The most frequent questions we hear from our customers are “What is the best head?” and “What head should I buy?” “What stick should I get for my son or daughter?” We are here to offer assistance for anyone out there looking to purchase that “perfect” gift for the lacrosse player in their life.
Of course when holiday shopping some of the biggest factors affecting your decision is price. Every player out there likes something a little different but we are going to inform you on the best options available this upcoming holiday season. These rules of thumb will help you weigh different aspects that come into consideration when selecting a new lacrosse stick. Before we dive into the selection criteria, we would like to explain that there might be subsequent letters and/or numbers given in the head model’s name that denote what level of play is intended for the product.
Attackmen
Players of the same positions tend to prefer the same features when selecting a head. Attackmen tend to be the most picky and lean toward the tightest pinched heads to offer the most ball protection for cradling one handed. They also value lightweight heads to be able to quickly avoid checks by defensemen and offer more of a feel of the ball when seated in the pocket. Popular choices for these players include:
Midfielders tend to use heads falling in between the characteristics of predominantly offensive or defensive products. A head with a moderate pinch and a stiffer construction are favored due to enduring more abusive play than would be encountered at the attackman position. Popular choices for these players include all heads listed above in the attackman section, plus:
Defensively, wider heads dominate because the position is extremely reactionary, where wider heads allow passes or shots to be picked off and knocked down easier. A wider head also helps make quick ground ball pickups smoother. Stiffness is also an important factor for defensemen because stiffer heads transfer more of a check’s energy to the opposition, offering the greatest opportunity to dislodge the ball, or leave a nice welt. Popular choices for these players include:
Goalies are the last line of defense and stand between every goal scored. They use the widest and strongest head in the game. Stiffness is extremely important when choosing a goalie stick as they must withstand high velocity shots as well as be wide enough to get in between the ball and the goal net.
In 2009, Adam O’Neill, Harry Alford and Thomas Alford launched Lacrosse Playground as the preeminent site for lacrosse gearheads. For years Lacrosse Playground provided lacrosse fans with tutorials and tips on how to string a lacrosse head, up-close looks at the gear the top players used and sneak peeks at equipment and uniforms before they were released. More than 10 years and millions of visits later, Lacrosse Playground has relaunched with a focus on storytelling. Our mission is to provide comprehensive coverage of the latest lacrosse news, share insights into the sports betting and fantasy lacrosse world and showcase the lifestyles and personalities of the sport of lacrosse through articles, videos and podcasts.
Oliver Marti: Starting an NLL Team in Albany and Investing in the PLL and Epoch Lacrosse (Pro Lacrosse Talk Podcast #130)
byPro Lacrosse Talk
On this episode of the Pro Lacrosse Talk Podcast, Hutton Jackson and Adam Moore are joined by three-time All-American at Brown University, investor in the PLL, and the newest NLL owner Oliver Marti. He discusses moving the New England Black Wolves franchise to Albany, New York, why the city of Albany was chosen and share his thoughts on the team’s potential new identity. He also discusses his time playing for Dom Starsia at Brown University, playing for the New York Saints in the MILL, starting the Connecticut Box Lacrosse League, investing in the Premier Lacrosse League and equipment manufacturer Epoch Lacrosse, and his opinion on the current state of pro lacrosse.
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Pro Lacrosse Talk is the flagship lacrosse podcast of the Lacrosse Playground network covering all three professional lacrosse leagues (NLL, PLL, Athletes Unlimited). Each week throughout the season we’ll recap the games, provide analysis on the teams and feature exclusive postgame and off-the-field interviews with professional lacrosse players, coaches and executives. If you’re a fan of lacrosse podcasts like the Unbuckled Chinstrap, The Inside Feed, Lacrosse Classified or The Crease Dive, then give us a listen.