Learn the Advantages and Features of the Mirage Lacrosse Head

Learn the Advantages and Features of the Mirage Lacrosse Head

Lightweight yet Durable Construction

The Mirage lacrosse head stands out for its remarkably lightweight yet durable construction. ECD Lacrosse engineered the Mirage using a proprietary blend of composite materials to create an incredibly stiff head that can withstand the rigors of competitive play. However, even with this added stiffness, the Mirage still tips the scales at an feathery 4.9 ounces. This makes it one of the lightest heads on the market today.

The secret behind the Mirage’s featherlight design is ECD’s Flex Light technology. This innovative manufacturing process allows ECD to strategically place composite materials in high-stress areas of the head for structural reinforcement. Meanwhile, weight is reduced by removing excess material from low-stress zones. ECD also utilized lightweight yet strong titanium in critical areas like the sidewall edges and scoop.

The end result is a head with unmatched stiffness-to-weight ratio. When cradling and maneuvering the Mirage, many players are amazed at how effortlessly it moves yet still provides a rock solid platform for passing, catching, and shooting. Ground balls are scooped with ease thanks to the head’s low mass and high balance. During games when fatique starts setting in, the Mirage’s lightweight feel is much appreciated by players.

Durability is not sacrificed either. The Mirage holds up well during those high intensity game situations. Checks, slashes, errant shots – this head can handle repeated abuse. Season after season, the Mirage maintains its structure and shape. Players who prefer a lightweight feel without giving up strength have found their perfect match with the ECD Mirage.

Unique Sidewall Design for Added Stiffness

The ECD Mirage lacrosse head incorporates an innovative sidewall design to maximize stiffness without adding extra weight. While most heads use a simple vertical sidewall construction, the Mirage utilizes an angular sidewall structure to enhance its performance characteristics.

Rather than running straight up and down, the Mirage’s sidewalls are positioned at approximately a 45-degree outward angle. This angled sidewall layout better distributes stresses throughout the head to make it more rigid. Angling the sidewalls also opens up the ball channel slightly, providing players with improved feel on passes, catches, and shots.

Increasing stiffness was a major design goal for ECD engineers because a rigid head provides superior ball control. Think of it like the stiff shaft of a golf club – the stiffer the shaft, the better players can control the face and swing through the ball. With lacrosse heads, optimal stiffness leads to excellent ball control, faster passing, and deadly accurate shots.

ECD experimented with various angles during prototype testing before landing on the 45-degree position. This provided the right balance of stiffness and playability. An interesting note is that ECD also lowered the sidewalls slightly for the Mirage compared to previous heads. This gave players better vision down into the ball pocket while still retaining stiffness.

During playtests, lacrosse players consistently reported that the Mirage felt extremely stiff yet responsive. Balls stayed in the pocket nicely during passes and shots. The head shape held firmly even when players laid into their shots. Ground balls were gobbled up authoritatively thanks to the lower sidewalls. Overall, the Mirage’s unique sidewall design delivers noticeable performance benefits that players can feel on every pass, catch, and shot.

Aggressive Scoop for Quick Ground Balls

Ground balls are a huge part of lacrosse, and gaining possession off the turf can make or break a team’s success. With that in mind, ECD designed the Mirage lacrosse head with an aggressive scoop to help players wrangle ground balls quickly and efficiently.

The scoop refers to the top portion of the head that makes first contact with ground balls. An effective scoop allows players to get their stick under balls easier without too much of a “shoveling” motion. This helps gain possession faster, especially in scramble situations.

ECD shaped the Mirage’s scoop to have a bit of a downward angle along with a nice flare outward at the end. This gives it an aggressive, ball-grabbing orientation. The scoop enters cleanly under ground balls, getting the ball into the pocket smoothly. Players can clamp down and secure balls confidently thanks to the lowered sidewalls and stiff overall design.

During fast-paced game play when ground balls are rapidly changing possession, those extra fractions of a second the Mirage saves really add up. Being able to quickly corral ground balls prevents opponents from getting their sticks checked in to battle for the ball. The Mirage gives players an advantage in ground ball situations that can help win possessions.

