11 Best Defensive Lacrosse Heads – (Updated Novembar 2024)

The secret behind the pro gamers winning games lies in the equipment they use. Ask any pro lacrosse player, and you will get to know that the most important part of the lacrosse game is the equipment used, mainly the lacrosse heads. Regardless of your skill level, selecting the best lacrosse head is one of the most important things that you have to pay attention to before starting your game.

In the lacrosse game, the selection of the lacrosse head depends mainly on the position of the player. And if you are a defensive player, you must be aware of how important it is to focus on the structure of the lacrosse head. It should be wider, have a high pocket, be flexible, and have thick side walls so that it can tolerate intense catching and throwing of the ball in the right direction.

Keeping the importance of the best defense heads in mind, here I am covering the 11 best defensive lacrosse heads to help you with your game and reach a pro level within no time. Let’s start with the guide below without wasting any more time.

11 Best Defensive Lacrosse Heads

The following guide tells you about the 11 best defensive lacrosse heads that are reliable for defensive players in the lacrosse game to make it possible for them to perform quick actions effortlessly and easily.

STX Hammer 1K Lacrosse Head is the top renowned and the latest addition to the list of STX lacrosse heads. With unmatchable durability and stiffness, this lacrosse head was recently released and is made in an improved and enhanced design from its predecessors. STX Hammer 1K features Endura Form plastic that adds to the stiffness of the product and makes it possible for the head to retain its shape easily.

This makes it durable and rigid to withstand environmental pressures without affecting its own structure and performance. Moreover, if you are looking for a lacrosse head to give you amazing ball control, this one would be your best choice. It is constructed in a way that makes it extremely efficient to control, catch, and throw the ball.

Because I like to string my lacrosse head on my own, this lacrosse head is the best when it comes to stringing. It has InnerLock technology that makes the stringing easier and effortless and ensures that the strings are tightened enough and never get loosened out, even if you play hard games and make quick movements.

Heads-up: You must compromise over the sidewall holes as they are few.

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STX Hammer 1K Lacrosse Head is an advanced lacrosse defense head with comparatively better construction and design than its previous models. It is known for higher rigidity, high stiffness, and unmatched durability. This lacrosse defense head is one of the durable choices that come with Endura Form plastic in its construction, which maintains the shape and makes the product extremely stiff and rigid.

The next best lacrosse defense head for defensive players is one of the most in-demand lacrosse heads that comes already strung. I’m talking about StringKing Men’s Mark 2D Defense Lacrosse Head. It belongs to one of the reliable companies, the StringKing, that does not compromise the quality of its products. With an extremely lightweight design, this Mark 2D Defense Lacrosse Head is better when it comes to durability and stiffness.

Furthermore, lightweight construction enhances the ease of its usage and makes it reliable even if you want to string the head on your own. There are numerous stringing holes that make it easier to string the head according to your need and preference. Moreover, the reason why I switched to this lacrosse head was the presence of tons of stringing holes in it.

Unlike the previous product, where there were only 15 stringing holes, this defense lacrosse head comes with lots of stringing holes. This gives you the choice to tie the strings according to your choice and preference. Furthermore, a locking bolt mechanism can secure the head more tightly and minimize unnecessary movements, vibrations, and head rattling during checks. This makes it more reliable for smooth movements.

Heads-up: When stringing a low pocket, this lacrosse head takes lots of time and is quite difficult to do so.

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StringKing Men’s Mark 2D Defense Lacrosse Head is one of the reliable lacrosse defense heads that is known for the presence of numerous stringing holes. It is ideal for ground balls and offers unmatchable stiffness and durability when compared to its competitors.

With only 5.25 ounces of weight, this Maverik Havok 2.0 Lacrosse Head is one of the best lacrosse heads to offer great control in catching and throwing the ball. It is one of the popular choices among most professional lacrosse defense players. And is one of the most recommended heads for younger players and beginners to improve their game.

This Havok 2.0 lacrosse head has a tight face shape that is slightly opened near the scoop. This face shape makes it ideal when it comes to ball control. Moreover, with a lightweight design, the presence of a thick sidewall in its structure ultimately helps in increasing the stiffness, durability, and rigidity of the lacrosse head.

Furthermore, this lacrosse head features better and improved specifications compared to the 1.0 version of the Maverik Havok lacrosse defense head. It also has more stringing holes making it a better and more popular choice than its predecessors.

Heads-up: Not for players of all skill levels

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Maverik Havok 2.0 Lacrosse Head is another lacrosse defense head that is the best lightweight head featuring a tight face shape. It offers great control over the ground balls and makes it easier for the player to catch and throw the ball in the designated directions. It is 5.25 pounds in total weight and comes with an extra thick sidewall to maximize stiffness and durability.

