Which lacrosse defensive head offers the best performance. How do top brands compare in durability and design. What features should players look for in a defensive head. Discover the ultimate guide to choosing the perfect defensive lacrosse head for your game.
The Evolution of Defensive Lacrosse Heads: A Game-Changer for Players
Defensive lacrosse heads have come a long way in recent years, revolutionizing the way defenders approach the game. With advancements in materials, design, and technology, today’s defensive heads offer unparalleled performance, durability, and versatility. Let’s explore the top contenders in the market and what makes them stand out.
Maverik Havok: The Ultimate Weapon for Tactical Defenders
The Maverik Havok has quickly risen to the top of the defensive head rankings, and for good reason. Its unique 3-strut design and tighter face shape allow for precise and devastating checks, giving defenders a significant edge on the field.
Key Features of the Maverik Havok:
- DURATOUGH material for climate resistance and consistent stiffness
- X-Rail technology for optimal stress distribution
- Ground scoop design for superior ball control
- Ideal for long stick midfielders who frequently carry the ball
Why is the Maverik Havok considered the best option for ball-carrying defenders? Its combination of strength, lightweight design, and innovative scoop technology makes it exceptionally versatile, allowing players to excel in both defensive and transition play.
STX Hammer 500 EnduraForm: Unmatched Durability and Ground Ball Dominance
The STX Hammer 500 EnduraForm takes a classic design and elevates it to new heights with cutting-edge technology. This head is engineered for players who prioritize durability and ground ball control.
Standout Features of the STX Hammer 500 EnduraForm:
- EnduraForm technology for enhanced durability
- Speed Scoop and C-Channel technology for effortless ground ball pickup
- Exceptional stiffness for powerful checks
How does the STX Hammer 500 EnduraForm compare to other defensive heads in terms of durability? Its EnduraForm plastic construction makes it one of the stiffest and most durable options on the market, capable of withstanding intense play season after season.
ECD Rebel Defense: The Elite Defender’s Choice for Transition Play
The ECD Rebel Defense head is designed with the complete defender in mind, excelling in both defensive situations and transition play. Its aggressive design and focus on durability make it a top choice for elite-level players.
Notable Aspects of the ECD Rebel Defense:
- Aggressive pinch and tight face shape for optimal ball control
- Advanced scoop technology for quick ground ball pickups
- Exceptional durability to withstand aggressive play
- Designed for powerful, effective checking
What sets the ECD Rebel Defense apart in transition play? Its combination of an aggressive pinch and tight face shape allows defenders to maintain possession and control the ball effectively when transitioning to offense, giving teams a significant advantage in fast-break situations.
Warrior Regulator MAX: The Punisher’s Preferred Head
For defenders who love to dish out punishing checks, the Warrior Regulator MAX is the ultimate tool. This head is built to withstand extreme abuse while allowing players to deliver devastating hits with confidence.
Key Innovations in the Warrior Regulator MAX:
- MAX design for unparalleled durability
- Tilt-Tech string hole design for improved ball release
- LOC-throat technology to eliminate shaft rattle
How does the Warrior Regulator MAX’s durability translate to on-field performance? The exceptional strength of this head allows defenders to play aggressively without fear of equipment failure, potentially leading to more turnovers and defensive stops.
Nike Alpha Elite: Balancing Ball Protection and Defensive Power
Nike brings its innovative approach to lacrosse with the Alpha Elite head, designed specifically for long poles. This head emphasizes ball protection without sacrificing defensive capabilities.
Unique Features of the Nike Alpha Elite:
- Hyper Tough Polymer material for durability and stiffness
- Deep offset design for enhanced ball retention
- V-Sole Scoop for improved ground ball control
Why is the Nike Alpha Elite particularly effective for ball protection? Its deep offset allows for a deeper pocket, making it more difficult for opponents to dislodge the ball during checks or in traffic situations.
Choosing the Right Defensive Head: Factors to Consider
Selecting the perfect defensive head depends on various factors, including playing style, position, and personal preferences. Here are some key considerations to keep in mind:
- Durability: Look for heads made with high-quality materials that can withstand aggressive play.