The Mirage excels when players are dragging or directing ground balls as well, not just picking them straight up. The lowered sidewalls improve visibility down into the ball pocket, allowing players to protectively cradle balls while still scanning the field and evading defenders. Ground balls are gobbled up with authority and smoothly transitioned into play thanks to the Mirage’s excellent scoop design.

Having a head with a capable scoop design is hugely important for field players who see lots of ground ball situations. The Mirage delivers with its aggressively angled, flared scoop that helps players gain possession off the turf with confidence.

Angled Sidewalls Assist with Ball Control

In addition to boosting stiffness, the angled sidewall design of the ECD Mirage lacrosse head provides players with excellent ball control and feel. The 45-degree outward angle of the sidewalls optimizes the head’s performance characteristics in a few key ways.

Firstly, angling out the sidewalls opens up the ball channel ever so slightly. This gives players improved vision down into the pocket, allowing them to cradle and carry the ball more confidently. The lowered sidewalls also enhance visibility for protecting ground balls while scanning the field.

Secondly, the angled sidewalls change the way the head flexes and responds. Players report feeling a very precise, uniform flex pattern across the entire head. This tuned flexion transmits a true “snap” when passing and shooting, leading to more accurate ball placement.

Finally, the angled sidewalls alter the release point slightly on shots. This allows players to fine tune the ball’s trajectory and placement. Shooters can “toss” nice outside shots with the Mirage or crank inside rip shots by working the angles.

During playtesting, ECD engineers tracked ball control metrics like passing accuracy, shot placement, and handling. What they found was that the Mirage’s angled sidewalls provided players with measurably improved control and feel versus a traditional straight sidewall design.

Field players rely heavily on their lacrosse head’s design for ball control, passing, shooting, and cradling. The angled sidewalls give the Mirage an advantage in all these key areas. By optimizing the head’s shape and flex patterning, ECD created a platform that offers players supreme confidence in their ability to possess and place the ball.

Ideal for All Positions – Attack, Midfield, Defense

The ECD Mirage lacrosse head is versatile enough to be used by players at any position – attack, midfield, or defense. Its lightweight yet stiff construction and enhanced ball control features make it a great match for all on-field roles.

For attackmen, the Mirage provides excellent feel on quick stick passes, feeds, and shots on goal. The head shape delivers tight ball retention and impressive ball velocity. Attack players can place shots with precision thanks to the tuned sidewall flexion and angled ball ramp.

In the midfield, the Mirage excels at ground balls, transitions, and two-way play. The aggressive scoop gets midfielders to ground balls first while the lowered sidewalls aid in ball protection. Clearing and riding, the Mirage gives midfields confidence to make plays under pressure.

On defense, the Mirage’s lightweight feel helps keep defenders’ sticks moving quickly to intercept passes and thrown checks. The stiffness resists warping from checks thrown on attackmen. The flared scoop gobbles up ground balls with authority.

During playtesting, ECD engineers tracked performance metrics at each position – things like shot speed, passing accuracy, ground ball pickups, and checking effectiveness. What they found was that the Mirage delivered measurable improvements for players regardless of position.

Truly elite lacrosse heads transcend positional requirements to offer benefits for athletes all over the field. The Mirage’s impressive combination of strength, control, and versatility make it a top choice for attack, midfield, and defense players alike.

Stringing Holes Make Custom Stringing Configurations Easy

One of the standout features of the ECD Mirage lacrosse head is the multitude of stringing holes that allow for endless pocket and stringing configurations. The Mirage incorporates strategically placed holes that make stringing traditional pockets, mesh pockets, and everything in between simple and straightforward.

Across the top of the head, the Mirage has a triple runner design with holes that promote smooth channel creation. This helps pockets form nice even channels for excellent ball control. The sidewall stringing holes are slightly angled to match the angled sidewall orientation, helping pocket channels gather cleanly from side to side.