STX X20 Lacrosse Head is another best STX defense head that comes with a wider face shape and lightweight design. It is one of the newest heads in the list of STX defense heads launched recently and is the most popular head available in our list.

Furthermore, with the presence of a wider face design, this lacrosse defense head provides a wider area to control the ball, making it ideal for optimum ball control for the ground balls. It comes with Endura Form technology that adds to the durability and toughness of the product. If you are looking for a durable and long-lasting defense head, this one would be one of the most reliable choices you can make.

Moreover, in the presence of a new speed scoop design, this defense head is made in a way that minimizes drag and makes sure to catch and throw the ball highly precisely. And because the product belongs to one of the reliable companies, you can trust it and can rely on it to give you the ultimate performance you want. Furthermore, being compatible with most of the pockets, you can adjust it with any of the pockets available to you.

Heads-up: You have to limit its usage in hot weather conditions.

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STX X20 Lacrosse Head is another best head for defense lacrosse players that belongs to one of the reliable companies. It is not only ideal for scooping up the ground balls but also is one of the great defense heads with a lightweight and durable structure.

Introducing you to one of my favorite defense lacrosse heads that belongs to one of the most reliable companies, East Coast Dyes. With composite material used in the structure, this defense lacrosse head is one of the sturdiest, most rigid, strong, and most durable heads to serve you for an extended period of time. It promises to be your best partner in the lacrosse game when it comes to multiple and quick movements the defensive player makes.

I prefer going with this lacrosse defense head for most of my tournament games because nothing from the surroundings impacts its performance and can damage it in any way. Regardless of the weather conditions, sunlight, or other surrounding effects, you can reliably use the lacrosse head for longer without any damage to its structure or any adverse effects on its performance.

Well, all thanks to the combination of the flex system and scoop design. This combination makes the lacrosse head stiffer and more powerful to pass, catch, and throw the ball in the most accurate and precise direction. The scoop design is ideal for throwing the ball accurately and making ground ball hits more accurate and precise. It also minimizes mis-hits.

What I like most about this lacrosse head is the presence of adjustable pockets. This adjustable pocket makes it easier for the player to make adjustments in the height by increasing or decreasing the strings. You can adjust the pocket the way you want to get the maximum ball control.

Heads-up: I have been using this lacrosse head for 6 months, and the worst part of the head is its bad-quality construction.

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East Coast Dyes Rebel Defense Lacrosse Head is the next best lacrosse head that is known for its high durability and resilience. It is made up of composite construction material and is 220 grams in total weight. This lacrosse defense head comes with rigidity and strength against external impacts and pressures, making it the best choice for most professional lacrosse defense players.

Next in our list of best lacrosse defense heads is the defense head known for its utmost quality. Yes, the Warrior Evo QX2-D Lacrosse Head. All those lacrosse defense players looking for quick striking and fast actions of their lacrosse heads should opt for this equipment without any doubts.

It is one of the best lacrosse heads known for its high-quality, durable structure and stronger build. This ultimately makes it one of the most reliable lacrosse heads for longer-lasting usage. Moreover, thanks to its new Therma-Loc Resin technology, which is actually responsible for boosting the lacrosse head’s overall performance design and durability, mainly in high heat. This makes the head flexible and allows the equipment to retain its shape, size, and stiffness quickly after making the shot.

This enhances ball control and makes this lacrosse equipment ideal for performing various movements. Furthermore, if you are looking for a lacrosse defense head to serve you in pro-level games, you can reliably select this Warrior Evo QX2-D Lacrosse Head. This is because it meets all the World Lacrosse, Lacrosse Canada, NFHS, and NCAA tournament requirements. I have used this lacrosse head for two tournament games and never encountered any quality-related problems.

Heads-up: You have to compromise our flexibility of this lacrosse head.

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Warrior Evo QX2-D Lacrosse Head is the next best lacrosse defense head that is known for its top-notch quality, quick movements, lightweight design, and extra stiffness. It offers maximum ball control and makes sure you can play the ground shots with more accuracy in hitting.

Maverik Tank 2.0 Lacrosse Head is the sturdiest lacrosse head available in our list of the top 11 best defensive lacrosse heads. It comes with 5 ounces of weight and is 10 x 6 x 2 inches in size.

Because of being this light in weight, the stringing of this lacrosse head and its attachment to the lacrosse shaft is not only easy but also effortless and quick. It does not add extra pressure nor take lots of time when assembling.

Not only in assembling, but it is also superb when it comes to performance. It ensures you can move the stick and can make quick movements regardless of your angle. This makes the head one of the reliable choices for most professional lacrosse players.

