Which Men's Lacrosse Head Is Best for You?
The head does most of the work in a lacrosse stick. It decides how well you catch, how the ball sits while you cradle, and how it leaves when you pass or shoot. Three things decide the right head: the position you play, your age, and whether you want it strung.
Quick Picks by Position
Know your position? Start here. Every head below is strung by our team or sold unstrung.
Attack
Mark 3A
Narrowest face and lightest Mark 3 for control and a quick release.
Midfield · All-around
Mark 3V
Pinched for ball security, flared at the scoop for ground balls.
SSDM · LSM
Mark 3T
Stiff enough to check, shaped to carry the ball up the field.
Defense
Mark 3D
Our stiffest head, with a wide face to knock down passes.
Faceoff
Mark 2F
Flexes when you clamp, then springs back to shape.
Goalie
Mark 2G Stiff
Our stiffest goalie head, for goalies facing the hardest shots.
Picks for Young Players
Youth heads have a wider face and weigh less. A wider face makes catching and scooping easier while players learn the basics.
Compare Every StringKing Head
Stiffness is rated on our own 1 to 10 scale. Weight is for the unstrung head.
Mark 3
| Head | Best for | Stiffness | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark 3A | Attack, midfield | 8.5 | 125 g |
| Mark 3V | Midfield, attack, SSDM, LSM | 9 | 135 g |
| Mark 3T | SSDM, LSM, defense | 9.5 | 142 g |
| Mark 3D | Defense, LSM | 10 | 155 g |
Mark 2
| Head | Best for | Stiffness | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark 2A | Attack, midfield | 8 | 130 g |
| Mark 2V | Midfield, attack, SSDM | 8 | 135 g |
| Mark 2T | SSDM, LSM, defense | 8.5 | 145 g |
| Mark 2D | Defense, LSM | 9 | 155 g |
| Mark 2F | Faceoff | 6 | 135 g |
| Mark 2F Stiff | Faceoff | 7 | 135 g |
| Mark 2G | Goalie | 9 | 315 g |
| Mark 2G Stiff | Goalie | 9.5 | 325 g |
Legend and Mark 1
| Head | Best for | Stiffness | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legend Senior | All positions, ages 15 & up | 8 | 140 g |
| Mark 1 | All positions, ages 10 & up | 7.5 | 145 g |
| Legend Intermediate | Ages 10–14 | 7 | 125 g |
| Legend Junior | Ages 9 & under | 6 | 110 g |
What Makes Heads Different
Face shape
Face shape is the width of the head and where it narrows. A narrow or pinched face holds the ball tighter, for more control and a more accurate release. A wide face is easier to catch with, scoops ground balls more easily, and gives a defender more area to knock down passes.
The Mark 3V is pinched in the middle and flares out at the scoop, which gives it some of both.
Stiffness
A stiff head keeps its shape when you check, take a check, or shoot hard, so your pocket throws the same way every time. Defenders want the stiffest head. Faceoff players want some flex, so the head bends when they clamp and springs back.
Weight
A lighter head is quicker to move and to shoot. A heavier head is stronger and throws harder checks. Our field heads run from 125 grams (Mark 3A) to 155 grams (Mark 3D).
Offset
Offset is the angle that drops the head below the line of the shaft. That puts the ball lower in your hands, for more hold and a more natural release. The offset is in the head, not the shaft.
Stringing holes
More sidewall holes give a stringer more options for where the pocket sits and how it releases. Mark 3 heads have 32 sidewall holes. Mark 2 and Legend heads have 29.
Mark 3, Mark 2 or Legend
Mark 3 is our newest family, made from a new, stiffer plastic that holds its shape longer. Mark 2 is the generation before it and is still a proven choice at every position. Legend is our value family, with youth sizes.
Strung, Unstrung or Custom
Strung. The head comes with our recommended pocket, strung by our team and ready to play. This is the right choice for most players.
Custom. Pick your mesh, colors and pocket, and our stringers build it for you.
Unstrung. Just the head, for players who string their own or move an old pocket over.
Not sure what pocket you want? Read everything you need to know about lacrosse pockets.
What the Pros Use
Team StringKing pros play the same heads we sell. Each replica comes strung the way the pro strings it.
Is My Head Legal?
High school rules say a men's field head must be 6 to 10 inches across the inside at its widest point.
The pocket has a depth limit too. Hold the stick level with a ball in the pocket: the top of the ball must stay above the bottom edge of the sidewall. If the ball sits lower, shorten the bottom string to make the pocket shallower.
Goalie heads are 10 to 12 inches wide and have no pocket depth limit.
At 10U and younger, players can use a boys' or a girls' stick, as long as it passes the boys' pocket test.
Questions
What's the best lacrosse head for a beginner?
For ages 9 and under, the Legend Junior or Mark Junior. For ages 10 to 14, the Legend Intermediate. For older beginners, the Mark 3V, our most versatile head.
What's the difference between the Mark 3A and Mark 3V?
The Mark 3A has a narrower face and weighs 10 grams less, for players who mostly handle the ball and shoot. The Mark 3V is stiffer and flares at the scoop, for players who also scoop ground balls and play defense.
Should a defender use a Mark 3T or a Mark 3D?
Close defensemen who check the most should use the Mark 3D. LSMs and short-stick defensive midfielders who also carry the ball up the field should use the Mark 3T.
Can I use a men's head in women's lacrosse?
Only at 10U and younger, and only if the stick passes the girls' pocket rules. From 12U up, girls' and women's lacrosse requires a women's head. See women's heads.
Is there a warranty?
Yes. Every StringKing head comes with a 6-month warranty.
Find Your Head
Every head ships strung or unstrung, with a 6-month warranty.
Shop men's heads · How to choose a stick · How to choose a shaft
Updated October 2026