Nike CEO 2 Lacrosse Head Review
A stiffer, short-throated faceoff head with a wide face and a steep scoop. Here's how the CEO 2 handled clamps, ground balls and shooting after more than a year of use.
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Faceoff guys have been raving about the Nike CEO 2, praising its design for better faceoffs and ground ball control. With a shorter throat, a wider face and a steeper scoop, it definitely looks the part. But does it perform on the field?
To find out, I put the CEO 2 through an extensive test on the field. My review covers its strengths and weaknesses, from ground ball pickups to clamps to how effective it is overall.
BattleLax pick: BattleLax doesn't carry Nike heads. The closest match they stock is the Gait Faceoff Stiff Head ($119.99), a stiff, durable faceoff head. If you want more flex, go with the Gait Faceoff Flex ($119.99). I've listed more alternatives at BattleLax below.
Key Features and Specifications
Here's a quick look at the specs before we get into the field test.
- Position
- Faceoff / middie
- Level
- Intermediate to advanced
- Weight
- About 5 oz
- Sidewall holes
- About 17 per side, 8 on top
- Mid to high
- Successor
- Nike CEO 3
- Built with
- Short throat
- Wide face
- Steep, angled scoop
- Stiffer plastic
Pros & Cons
- Good for faceoffs and middies
- Accurate mid- to short-range shooting
- Plenty of sidewall holes for a custom pocket
- Angled scoop for easy ground balls
- Strong, durable plastic
- Good value for money
- Takes skill to use
- Not built for long-range shooting
- Less flexible
Nike CEO 2 Lacrosse Head Ranking
I rate the Nike CEO 2 a 7.8/10 on the Drip Meter.
Who's This Head Made For?
I've had the Nike CEO 2 for over a year and put it through a lot of testing, so it's time I reviewed it. Since it came out, the CEO 2 has become one of the go-to heads in the men's faceoff market.
As an OG CEO user, I noticed a slight shift in the design. Nike listened to players and made the head more durable and stiffer. It has harder plastic and a shorter throat to dominate at the X. It lost some flex in the process, though, and you know that can affect your game.
The Nike CEO series.
So my Nike CEO 2 review focuses on the trade-off between stiffness and flex, and how that stiffness affects faceoff specialists.
Read more: Best Nike lacrosse heads
Accuracy of Shot and Pass
It has a shorter throat with around 17 stringing holes on each sidewall and 8 across the top. With traditional stringing, that makes a mid to high pocket that's tight enough for controlled shots. It gave me a good balance between shooting and ground ball pickups.
At the X, you want your hands and wrists lined up straight back, not angled (here's the USA Lacrosse boys' youth rulebook on faceoff positioning). The CEO 2's angled throat pushed my elbow into an awkward position when I was driving the ball, and over time that hurt my throwing accuracy. It was an easy fix, though.
It was also harder to hit my backdoor exits because I had to rotate too much, which made it tough to get away from the guy across from me. I couldn't really figure out the engineering behind that.
My mechanics improved after the break-in period, which wasn't too long. If you already know the CEO design, it won't bother you much.
The CEO 2 strung up.
The face is wide enough that it never got in the way of quick passes. The shorter throat let me keep my hands close, which helped me pick up ground balls cleanly. It gave me an edge on close-range shots, but it wasn't the fastest from range.
If you're a middie who likes quick passes and long-range shots, the Nike Vapor Pro, Maverik Optik 2.0 or STX Stallion 75 could be good trade-offs. At BattleLax, the Maverik Optik Force ($109.99) is the newest head in the Optik line.
Catching and Cradling
Along with the shorter throat, I liked the CEO 2's wider scoop. It's great for catching hard passes, especially the tricky ones with spin, and winning draws got a lot easier.
The wider face I mentioned gave me a bigger area to catch and snag loose balls in traffic. It did frustrate me now and then, though, because the ball bounced or got away from me on small mistakes.
So I had to focus more on my technique when cradling. It wasn't just me, either. Other players said the same thing about the CEO 2, though some experienced players had no issues at all.
Read more: Best faceoff heads
The CEO 2 is one of the best faceoff heads out there with its strong clamp and flex, but there are some trade-offs. If you prefer flex with vertical cradling, try the StringKing Mark 2A. Its successor, the StringKing Mark 3A ($119.99), is at BattleLax.
