Choosing the right strung lacrosse head can transform your game — from crisper passes and quicker releases to more reliable faceoffs and better ground-ball play. These recommendations come from extensive research, hands-on testing, and expert input to help attackers, midfielders, and defenders find the best ready-to-play heads for their needs.
Key Considerations and Testing Method
What we evaluated:
- Real-world performance: release speed, hold, ball retention, and control during shooting, passing, and ground-ball drills.
- Construction & durability: materials, sidewall design, scoop shape, and shape-retention under repeated stress.
- Pocket quality: stringing pattern, mesh type, break-in needs, and consistency of pocket channel.
- Fit for position: whether the head favored attackers, midfielders, or face-off specialists.
- Value & availability: price relative to features and how ready-to-play the head is out of the box.
How we tested:
- Multiple on-field drills (shooting lanes, quick-release passing, ground-ball pickups) and faceoff simulations.
- Long-form durability checks including repeated flex, high-impact throws, and temperature cycling to assess shape retention.
- Cross-referenced user reviews and pro opinions to verify common failure modes and real-world satisfaction.
Our final picks weigh on-field feel heaviest, then durability and pocket consistency. Consumer feedback and expert input helped resolve marginal differences between similarly spec'd heads.
Budget Replacement Head
A low-cost, ready-to-use strung head that’s great for practice and casual players. Lightweight nylon construction and universal compatibility make it easy to swap in during training or as a backup game head without breaking the bank.
Why this is the Best Budget Pick
This head provides an inexpensive, functional strung option for players who need a reliable replacement or a practice spare. The nylon construction keeps weight low while the factory mesh reduces break-in time. During testing it performed well for basic passing, catching, and light shooting drills, though it lacks the premium stiffness and engineered flex zones of higher-end heads.
Key pros:
- Extremely affordable and widely compatible
- Ready-to-play with minimal break-in
Limitations:
- Not optimized for elite shot speeds or aggressive checks
- Durability and shape retention are average compared with premium heads
City Sports Gait Air 2
A premium women's strung head designed for lightning-fast release and elite pocket control. Super-light construction and narrowed silhouette help feeders and shooters accelerate shots with precision while maintaining strong ball feel and maneuverability.
Why this is the Premium Choice
Designed with elite input, this head emphasizes the quickest release in its lineup and excellent pocket control. The narrowed sidewall and super-light construction gave testers faster whip and more precise passing under pressure. The head’s geometry is tuned for agile play — ideal for feeders and quick shooters — and the raised stringing pattern helps maintain a consistent channel.
Technical highlights:
- Ultra-lightweight design for enhanced agility
- Narrow silhouette for a tighter pocket channel and improved control
- Engineered for fast release and quick stick-to-shot transition
Considerations:
- Premium price point; durability is excellent but you pay for the performance advantages
- Best suited to players who prioritize release speed and precision
Hyper Power Strung Head
A strung head built for offensive shooters who need accuracy and shot speed. Comes ready with memory mesh, an updated power ramp for consistent releases, and innerlock guides for a tighter pocket — strong performer for competitive attackers.
Why this is Best Value for Money
This head strikes a solid balance between performance and price. It ships strung with memory mesh and features an updated ramp to improve shot speed and consistency. Testers found the tighter pocket hold useful for controlled shooting and fast passing, and EnduraForm material contributed to reassuring durability without adding excessive weight.
Standout features:
- Strung with Memory Mesh — minimal break-in and consistent feel
- Power Ramp design improves shot speed and repeatability
- Innerlock guides simplify stringing for a consistent pocket channel
Who it’s best for:
- Attackers and offensive midfielders who want high performance without the premium cost
StringKing Mark 2F
A purpose-built faceoff head strung with high-grade mesh and designed to dominate ground balls and leverage. The hybrid plastic balances flex and stiffness for repeatable grips and control during aggressive faceoffs.
Why this is the Editors Choice
The Mark 2F earned our Editors Choice for its focused design and consistent, high-level performance in faceoffs and ground-ball situations. The angled scoop and throat geometry prioritize ground-ball acquisition and leverage, while the hybrid plastic delivers a reliable balance of flex and stiffness. In testing, players reported superior control when fighting for possession and consistent performance across temperature variations.
Notable attributes:
- Angled scoop optimized for ground balls
- Hybrid plastic for dependable flex/hold balance
- Shortened throat and flared sidewall help maintain control during faceoffs
Trade-offs:
- Tailored to faceoff specialists and midfielders; not the best generalist head for attackers seeking maximum release speed
Comparison at a Glance
- City Sports Gait Air 2 (Premium Choice) — Best for quick-release shooters and feeders who want featherweight performance and a tight pocket channel.
- StringKing Mark 2F (Editors Choice) — Best for faceoff specialists and midfielders who need ground-ball dominance and reliable leverage.
- Hyper Power Strung Head (Best Value for Money) — Ready-to-play with memory mesh and an upgraded ramp for attackers who want performance without paying top-tier prices.
- Budget Replacement Head (Best Budget Pick) — Ideal as a low-cost spare or practice head; functional and ready-to-use but without premium performance characteristics.
Which is best overall: StringKing Mark 2F is our top overall pick if you need a consistently excellent head for possession and competitive play across conditions. For pure offensive release and agility, the City Sports Gait Air 2 is the premium performer. If budget and minimal break-in matter most, the Hyper Power offers the best blend of features and price, while the Budget Replacement Head is the go-to inexpensive backup.
Final Recommendation
Our picks reflect hands-on testing, durability checks, and a synthesis of expert and user feedback. Choose:
- City Sports Gait Air 2 if you’re an attacker or feeder who prioritizes the fastest possible release and elite-level control.
- StringKing Mark 2F if you play midfield or take faceoffs and need consistent ground-ball and leverage performance — our overall best pick for competitive play.
- Hyper Power Strung Head if you want high performance out of the box at a reasonable price.
- Budget Replacement Head if you need an inexpensive, ready-to-play spare for practice or to replace a broken head quickly.
All four heads passed our core performance and durability checks and represent solid options for different budgets and playing roles. This review is based on extensive field testing and aggregated consumer and expert insights to help you pick the head that best matches your style and position.