- Stiffness: A stiffer head allows for more powerful checks and better overall control.
- Scoop design: An effective scoop can make a significant difference in ground ball situations.
- Face shape: Consider whether you prefer a wider or tighter face shape based on your playing style.
- Weight: Lighter heads can improve maneuverability, while heavier ones may offer more power.
- String ability: Some heads are designed to accommodate specific stringing patterns or pocket depths.
How do these factors impact your on-field performance? By choosing a head that aligns with your strengths and play style, you can enhance your effectiveness as a defender and contribute more to your team’s success.
The Impact of Technology on Defensive Head Design
The rapid advancement of technology has significantly influenced the design and performance of defensive lacrosse heads. From computer-aided design to innovative materials science, manufacturers are constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
Technological Advancements in Defensive Heads:
- 3D printing for rapid prototyping and testing
- Advanced polymer blends for improved durability and performance
- Computational fluid dynamics to optimize scoop designs
- Biomechanical analysis to enhance checking power and accuracy
How have these technological advancements translated to on-field performance? Players now have access to heads that are lighter, stronger, and more precisely engineered to meet the demands of high-level play, potentially leading to improved defensive statistics and overall team performance.
Maintaining Your Defensive Head for Optimal Performance
Proper maintenance of your defensive head is crucial for ensuring long-lasting performance and durability. Here are some tips to keep your head in top condition:
- Regularly inspect for cracks or weak points
- Clean the head after each use to remove dirt and debris
- Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight
- Avoid leaving your stick in hot cars or other high-temperature environments
- Re-string or adjust your pocket as needed to maintain optimal performance
How does proper maintenance affect the longevity of your defensive head? By following these simple steps, you can significantly extend the life of your head, ensuring consistent performance throughout multiple seasons and potentially saving money on replacements.
As the game of lacrosse continues to evolve, so too will the technology and design of defensive heads. By staying informed about the latest innovations and understanding how different features can impact your game, you’ll be better equipped to choose the perfect head for your playing style. Whether you’re a ground ball specialist, a shutdown defender, or a transition threat, there’s a defensive head out there that can help elevate your game to the next level.
Top Lacrosse Defensive Heads for 2019
Top Lacrosse Defensive Heads for 2019 | Universal Lacrosse Blog
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Defense wins championships. To be a dominant defender you need a dominant defensive head and finding one isn’t always as easy as it seems. Spend your money wisely and buy a head that can keep up with your style of play. There’s nothing more infuriating than having a head break in the middle of the season and you’re left with the decision to buy a new one or sift through old heads just to get by. We can help you make the right choice. Here is our list of the Top Defensive Heads for 2019.
Top 5 Defensive Heads for 2019
#1 – Maverik Havok
The Maverik Havok Lacrosse Head is built for defenders. Using a unique 3-strut design and tighter face shape, the head is designed to deliver tactical and devastating checks that leads to more turnovers. Maverik used top of the line, DURATOUGH material to create a head that is resistant to any climate and constantly retains its stiffness to assure a perfect strength to weight ratio. The Maverik Havok utilizes X-Rail technology to distribute stress to the head’s opposite rails to create a lightweight and effective defensive head. The features of the Maverik Havok don’t stop there. Using their brand new Ground scoop, Maverik created a head that’s perfect for scooping ground balls. The Maverik Havok is the best head for any long stick who carry’s the ball a lot.
Maverik Havok Lacrosse Head Free Shipping + 2.5% In Rewards Shop Now |
#2 – STX Hammer 500 EnduraForm
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The STX Hammer 500 EnduraForm Lacrosse Head takes the original STX model and drastically improves upon it by instituting it’s new EnduraForm technology to increase durability. STX used Speed Scoop and C-Channel technology to build a defensive head that will let you scoop with ease for seasons to come. The STX Hammer 500 EnduraForm is arguably the stiffest head that is on the market due to its enduraform plastic. STX built this head to allow defenders to dominante the ground ball game. The STX Hammer 500 EnduraForm comes in at a very close second in our list because of its top of the line durability and ability to scoop every ground ball in sight.
