ECD Weapon X Lacrosse Head Review
A faceoff head that wins at the X and still plays offense: tight face, full offset, a great scoop and warp resistance most FO heads can't touch.
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Overview
A high-level faceoff head designed for dominance at the X and on the offensive side of the field.
When I was deciding which faceoff head to buy a few months ago, I went with the ECD Weapon X, and I couldn't be happier with my decision. It's marketed as a faceoff head, but it performs well all over the field.
It has all the great features of a typical offensive head: a tight face shape, full offset, an amazing scoop and plenty of sidewall holes so you can string your pocket however you like.
From a faceoff perspective, the Weapon X holds its shape extremely well, and you can flex it in a variety of ways, which makes it a great option for every style of facing off. Its asymmetric sidewalls let it flex easily without losing strength or durability.
This ECD Weapon X review covers everything you need to know about this elite head so you can decide if it's the right choice for you.
Coach's note: I've watched a lot of FOGOs come through, from upstate New York to Virginia Beach to the Ontario box rinks, and the ones who stick around are the ones who can win the clamp and then do something with the ball. A head that wins the draw but turns into a potato chip by the third quarter doesn't help anybody. That's why the Weapon X earned its spot on so many faceoff guys' racks.
Shop the ECD Weapon X 2.0 at Battle Lax ($99.99)
Key Details
- Brand
- ECD Lacrosse
- Position
- Faceoff
- Level
- Intermediate to advanced
- Legality
- All levels of play
- Offset
- Full
- Weight
- About 5.6 oz
- Cost
- $$ ($99.99 for the 2.0)
- Released
- 2019
- Colors
- White
- Black
- Natural
See it live GKL+ on YouTube
Shape
The Weapon X has a fairly tight face shape and a full offset.
The bottom half of the head is about as pinched as it can legally be, hovering just over the 3-inch requirement. From there it flares out sharply until it gets close to the scoop, where it measures around 6.5 inches.
The narrow face and full offset are also what make this a great head for offense. The narrow face makes it easy to string a consistent pocket with good hold, which pays off when you're carrying the ball, dodging and shooting.
If you're used to offset heads, the Weapon X should feel natural. A lot of other faceoff heads have no offset, or a small one that can feel funky if you're used to offset heads.
Scoop
The scoop might be my favorite part of the ECD Weapon X. It sucks up ground balls from all kinds of angles with ease.
It's slightly rounded and sits at an angle of around 45 degrees, so you can pick up ground balls without getting the butt end of your stick close to the ground.
I have no trouble scooping balls even when my head is close to perpendicular to the ground, or when the ball isn't centered on the scoop.
Throat
Like a lot of faceoff-specific heads, the Weapon X has a throat plug to add durability and cut down on head wobble. The plug should fit all standard shafts except solid carbon fiber shafts.
The throat is also shorter than a standard throat, so you can get your top hand closer to the ball. That gives you more power and control, and it's a big advantage over players using standard-length throats. Pair it with a dedicated faceoff shaft like the StringKing Composite 3 Pro Faceoff Shaft ($159.99).
Stringing Holes
The ECD Weapon X has plenty of stringing holes, so you can customize your pocket however you like. In total there are 6 top string holes, 15 sidewall holes per side and 4 bottom string holes.
Most of the sidewall holes are large ovals. The top 3 sidewall holes on each side are more rectangular, so you can wrap the string around them a few times if you want. Need mesh? The ECD Hero 4.0 Complete Kit ($34.99) has everything you need.
Flexibility, Flex Type & Warp Resistance
What makes the ECD Weapon X one of the best faceoff heads available is how many ways it flexes and its unmatched warp resistance, two things that usually work against each other. A lot of that comes from the asymmetrical sidewall design, which lets it flex where needed while keeping its rigidity and strength.
Out of the box, it's actually pretty stiff compared to heads like the Brine Dictator. Once you start facing off with it, it breaks in nicely and gets more flexible.
Once it's broken in, it flexes almost any way you need. It does a great job of collapsing down on the ball, letting you pinch the ball in the back of the stick so you can push it forward or exit behind easily. Most heads mainly face flex or oblique flex. The Weapon X can do both.