Furthermore, this Maverik lacrosse defense head is known for providing great flexibility, mainly when it comes to ball control. Its design is made in a way that makes it stiff, flexible, and reliable for catching, passing, and scooping.

Moreover, its X-rail Improved System provides the lacrosse head with great strength and stiffness. You can easily lift it and move it to perform different actions at different angles smoothly, without any strains and pressures.

Heads-up: This lacrosse head isn’t for every defense player and is difficult to manage at the very start of its use.

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Maverik Tank 2.0 Lacrosse Head comes with numerous stringing options and a wider face shape. This lacrosse head is one of the most durable and sturdiest heads that promises to serve you for longer times. It is an amazing lacrosse head that offers flexibility, stiffness, strength, and great ball control.

If you love trying new equipment for lacrosse gaming and want a different experience, this is one of the most recently launched and fresh lacrosse defense heads from StringKing that you can try. I’m talking about their new and latest addition, the StringKing Men’s Mark 2T Midfield Lacrosse Head. This lacrosse head has all the features you look for in your lacrosse head as a defensive player.

It has all the advanced features, including a balanced structure, ultra-effective scoop, extra stiffness, high power, strength, flexibility, and integrated tri-twist technology. This lacrosse head is structured in a way that the high-impact areas of the head are reinforced, and the excessive weight from the low-impact areas is removed. This restructuring makes the lacrosse head one of the most stiff and lightweight.

Moreover, the ultra-effective scoop adds to the reasons why it is one of the popular lacrosse heads among defense lacrosse players. It enhances the ground ball dominance and makes it almost effortless to pick up the ground balls and pass them in the correct direction quickly and easily.

Furthermore, the tri-twist technology and type 4 mesh construction in the head enhanced the balance of strength and elasticity. This combination makes the lacrosse head the best when it comes to making accurate shots without any mishits.

Heads-up: Tri-twist technology, ultra-effective scoop, perfect balancing, strength, and effortless ground ball shot! Beware, you will get all of this at a very expensive cost!

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StringKing Men’s Mark 2T Midfield Lacrosse Head is another best defensive lacrosse head that comes with the perfect balance of strength and elasticity. It has integrated tri-twist technology and better-reinforced design. The lacrosse head is versatile in its functions and can be used by various lacrosse players regardless of their position in the game.

With 12.17 x 7.4 x 2.99 inches dimensions and 170 grams of weight, this STX Hammer 900 Lacrosse Head is one of the most lightweight lacrosse defense heads that, although composed of composite material yet does not add extra weight to the overall structure. This lightweight design allows you to perform continuously and uninterruptedly on the game field. This means you not only can perform well but also can practice more with the use of this lacrosse defense head.

Thanks to its sidewall design, this lacrosse head is high in stiffness and reliable for retaining its shape. This makes it highly flexible, ultimately making the lacrosse head’s overall performance faster, stronger, and comparatively easier for the player.

Adding to its perks, the restructured speed scoop structure makes the product ideal for players looking for control over ground balls. It helps in precise catching and easy passing of the balls forward. This ensures that the lacrosse head throws the ball in the directed direction so you come across no miss-hits in the game.

Moreover, the STX brand has also added an Endura Form Technology in this lacrosse defense head for adding exceptional toughness, rigidity, and extra durability. So that the head does not damage nor has any adverse effects of external pressures on its structure. That means the head will serve you for an extended period of time.

Heads-up: The lacrosse head comes unstrung, and it takes time to prepare it.

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STX Hammer 900 Lacrosse Head is one of the best lacrosse heads for defense players that comes in a lightweight design. It has numerous extra features that make it better for defensive gameplay. It comes with Endura Form Technology, has a restructured Speed Scoop system, and has a thick sidewall design. The lacrosse head ensures you can use it for longer periods of time.

It’s been around 4 years since this Maverik Lacrosse Tank Universal Unstrung Head has been in the market, and since its launch until today, the design has been in demand back to back. It is one of the most famous lacrosse heads designed for defense lacrosse players to give them pro-level performance. With its unmatchable durability and beast-like power, the lacrosse head makes sure to provide players with sturdy and reliable equipment.

Well, there are several reasons why this lacrosse head is popular among most players, and the top among these is the presence of a level 5 bottom rail and 4-strut design. This 4-strut design enhances the sturdiness and rigidity of the lacrosse head.

On the other hand, the level 5 bottom rail technology improves the control over ground balls and is more enhanced. I have been using this lacrosse head for one and a half years, and the best thing that I personally appreciate is the presence of many stringing holes.