STX Hammer 500 EnduraForm Lacrosse Head Free Shipping + 2.5% In Rewards Shop Now |
#3 – ECD Rebel Defense
youtube.com/embed/39z7ZnWfGnY” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen=”allowfullscreen”>
The ECD Rebel Defense Lacrosse Head is perfect for the elite defender. ECD designed the Rebel Defense Head to dominant the transition game by utilizing an aggressive pinch and a tight face shape. The ECD Rebel Defense Head allows for easy scooping on ground balls using ECD’s newly designed scoop technology. What makes the ECD Rebel Defense Head stand out from the other defensive heads on the market is it’s durability and stiffness. ECD aggressively designed the Rebel Defense Head to endure any abuse. That same design also allows the ECD Rebel Defense Head to dish out brutal checks without fear of breaking. ECD outdid themselves this time.
ECD Rebel Defense Lacrosse Head Free Shipping + 2.5% In Rewards Shop Now |
#4 – Warrior Regulator MAX
The Warrior Regulator MAX Lacrosse Head is the perfect head for defenders who are looking to punish the opposing teams attack. Using Warrior’s new MAX design, the Warrior Regulator MAX is built to withstand the ultimate amount of abuse. That also allows you to throw out punishing checks with confidence the Warrior Regulator MAX won’t break, bend or snap. Warrior broke out their new patent-pending Tilt-Tech sting hole design that allows the Warrior Regulator MAX to have top of the line ball release because of the drastically improved pocket tension. Warrior didn’t stop there in their pursuit to build the ideal defensive head. By instituting their brand new, state of the art LOC-throat, the Warrior Regulator MAX completely eliminates shaft rattle and provides top of the line stability.
Warrior Regulator MAX Lacrosse Head Free Shipping + 2.5% In Rewards Shop Now |
#5 – Nike Alpha Elite
Using Nike’s best in industry technology, the Nike Alpha Elite Lacrosse Head is one of the absolute best defensive heads on the market to date. With their new Hyper Tough Polymer material, Nike built the Alpha Elite to have great durability and stiffness. The Nike Alpha Elite puts an emphasis on ball protection. Designed with a deep offset, the Nike Alpha Elite makes it almost impossible to turn the ball over because it can be strung with a deep pocket. Specially made for long poles, the Nike Alpha Elite utilizes Nike’s newly designed V-Sole Scoop model to make scooping ground balls a breeze. While it is fifth on this list, the Nike Alpha Elite Lacrosse Head is a very solid defensive head.
Nike Alpha Elite Lacrosse Head Free Shipping + 2.5% In Rewards Shop Now |
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90,000 Larionov came to the NHL at 28 and played until almost 44. It was he who personified Soviet hockey in America – Hokejka – Blogs
Let’s remember the overseas career of the Professor.
Superstars rarely become coaches – in the NHL they are much more likely to become general managers or even presidents (Yzerman, Sakic, Blake, Neely – some of the nineties are well represented). Tough homebody defenders more often become coaches – on the benches, in percentage terms, they are much more powerful than in the teams.
In the great five of the 80s, two (Fetisov and Kasatanov) also became managers, and Igor Larionov at the age of sixty will make his debut as a head coach at a big tournament. Perhaps, among all the coaches of the youth team, it was he who achieved the greatest success as a player. This does not guarantee that his youth team will be successful (the team of the Nizhny Novgorod legend Mikhail Varnakov Sr. was rather colorless), but there is definitely a reason to remember the career of Igor Larionov.
***
“There are many easy games in the USSR. There are no easy games here,” Larionov told reporters in simple English in January 1990. In the first 40 games in the NHL, he scored 31 points, but the most authoritative sports magazine in North America, Sports Illustrated, gave him a three plus for the first part of the season – such high expectations were in Canada from Larionov, who came to a rather weak Vancouver squad .
Together with Larionov, Vladimir Krutov went to the Canucks, but he did not succeed at all. Team manager Brian Burke in his memoirs exposed him as an alcoholic, and Krutova’s widow Nina in “Friday Conversation” said: “Someone adapted, immediately became a Canadian – like Larionov. Vancouver’s general manager was Pat Quinn. His wife Sandra took such tutelage over us that it seemed as if we were guinea pigs for her. Lena, Larik’s wife, sighed: “How she got me!”, But she behaved delicately with Sandra. And I didn’t hesitate.”