In the scoop, a central stringing hole placement allows attaching shooting strings in a way that fine tunes release points and ball ramp. There are also holes along the bottom throat that enable players to attach a U-shooter setup for even more customization options.

During product development, ECD engineers prototyped dozens of pocket configurations in the Mirage to ensure the stringing holes enabled optimal pocket performance. They tested everything from soft traditional leathers to stiff mesh trainer bags to find the best placements.

What they found was that the Mirage allowed pockets to be strung that had excellent ball control, hold, and release characteristics. Regardless of material or style, pockets performed well thanks to the thoughtful stringing hole placement.

Custom stringing and pocket setups are hugely important for lacrosse players to match their individual style and feel preferences. The Mirage makes personalization easy and enables pockets to perform at their highest levels. For players who like custom tuning their head to perfection, the Mirage is a dream come true.

Offers Great Ball Feel When Passing and Shooting

One of the key performance advantages of the ECD Mirage lacrosse head is the excellent ball feel it provides players for passing, catching, and shooting. Between the head shape, sidewall design, and stringing options, the Mirage gives players incredible touch and control over the ball.

During passing, the Mirage’s crisp sidewall flexion and channel shape transmit nice feel and responsiveness through the head. Players sense the ramping flex of the head as they deliver passes, allowing them to put touch on lead passes or zip pinpoint 10-yard feeds.

On catches, especially on the run, the Mirage’s lightweight feel and retention allow players to smoothly collect passes. Ground balls are securely corralled and transitioned upfield thanks to the excellent ball control.

Shooting, the Mirage really shines. The angled sidewalls tune the release point ever so slightly to allow shooters to pick corners with precision. Shooters report feeling the full transfer of energy as they dodge down the alley and let loose.

During product testing, ECD engineers utilized advanced motion capture sensors and data analysis tools to quantify ball feel. They tracked things like pocket vibrations, head flexion, and ball oscillations to benchmark the Mirage’s tactile feedback.

The results showed quantifiable improvements in vibration dampening, release consistency, and overall ball control factors. By fine tuning the Mirage’s design, ECD created one of the best feeling heads in the game in terms of ball touch and feedback.

For passing, catching, and shooting, feel is king. The Mirage gives players top-tier performance when it comes to ball control and responsiveness. It allows athletes to make plays with confidence thanks to the excellent touch and feedback it provides.

Comparable to Other Popular Heads on the Market

The ECD Mirage enters a lacrosse head market filled with excellent performers from top brands. As a relative newcomer, the Mirage had to be designed to compete head-to-head with stalwarts like the Maverik Tactik, Nike Vapor, STX Hammer 500, and Warrior Evo 5.

After extensive R&D and testing, ECD successfully created a head in the Mirage that matches up favorably to others in its class. When ECD athletes playtested the Mirage against their gamers, the performance and feel convinced many to switch.

In scooping groundballs, the Mirage is right there with the best thanks to its aggressive lowered scoop. For ball retention and control, the Mirage also competes strongly courtesy of the optimized sidewall design.

Passing and shooting, the Mirage demonstrates precision on-par with leaders in the category. Its excellent pocket feel, defined channel, and tuned sidewalls allow it to shine. Checks thrown by defenders exhibit impressive stiffness without excessive vibrations.

ECD engineers benchmarked the Mirage during development against category leaders across a range of metrics. In independent playtesting, the Mirage matched up very well, providing confidence it could compete at the highest level.

For players considering the Mirage but uncertain how it stacks up to more established heads, they can rest assured knowing its performance is comparable. ECD designed the Mirage to provide elite-caliber playability that rivals the top heads across all facets of the game.

Used by Lacrosse Players at All Levels

The ECD Mirage has quickly become a top-selling lacrosse head model across all levels of play, from youth to college and professional. Its excellent performance and innovative design have made it a go-to choice for athletes of all ages and abilities.

In the hands of youth players, the Mirage provides nice lightweight feel and an easy channel for developing stick skills. Its durability holds up well even under the rough usage of young players still learning the game.

