods value more of a pinch to their head shape. This promotes ball retention which comes at a premium for offensive players.

Defensive players prefer wider heads that give them more surface area for laying checks and intercepting/deflecting passes.

Weight

Weight is a huge indicator of a head’s purpose on the field. Attack-oriented players put more stock into lighter-weight heads that allow them to move their stick quickly and efficiently without the added heft.

Most elite-level attackmen like to stick with a head at, if not under, five ounces.

Conversely, heavier sticks lean more in the direction of defense because added weight usually equates to better durability and increased stiffness. Why is this important to a D pole? Well, the added amount of checks and ground balls put an emphasis on the need for a sturdy, stiff head that will remain rigid even under constant usage.

Durability

Durability works hand-in-hand with flexibility and stiffness. Your valuation of these two aspects comes down to your position.

As covered underweight, a heavier head will provide extra stiffness which normally equates to longer durability for its use. This is a must for consideration for long poles as constant checks can eventually warp a head to make it pretty much inoperable if it does not have the durable stiffness the position requires.

As attack-oriented players spend less time checking, added flexibility is not a bad thing—it can help cushion the force of hard passes and plunging a ground ball in tight quarters. But this will come at the expense of prolonged usage.

In the end, attackmen have to come to terms with the fact that being the poster boy for ripping net may come at an actual price as it relates to the number of heads you will have to purchase over the course of your career.

Stringing Holes

Two factors to keep in mind when looking at stringing holes are the amount and width. The amount is important in providing options when it comes to customizing your pocket shape and position. For those who like to string their sticks personally, more is definitely better.

Hole width is equally important if you’re one of those double-wrappers that likes extra torque on the sidewall strings. A head like the Brine King 2 provides a bit more clearance space to put some extra sidewall security in your pocket.

Scoop

It seems like every head nowadays has some specially designed angulation or system that promotes ground ball retention along the scoop. This puts more of an emphasis on the minuscule details of a scoop to stand out from the pack.

One of the primary elements worth considering is the shape of the scoop. Rounded scoops make picking up ground balls more easily, especially when approaching the ball at angles other than straight on.

This last part—stiffness—is extra pertinent to you long poles out there. Added rigidity to the scoop will make those poke checks sting just a bit more and provide the extra durability the position requires.

Throat Plug

This honestly feels like a newer element worth considering when buying a head—a lock or plug that extends from/within the throat of your head that is a stabilizing element to cut down on the dreaded head rattle and promote control and feedback.

Head rattle used to be an issue that was solved with extra tape but companies are finally taking action in combating it. The throat plug is a great addition to consider if you want that extra bit of sturdiness and dependability in your spoon.

However, prioritizing a head that comes with a lock/plug may lead to a further costly overhaul of your spoon if you are not careful—locks/plugs are not one-size-fits-all. Make sure you do your research and verify the compatibility of your new head with the shaft that you plan on using it with.

Most often, throat plugs don’t work with solid carbon fiber shafts. Instead, look for a metal shaft or hollow carbon fiber shaft if you want to use a throat plug.

Customer Reviews

Last but not least, always consider the customer reviews and player feedback available for a product before clicking to buy. Luckily for you, the clearance lacrosse head market usually consists of many older products, so there tends to be quite a bit of feedback for these options.

Still, be sure to do your own research and look into every available feedback forum because a head is an investment not to take lightly.

And as always, be sure to pay it forward—leave your own feedback for purchased gear, and don’t be afraid to amend it as you use it more and more.