The American media also noted the best adaptation of the Professor to the new conditions – he also said that everything on the ice is completely different than at home: “Another life, a completely different style of play – much tougher and more aggressive than in the Union. Everyone wants to use force against the Russians.” Unlike many players who sometimes criticized aspects of American life, Larionov said: “It will be very difficult to return to Russia. There are almost no problems here, but there are enough of them.”
This opposition of Larionov prevented his career in Vancouver: in 1991, Pavel Bure came to the team (albeit with great adventures), and coach Pat Quinn often brought our two legends into one link, where Greg Adams was the third. However, the three-year contract, which was then in effect with Larionov, was concluded through Sovintersport – under these conditions, a very large part of the Professor’s salary remained at home. Larionov wanted her to go to improve children’s hockey, but did not see progress in infrastructure, so he abandoned the third year in Canada and spent the season at Lugano.
***
After Larionov’s appointment as head coach, TSN commentator Gord Miller, who will work at our junior team’s matches for the Canadian audience, remembered his favorite story: when coach Kevin Konstantin instilled a rather conservative defense option in training, Larionov told him : “Kevin, the best defensive strategy is when I have the puck!”
The Russians in San Jose are a separate amazing story: when the Sharks, after 9 victories in a whole season, took Larionov and Makarov, one had already skated a year in Switzerland and was not particularly eager to return to America, while the other at that time was only worth fourth-round draft pick (and this is after a good season in Calgary with 57 points. The rights to Larionov cost the Sharks only 18 thousand dollars, which went to Vancouver, who sent him to the draft bounce.
We have already mentioned the miracle connection in the text dedicated to Makarov, but we looked at it from the side of the silent Chelyabinsk genius. The professor often argued with Konstantin. As Sharks author Ross McKeon recalls, when the coach gave the San Jose players pieces of paper and asked them to write goals for today’s game, Larionov limited himself to only one: “Win.”
As the journalist recalled, Makarov and Larionov always stuck together, got into the club bus exactly 15 minutes before departure, occupied the same seats and talked a lot among themselves. It seems that this is also why the Soviet team so impressed the NHL – then the triples in the league mixed up much more often, and our legends knew each other perfectly both on and off the ice.
Sandis Ozoliņš, who covered the pin on the blue line, said in an interview with SE: “Larionov, when we were practicing the power play, said: “When I look at you, run to the far post. ” While I was accelerating, Larionov passed to Makarov, who – without looking – sent the puck to the far. I had to substitute the club. Then I realized that these guys have a computer in their heads.”
“I learned a lot by playing with them. They went out on the ice just to play with the rest of the teams. It looked incredible, this will never be repeated again, ”said Bob Erry, who sometimes played with Russian legends in one link.
But the story in San Jose did not last long either: at the start of the new season, the Sharks lost 15 out of 19 matches, Larionov was unhappy that the Sharks did not offer a new contract to Makarov, and disagreements with Konstantin became completely insoluble . Detroit gave for Professor Ray Sheppard, who scored 52 goals a year and a half before the trade.
As Larionov later said in an interview with Igor Rabiner: “The next morning I went to coach Kevin Konstantin and general manager Dean Lombardi and said that I was asking for an exchange. The answer was tough: “You will crawl to us again.” I was told that there would be no exchange, I would stay at home until the deadline, and then I would crawl to them myself with a request to return me to the team. Apparently, the Detroit sniper seemed too valuable to them.
It is significant, however, that when Larionov won the third Stanley Cup in 2002, Sheppard had already finished playing hockey, and he is 6 years younger. Now Larionov is taking the youth team to the MFM – and Kevin Konstantin, who is only a year older than his former player, recently headed Uniya from Auschwitz.
***
We won’t talk about the Russian Five for a long time. Instead, you can just paste the video from the match against Montreal in December 1995, when the Canadiens got 11 goals, and Patrick Roy personally got nine (after that, as you know, he went to the club president and requested a trade to Colorado “).