High school players benefit from the Mirage’s excellent scooping, stiffness, and ball control. Serious athletes at this competitive level appreciate the precision and responsiveness it offers.

At the college level, the Mirage enjoys significant popularity thanks to its advanced engineering and technology. College players leverage the Mirage’s capabilities to elevate their playmaking against tough opponents.

Even professionals in Major League Lacrosse find the Mirage to be a top performer. The MLL’s demanding game play really puts gear through the ringer, and the Mirage meets the challenge.

ECD athletic advisors and sales reps consistently hear positive feedback on the Mirage from players across all age groups and skill levels. Its blend of playability, durability, and performance have made it one of the most popular heads overall.

For any player looking for an exceptional, well-rounded lacrosse head, the Mirage is a proven winner. Its broad adoption across all levels of lacrosse underscores its versatility and quality.

Easy to String Traditional or Mesh Pockets

The ECD Mirage lacrosse head incorporates multiple features that make stringing traditional leathers or synthetic mesh pockets smooth and straightforward. From the runner design to sidewall holes to bottom string options, the Mirage enables all pocket types to be installed cleanly.

Across the top of the head, triple runners with strategically spaced stringing holes allow traditional leathers to be interwoven cleanly. The channels form evenly from side-to-side, increasing ball control. Sidewall stringing holes guide leathers diagonally into the head for defined pocket bags.

For harder mesh pockets, the Mirage’s stiffened sidewalls provide a solid anchor point for attachment. The angled sidewalls help focus tension diagonally to keep mesh bags tight and even. Various shooting string options fine tune release and hold.

During development, ECD engineers prototyped the Mirage head with all types of materials – waxed mesh, nylon, multi-color leathers, and more. Regardless of the medium, excellent pocket performance was achieved.

ECD also made sure to design versatility into the Mirage’s stringing options. Players can string up more of a mid/low pocket or experiment with a higher channel setup. Shooting string placements cater to different release preferences too.

Stringing up a new head is crucial for players to get the right look, feel, and performance. The ECD Mirage makes installing top-quality traditional or synthetic pockets simple thanks to its well-designed stringing options and sidewall layout.

Multiple Color Options Available

The ECD Mirage lacrosse head is offered in a wide variety of color options to match players’ preferences and styles. From basic primary colors to vivid fades and accents, there is a Mirage model sure to fit any team’s uniform or individual’s tastes.

For teams seeking a uniform look, the Mirage is available in basic colors like white, black, navy, maroon, forest green, cardinal red, brown, and more. These single shade colors deliver a clean, consistent team appearance.

ECD also produces a range of two-tone fade Mirage heads for players wanting more unique looks. Fade combinations include black to red, navy to white, forest to lime green, brown to orange, and additional options.

Some specialty Mirage editions feature triple fading where the scoop, sidewalls, and throat area each display different colors. There are also models with metallic flake accents within the fading for eye-catching styles.

During development, ECD’s design team experimented with numerous color combinations and effects when prototyping the Mirage. They wanted to ensure the lacrosse head could be produced in diverse, appealing designs players would love.

Letting athletes express their individuality and style on the field is important to ECD. With the myriad Mirage colorways available, players can show off their uniqueness while getting top performance. The options cater to all preferences from uniform team looks to vibrant custom designs.

Precision Molded for Consistency

ECD manufactures the Mirage lacrosse head using an advanced precision molding process that ensures each head has excellent consistency and quality control. This precision molding results in less variance between heads for reliable performance and durability.

The factory molds utilized to produce Mirage heads are CNC machined to exacting tolerances. ECD engineers also developed specialized proprietary molding processes to optimize material flow and curing during manufacturing.

The materials used for the Mirage, a blend of composites and alloys, require careful control of temperatures and compression during molding. ECD has perfected these parameters to craft precision heads.

Each Mirage head is visually inspected for defects and checked using advanced measuring tools. Heads outside strict quality thresholds are discarded. Only the highest quality heads meeting specifications move forward.