A lot of faceoff heads that are great at collapsing on the ball have one major issue: durability. They warp easily, which makes them hard to use on offense. The Nike CEO is a great example. It's arguably one of the best faceoff heads ever made, but it can warp so badly that it's useless for the rest of the field.
The Weapon X has amazing warp resistance. It snaps back into place after every faceoff. After using mine for 3 months (as of first writing this), there's barely any warping.
Shop the ECD Weapon X 2.0 at Battle Lax ($99.99)
Who is the ECD Weapon X best suited for?
If you take faceoffs, the ECD Weapon X is a great choice, whether you're a FOGO or you stay on the field for offense.
Its warp resistance and the way it clamps down on the ball make it competitive with any faceoff head for pure facing off. Its great scoop, tight face and full offset make it more than capable on the offensive end.
If you need a faceoff head for a game tomorrow, though, the Weapon X may not be the best option right out of the box, since it takes a while to break in. Ideally, you'll have time to take practice draws, break it in and get used to the feel.
See it live GKL+ on YouTube
Pros & Cons of the ECD Weapon X
Here are the best parts and biggest drawbacks of the ECD Weapon X to weigh before you buy.
- Great for offense: The full offset and tight face make it a real offensive head.
- Great warp resistance: Compared to most faceoff-specific heads, it holds its shape much better and always snaps back into place.
- Flexes in multiple ways: Once broken in, it flexes on the ball almost any way. It grabs the ball really well, which makes it great for pinch and pops.
- Throat built for faceoffs: The short throat gets your glove closer to the head, and the throat plug adds strength and stops rattling.
- Lots of stringing holes: Plenty of nicely sized holes to customize your pocket.
- Amazing scoop: The angle and shape make ground balls easy from all kinds of angles without getting super low.
- Heavier than some alternatives: At about 5.6 oz, it's noticeably heavier than options like the StringKing Mark 2F.
- Takes time to break in: This isn't a head you'll want to take game faceoffs with the day you get it.
Check the Weapon X 2.0 price at Battle Lax
My ECD Weapon X
Here are some pics of my personal Weapon X.
Keep in mind I've used it for around 3 months at this point. I haven't taken a ton of faceoffs with it, but definitely 100+. That gives you a good idea of how little it warps.
I'll try to update this page so you can see how the warping changes over time.
Shop the Weapon X and faceoff gear at BattleLax
BattleLax carries the newer Weapon X 2.0 plus the other faceoff heads worth a look if you want to compare. See our full best faceoff heads list too.
| Gear | Why it's here | Price |
|---|---|---|
| ECD Weapon X 2.0 Unstrung Head | The current Weapon X | $99.99 |
| Maverik Logik Force Head | Stiff, durable FO head | $109.99 |
| Gait Faceoff Flex Head | Flexy FO head | $119.99 |
| Warrior Burn FO Head | Budget FO head | $89.99 |
| ECD Hero 4.0 Complete Kit | Mesh and strings | $34.99 |
| StringKing Composite 3 Pro Faceoff Shaft | Faceoff shaft | $159.99 |
Shop the ECD Weapon X 2.0 at Battle Lax ($99.99)
People also ask
Is the ECD Weapon X a faceoff head?
Yes. It's built for the X, with a short throat, a throat plug and asymmetric sidewalls, but its full offset and tight face make it good on offense too.
Is the ECD Weapon X good for offense?
Yes. The tight face, full offset and great scoop make it one of the few faceoff heads you can stay on the field with.
Does the ECD Weapon X warp?
Very little. It snaps back into place after draws, which is its biggest edge over flexy heads like the Nike CEO.
How long does the Weapon X take to break in?
It's stiff out of the box. Plan on a stretch of practice draws before you use it in a game.
Where can I buy the ECD Weapon X?
BattleLax carries the newer ECD Weapon X 2.0 for $99.99.
Final word
If you take draws, the ECD Weapon X is a great pick. It flexes on the ball like a dedicated FO head, snaps back like nothing happened and still plays like an offensive head once you win it. Give it some time to break in, then go win the X.