More striking is Larionov’s return to Detroit in the winter of 2000. Players and coaches said that at 39 he looked ten years younger – the Professor was known as a supporter of a healthy lifestyle, which was rare for the fun nineties. Ozoliņš recalled: “Igor kept to a strict regime. He usually ate twice a day. He had everything calculated: what you need to eat in the morning, what – in the evening.
Larionov, in an interview with Kommersant in the summer of 1998, described his regimen: “In the morning – cereal with milk, cheese and coffee, in the afternoon – vegetable salads. Meat on my table is no more than once a month. In all these years, I never drank alcohol or took any stimulant pills. After the end of the season, I rest for 10-12 days, and then I start preparing myself for the next season.”
Larionov then came to Florida specifically for Pavel Bure – Russian Rocket had very few worthy partners in the southern state, they had to drag the attack almost into one. However, the revival of the Vancouver ligament did not work out – the Panthers fell apart at the start of the season, effectively losing all chances of getting into the playoffs before Christmas.
The team traded Larionov to Detroit and fired the head coach at the same time. Terry Murray in Florida repeated the same mistake as Konstantin on the other side of the USA – he asked Larionov to play through a throw-in at the entrance to the zone.
For the second time, the “wings” gave for the 40-year-old center of the future general manager of “Torpedo” Yan Golubovsky, who played only six matches for the new club.
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Probably the brightest episode of Larionov’s second term in Detroit was a double with the winning goal in the third match of the 2002 final. Detroit famously started that playoff with a lot of adventure, going 0-2 at the start against Vancouver, but made it to the finals with a modest Carolina and… lost the first game again.
Larionov at that time was the oldest player not only of Krylia, but of the entire league in general (Jagr was only 30). The Washington Post called it “a testament to the power and strength of the human mind and body. ” In a game with three overtimes, he spent 22 minutes (more, for example, than the young Datsyuk and Holmström) to score the decisive goal to Arturs Irba, whom he knew from the Union Championship, the national team, and the Sharks. The professor then told reporters that it was this puck that became the most important in his career – at least for that final it definitely became one.
Immediately after the match, Chris Draper compared Larionov to Gretzky: “For us, he shares first and second places with Wayne as the greatest passer in the history of the game. He has enough talent to slow down the game, adjusting it to his pace.” Darren McCarthy said that in his place, any player would have thrown from the circle, but Larionov beautifully removed the opponent and dealt with Irbe. “If he could wait out the end of the Soviet Union, then he could wait out Irbe,” a strange comparison from Sports Illustrated writer Michael Farber.
The journalists then drew attention to what Larionov was doing after the game, which ended at one in the morning: he went to watch football – in parallel, the World Cup was being held in Korea and Japan. The professor took a couple of fruits, looked at Mexico – Ecuador, slept a little and woke up to the match between the Russian national team and Japan (although the legendary miss of the Beschastnykhs hardly added to his mood). If he had done it before the goal, the story would have been even more epic – however, a few days later Larionov still raised his next Stanley Cup over his head.
He ended that evening with a joke: “I used to drink two glasses of wine in the evenings. After I hit forty, I had to drink two and a half.
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But what about Gretzky? He recalled the first meeting with Larionov in 1984 at the Canada Cup – he did not even know that Igor knew English and was surprised at his good level. By some miracle, Larionov even managed to have lunch with the entire Canadian team. Three years later, the first five were entirely able to come to visit the great, but accompanied by Tikhonov and comrades from the KGB. As Wayne says, his father had to distract Tikhonov with conversations so that the players could grab a beer.
In Canada, Larionov is called Gretzky’s hockey double – Wayne himself recognized our player as the best center forward in the world of the eighties. In at least one, Professor the Great outperformed: he stayed in the league until the age of 43 (even if the season with the Devils came out somehow blurry).
Is it worth it to regret that he did not play in the NHL from the age of majority, like Ovechkin? Then the league would hardly have seen the magic of the level of San Jose and Detroit, because the league would certainly begin to build young Russians outside the top five for themselves. And so everything turned out fine: Makarov was a silent magician, Fedorov was a playboy, Larionov became a Professor on the other side of the Atlantic – and this word explains everything.