The stringing holes have made it possible for me to adjust it according to my need, making it reliable for most of my games. Plus, those players who are learning lacrosse can definitely go with this lacrosse head without thinking twice. It provides them with all of the features they are looking for at an affordable price.

Heads-up: If you are a professional player, you cannot use this lacrosse head because it’s not for pro players.

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Maverik Lacrosse Tank Universal Unstrung Head is the best lacrosse head for defensive players, mainly those who are just starting their lacrosse game. This lacrosse head is one of the best-known lacrosse heads to offer a wide face, high pocket, numerous holes for stringing, sturdy design, strong construction, and level 5 bottom rail for better control and superb accuracy in catching and throwing the balls.

Warrior Regulator Max Lacrosse Head is the last best lacrosse defense head that is known for its improved lightweight structure. It is another lightweight lacrosse head that comes in 11.97 x 7.2 x 2.24 inches dimensions, making it one of the best lacrosse heads for better defensive gaming. The unique thing about this lacrosse defensive head is its new, redefined structure.

The manufacturers have combined evolution and revolution lines in this lacrosse defensive head, making it a reliable choice for extended usage. These lacrosse heads provide you with amazing ball control, maximum sturdiness, and outstanding power to catch and throw the ball with high pressure and increased velocity. You, ultimately, will experience better and improved performance even in the toughest and most professional lacrosse games.

All thanks to the lightweight structure, as it ensures there is no extra pressure or any strain while installing and using this lacrosse head. Because I always prefer looking for the lacrosse heads to give me better control over the shots on the ground balls and long-distance hitting, this is one of my favorite choices in this regard. It comes with minimum inner side wall design and maximum outer side wall design, making the catching and passing of the ground balls better, precise, and easier for longer distance hitting.

Heads-up: This lacrosse head is extra fragile and easy to bend.

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Warrior Regulator Max Lacrosse Head is the next-best lacrosse defense head with a durable structure and lightweight design. It offers better ball control and ensures maximum power and strength, making it the top choice for professional lacrosse defense players.

Guide To Pick The Best Lacrosse Defence Heads

Not every defense head is ideal for lacrosse players. Suppose you are looking for the best lacrosse defense heads. In that case, you have to look for the head that can provide you with adequate ball control, precise catching and throwing of the ball, the high strength and power you need, durable construction, high flexibility, and a wider face.

Following is the list of features that you should focus on when looking for a defensive lacrosse head so that it can serve you exactly as you want.

Lightweight Design:

Lightweight design, I think, is the essential factor to consider before finalizing the lacrosse head. I will prefer you to look for lightweight lacrosse heads when purchasing for defensive players. The lightweight design will make it easier for you to make quick movements while playing.

You can perform fast actions and easily catch and throw the ball at variable angles without any pressure or strain. Always look for the lightweight lacrosse head if you are looking for the best lacrosse head for defense players so that you can experience the ultimate ball control and flexibility in throwing the ball.

Durability, Rigidity, And Stiffness:

The next important thing that you should consider when purchasing lacrosse defense heads is the durability of their structure and stiffness. Look for the lacrosse head that provides you with durable construction. It should be able to tolerate the impacts and pressures of the surroundings and should be able to handle hard checks.

It should not be fragile and should be made in a way to provide absolute stiffness. Make sure to purchase lacrosse heads that are durable in their manufacturing and are made up of high-quality construction components so that they can serve you for an extended period of time without any problems in their functioning or performance.

Stringing Holes:

Next important thing that you should pay attention to when purchasing the lacrosse defense head is stringing holes. Look for the count of stringing holes and prefer going with the lacrosse head that comes with more counts of stringing holes.

This makes the equipment adjustable and makes it possible for you to customize your pocket according to your need. There are several lacrosse heads that come with numerous stringing holes in them.

Strung Or Unstrung:

Focusing on whether the lacrosse head you’re purchasing is strung or unstrung is another important thing that you should not ignore. Look for what you personally prefer and what you want.

If you are like me, who always wants to string a lacrosse head on his own, then going with the unstrung would be a better choice. On the other hand, if you want to get ready to use a product and do not want to spend time stringing the head, going with the one that comes pre-assembled and ready to use is better.

Sidewall Construction:

The next important thing you should pay attention to is the sidewall construction of the lacrosse head you are willing to purchase. Since you are looking for a lacrosse head for defensive lacrosse players, you must look for one with thicker sidewalls.

Thicker sidewalls make the overall lacrosse head durable and reliable to face intense checks without any effects on its structure. So always make sure to look for the thicker sidewall construction of the lacrosse heads, mainly when you’re purchasing it for defense lacrosse players.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Also see: Best Defense Lacrosse Shafts