It’s not easy, but I’ve embarked on explaining my top-25 lacrosse heads of all time.
How many years have you played lacrosse?
How many different heads have you used?
How many have you loved, and how many have you hated?
Over the years of playing, I have compiled my personal list of the top-25 lacrosse heads. Some of these are new, and some not so much. All are totally opinion based from both using these heads in games or stringing them up for friends and teammates. I should also add that these are in no particular order as I would have too many close ties. I hope you’ll find a few on here that maybe you too have liked or used in the past. Maybe you’ll even see your all-time favorite on this list.
Now to present my top-25 lacrosse head list…
Tucker La Belle’s Top 25 Lacrosse Heads
25: STX Proton U
Quite possibly the most-underrated head on this entire list. If you ever owned one of these, you know why it made it in here. A work horse of a head that had no flashy elements yet could be used by almost any position, if strung correctly.
24: Maverik Tank
Let’s just say it wasn’t called the Tank for no reason. Maverik’s prime defensive offering for a long time brought durability and strength to a well-designed defensive head.
23: Epoch Hawk
The original head from Epoch that introduced a different sidewall design and face shape compared to many other lacrosse heads of the time. This one gets on the list for innovation and development.
22: Warrior Rabil 2X
The only player signature head I will likely ever mention in a favorite list of any kind. This head was just a classic for many players during the big era of Rabil being with Warrior. I can remember a lot of players in high school using these heads and particularly liking the weight and design elements. It says something if Rabil continued using this head after separating from Warrior. Again, just a well-built head.
21: Maverik Centrik U
To me, he Centrik U was one of the best Maverik lacrosse heads to be released. I found this head to be very durable and had just enough stringing holes to have some options. I appreciate that this head was simple yet well built without adding too many fancy design elements.
20: ECD Rebel Offense
I personally haven’t used one of these, but I have strung a few with complete ease. I love having a company that appreciates stringing jump into the head game and think about how a head will string up.
19: STX Surgeon 10 500
The update that was needed to the Surgeon, from lighter weight to different material. This version of the Surgeon brought the head into the modern era with sharper design elements and better stringing options.
18: STX X10
Simply put, the STX 10 was a very solidly-built head. I’ve seen it on the offensive head pinched in the box game, and I’ve seen poles using it in the field game. Versatile, well built, and an all-time classic without question.
17: Nike Lakota 2
My personal favorite updated version of the Nike Lakota. The Lakota 2 brought an X-spec legal-face shape and a bulked-up throat. While the bulked up throat may seem like just a minor update I found it to add quite a bit of stability to the head.
16: Warrior Evo 5
The GOAT? Pretty close, in my opinion. A close tie between the Evo 5 and Evo 4 for me, but I loved the development and thought put into the Evo 5. The addition of a bit narrower face shape and longer throat made the Evo 5 quite the offensive weapon. I will also add the throat jewel was very clean with what looks to be injection-molded plastic.
15: True Temper HZDRUS
One of the newer lacrosse heads on this list but what I believe will become a classic over the years. A face shape that seems to be a hybrid of an Under Armour Command and one of my favorites, the Evo 5. If you’re a stringer who likes options for creativity, this may just be the head for you.
14: Stringking Mark 1
This head was the big bid into the lacrosse head game by the mesh giant StringKing. I personally found this head to be particularly good for the box game as it had a more narrow face shape that could easily take a good box pinch. Since the original Mark 1, there have been newer versions released that get better and better each time.
13: Warrior OG Blade
Very little need to describe why this is on the list. It’s a classic and true gem in the history of lacrosse heads. The OG Blade was a weapon of choice for so many FOGOs for so long. It was re-released under a new version several years back but still not the same as the original coveted OG Blade.
12: STX Stallion
Ah yes, the good ol’ STX Stallion. This head was and still is one of my favorites. From the original version and its different-textured areas to the way it took a nice mid-pocket, this head was sick. Much like the other heads, the Stallion lives on through many updated versions. Most notable of the newer versions in my mind was the Stallion U 550, which complied with newer spec rules and also took a mid-pocket very well.
11: Under Armour Command X
Now this was a head you either loved or hated. I personally had a special affection for this head as it was durable, easy to string, and dyed quite well, in my experience. This updated version of the Command was also a major improvement on the original, which featured a much more matte finish plastic and had some warping/pinching issues over time.
10: Nike Lakota
The original Lakota was a major bid in the lacrosse game for Nike. It came in several colors, including a volt (neon yellow) colorway that players seemed to particularly like. While it had its durability issues over time, it was still a major head at the time. The updates made to newer versions have even further cemented the Lakota series in the lacrosse world.
9: STX Surgeon
As we know now, there are many many versions of the STX Surgeon that have been released over the years. From the X6 spec to the Surgeon 900, Surgeon heads have always been an lacrosse attackman’s dream. The original Surgeon had a very sharp and aggressive face shape that featured a heavier smooth plastic build. It was a tight face shape that flared up at the top, allowing for a lot of ball control before the X-spec heads kicked in. It was especially lethal with two U shooters and a nylon.
8: STX Super Power
I can’t lie to you: the first time I saw a Super Power, I thought it was the strangest-looking head I had ever seen. It had a strange futuristic look to it with a very short throat and limited stringing holes. Despite these unusual design attributes, it became a quick classic for many players at the time. While it had its stringing challenges, it was a very trustworthy head.
7: Maverik Optik U
Maverik has always been known to make quality heads and gear, but one head that I feel gets often overlooked is the Optik U. This head wasn’t flashy or over designed, but it did the job and then some. For a lot of players I know, it was their first U spec head they used. I personally appreciated the face shape and large top string holes for triangle top strings.
6: STX Hammer
The weapon of choice for so many defenders. A head that allowed for monster checks and easy ground ball battles. When I think of defensive lacrosse heads to include on this list, the Hammer belongs in the top 25 with no questions asked. Like many heads, it has been updated since it’s original release for added durability and less warping; however, the original Hammer is one still used by many players I come across.
5: Brine Clutch X
Easily the best head Brine has ever produced in my mind. I should also note that if I left this head off the list, I have several friends who would immediately remind me I forgot about their favorite head. All jokes aside, the Brine Clutch X held up to the test of time. I can recall seeing these heads used from my early days of playing all the way up to the last several weeks at IBLA Nationals. A truly timeless head. I will also add that the Clutch X carved out a solid section in the game when the college spec heads kicked in as well.
4: Warrior Evo 4x
While I loved the whole Warrior Evolution series, the 4x has a special place in my heart. This was the ideal head for an attackman for quite a bit of time. It made picking off passes a dream, with a wider X-spec face shape but still had the durability to hold up to major checks. This was also the dream head for a mid/low pocket that allowed for great one-handed cradling.
3: Warrior Noz X
This is a personal classic to me. Back in early high school, my brother and I traded one of these back and forth at least five times. The Noz X is one of those heads every lacrosse gear head has had in their collection at some point or another, so it has to be in the top 25. From the hollowed out sections of this head to cut down weight to the boxy face shape that took U shooters so well, this head was incredible.
2: Nike CEO
Best name for a lacrosse head award winner? Possibly. The CEO was the coveted gem of faceoff guys and midfielders for such a long time. I can remember players in high school trading three or four heads just to get their hands on one CEO. This head brought a new aggressive face shape to the game that many players loved. I still see many original CEOs floating around.
1: Gait Torq
A true classic that belongs on anyone’s top lacrosse heads list. The original Gait Torq dominated the box and field game with its unusual but loveable design. From the amount of sidewall holes to the bulked up throat, this is a head for the history books.