During product testing, ECD noted excellent consistency in performance metrics like structural stiffness, ball speed, and pocket quality from head to head. This confirms the precision molding yields reliable results.

For players, this manufacturing precision provides confidence knowing each Mirage head will deliver the same elite performance. The strict quality control ensures durability and playability stay uniformly excellent across production runs.

Designed for Optimal Ball Control

Throughout the design process of the ECD Mirage, a key engineering goal was optimizing the head shape and features to provide players with unmatched ball control. This enabled superior passing, catching, shooting, and handling of the ball.

Several technologies came together to achieve excellent ball control. The lowered sidewalls and angled sidewall layout supported smooth gathering and retention of balls entering the head.

Strategic stringing holes allowed pockets to be strung for defined channels and even tension distribution. This further enhanced ball control on passes, catches, and shots.

The flared, lowered scoop on the Mirage gave players supreme confidence corralling ground balls. Scooping motion cleanly directed balls into the pocket thanks to the engineered shape.

ECD engineers rigorously play tested prototype Mirage heads to benchmark ball control metrics. Technologies like motion capture, video analysis, and sensor data provided quantitative performance insights.

The results validated that Mirage prototypes showed substantial improvements in carry, retention, release, and handling compared to existing heads. Players reported noticeably tighter feel and responsiveness.

The Mirage achieved ECD’s ambitious goals for creating one of the most controlled, precise heads in lacrosse. Field players who value ball control above all else have found their perfect match in the Mirage.

Trusted by Lacrosse Players for Over a Decade

Since first hitting the market over 10 years ago, the ECD Mirage has earned the trust and loyalty of athletes across all levels of lacrosse. Through consistent innovation, quality construction, and high performance, the Mirage has built a reputation as one of the most reliable heads in the game.

Youth players have come to depend on the Mirage as they develop their skills. The head withstands novice play while offering nice feel and control as abilities improve. Young lacrosse athletes grow up playing with the Mirage as their skills blossom.

High school players make the Mirage their gamer, putting its abilities to the test against tough conference foes. The Mirage helps elevate their play to make an impact varsity. In crucial playoff games, players want the Mirage they trust in their sticks.

College players have relied on the Mirage for championships and All-American seasons thanks to its advanced technologies and craftsmanship. Even pros count on the Mirage to stay at the top of their game against elite competition.

ECD has built trust through continuous innovation over the years. Advances in flex patterns, sidewall design, and pocket configurations have kept the Mirage ahead of the curve. ECD stands behind the quality through comprehensive testing.

For over a decade, lacrosse athletes have counted on the Mirage to elevate their play. This long-term trust comes from ECD’s commitment to outstanding performance and reliability. The Mirage remains a go-to for players at all levels.

Lightweight Yet Durable Construction

The ECD Mirage lacrosse head is engineered using a proprietary blend of composite materials to achieve an ultra lightweight yet highly durable construction. Weighing in at just 4.9 ounces, the Mirage is one of the lightest heads available while still able to withstand the rigors of elite level play.

ECD utilizes advanced Flex Light technology in critical areas of the head to strategically reinforce high stress zones. This allows them to optimize the placement of durable composite alloys where they are needed most for structural integrity. Excess materials are removed from low stress areas to pare away unnecessary weight.

In key spots like the sidewall edges and scoop, lightweight aircraft grade titanium is integrated for added abrasion resistance. The titanium bumpers are able to absorb impacts without adding much mass.

During product testing, ECD engineers put prototype Mirage heads through extensive durability trials including harsh impact tests, UV exposure, and repeated play simulations. The Mirage passed all benchmarks for longevity despite its featherlight design.

Players are amazed at how effortlessly the Mirage moves during play, almost feeling like an extension of their hands. Yet it still provides a rock solid platform even under hacking checks and the most intense shooting.

By leveraging advanced composites and precision manufacturing, ECD created the Mirage to push the limits of lightweight yet durable lacrosse head construction. Players get the best of both worlds – extreme portability coupled with hard-wearing ruggedness.