Checking
The scoop is angled, and it performed exceptionally well for checking loose balls. It's also a bit steeper, so I didn't have to get as low to scoop.
The CEO 2's throat and sidewall.
The wider face gave me more surface area to make strong contact with my opponent's head on the clamp. Getting a tight channel was a bit of a challenge with the mid pocket.
To fix that, I strung the mesh on the inside of the pocket and looped the sidewalls for extra grip. That gave me better ball control while keeping my pocket legal.
The newer plastic makes the CEO 2's sidewalls stiffer than the original's, and they were great for throwing strong checks and knocking the ball loose. Even with the stiffness, it stays light at about 5 ounces.
The strong plastic makes it less flexible, but I liked the extra durability and how little I felt checks. I also noticed it bends slightly on off-axis contact, and it never got full face flex, even after the break-in.
Ground Pick-Up and Face-Off
The CEO 2's scoop isn't as pointed at the top as the original CEO's, and it's slightly rounded on the back. That helped me get under the ball quickly and come up with clean ground balls. It does warp more easily, though, so it needs an occasional adjustment to hold its shape.
The CEO 2's scoop.
The CEO 2 is built specifically for faceoffs. It helps you clamp the ball tight at the X, but it makes the pocket a little wider than ideal for pure ground ball pickups. I strung it tighter for a deeper pocket with more grip.
All in all, it's a durable faceoff head. The sidewalls were strong, and there was very little wear and tear after a full season. It's stiff, but the flex improved after the break-in period.
Coach's note: I've coached faceoff guys from Ontario box to upstate New York and Virginia Beach, and the ones who win the most draws know their head inside and out. Whatever head you pick, string it for the X first, take your reps every day, and don't switch heads mid-season chasing a fix your hands can make.
Alternatives at BattleLax
BattleLax doesn't carry Nike heads, but these are the closest faceoff and middie heads they stock right now.
| Gear | Why it's here | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Gait Faceoff Stiff Head | Stiff, durable faceoff head, closest to the CEO 2's feel | $119.99 |
| Gait Faceoff Flex Head | More flex for pinch-and-pop FOGOs | $119.99 |
| StringKing Mark 2F Unstrung Head | Popular faceoff head with a flexible build | $99.99 |
| Warrior Burn FO Head | Budget-friendly faceoff head | $89.99 |
| StringKing Mark 3A Unstrung Head | Successor to the Mark 2A I mention below | $119.99 |
| Maverik Optik Force Unstrung Head | Follow-up to the Optik line for middies who shoot from range | $109.99 |
Shop the Gait Faceoff Stiff at Battle Lax
People also ask
Is the Nike CEO 2 a faceoff head?
Yes. The Nike CEO 2 is a faceoff head from the CEO series. It followed the huge success of the original CEO, and Nike's newest faceoff head, the CEO 3, came out for the 2023 season.
What makes the Nike CEO 2 ideal for faceoff specialists?
A shorter throat, a wider face and a steeper scoop give you more control at the X and quicker ground ball pickups.
How does the Nike CEO 2 perform on ground balls?
Very well. The angled scoop lets you get under the ball quickly and come up with it clean, though the scoop can warp and need an occasional adjustment.
What are the pros and cons of the Nike CEO 2 lacrosse head?
The pros are strong faceoff performance, accurate mid-range shots, plenty of stringing holes and durable plastic. The cons are that it takes skill to use, isn't built for long-range shooting and isn't very flexible.
Is the Nike CEO 2 suitable for all levels of play?
Players at any level can use it, but it rewards good technique, so it's best for intermediate and advanced faceoff guys. It was built to NCAA and NFHS specs, but check your league's current rulebook, since head rules change from time to time.
How durable is the Nike CEO 2 lacrosse head?
Very durable. The strong plastic showed minimal wear and tear even after a full season.
Final Verdict
Overall, I liked the Nike CEO 2 at the faceoff position. The shorter, narrower throat lets you keep your hands close at the X for more control, though it can limit your shooting power. The sturdy, angled design makes it great for strong checks and easy ground balls off the draw.
If you still want an alternative, check out the Nike Vapor Pro, Maverik Optik 2.0, STX Stallion 900 or StringKing Mark 2A. Want Nike's latest? Read my Nike CEO 3 review.
