Stiffest/strongest heads?

[Last Don]

I'm kind of an old guy by this forum's standards, so I'm not up on all the new heads that are out there. I'm 23, and haven't gotten a new stick since my freshman year of college. I got my stick when the team ordered equipment, fell in love with it, and refused to get a new one. In fact, my back-up sticks are identical to the one I play with.

Anyway, I'm in my second year of club ball in the ALL, and am starting to look at other stick options. I play with an Edge Aero with a perfect pocket, and a Brine Ignite Supra (or Optra, whichever the 7075 is), and I have two of these.

I'm a defensemen, so I'm looking to find the strongest, most rigid head out there. I need something that's going to hold up to my checks. As far as shafts, I'll just buy the lightest one I can afford when I go to get a new one.

Also, do any of you know which stringing style would be most like the perfect pocket, since I can't find anywhere that will still string a perfect pocket?

Thanks ya'll.

[James]

An H2 would be one of your choices. As for the strining its entirely up to you, preference. Experiment alittle

[Last Don]

Thanks man. I'm hesitant to change my rig up at all, but I'm startin to get concerned. My current A stick held up to 4 years of NCAA play, and is in its second year of play in club, and it's going strong, but I've gotta be prepared for when she finally breaks down.

I'm familiar with the more traditional styles of stringing, like the normal meshes, cause I've been the playing the game for a while, but all these crazy different styles that everyone has are alien to me. I'd kill to find someone that could string another perfect pocket. That thing has been my savior.

[lax_crazy027]

As said above the H2 would be something to look into as well as the Gait Chaos or Brine E3. Id just use mesh if I was in your position, less hassle and less maintenance. And when you get mesh just how you like it you never have to touch it again.

[LAXblob]

Revo's or Revo Pro's are pretty stiff and good for D. I would suggest that as for stringing i would just go with normal hardmesh.

[Torque42]

my torque is stifff.. revo pro maybe and an H2 with hard mesg

[wiggidawack]

im a poke/slap strong defender, I use a revo pro and have played with wizards, i love botha nd am getting a mohawk mission, i recommend any of these, from experience

[Last Don]

Seriously, I can't find an "H2" anywhere, and have no clue what a mohawk mission is.

I've been out of the stick market for a while guys. I found my stick, and stuck with it. It's like my soulmate.

[Project X]

Harrow stuff is hard to find, you can buy it at harrowsports.com and I know there is another site that sells it for a bit cheaper (like 10 bucks) but I can't think of it right now. I'd also recommend you look for an X2 here in the B/S/T of the forums, I picked a used one up and its a beast, great D head. I also have a Bionic which is pretty nice, its strong and also pretty stiff. Oh, and a lot of people like the Warrior Revo and Revo Pro for defense, they are both stiff, I'm pretty sure the Pro is stiffer, but the original has a wider face for knocking down/catching passes.

[RamLacrosse]

you can go to e-lacrosse.com and get a wizard. Thats stiff. I wouldnt recommend the e3 because it warps easily undder the checks.


Brine EDGE. STX X2. those are the 2 i would recommend after the wizard. I think traditional stringing would be great for the edge but i would go with mesh for the other 2.

[Last Don]

Rams, you're basically describing what I use now. I have a perfect pocket in an old school Edge Aero. My concern is that it's hard to find those now.

Thanks man.

[Longpole5435]

X2, no question, one of the best heads ever made, THE BEST for poles
try this site for older heads, its a canadian company
http://www.docksteadersports.com/masterhome.htm

[wolfie8914]

Debeer Shockwave........amazing old school head.

[Canada_Lax]

a wizard for sure...

[WSWDpole33]

for updated, top of the line heads, the revo pro and razer pro are both really good strong heads, but may put a dent in ur wallet, ranging from $80-$110. If your lookin cheaper, original warrior revo, gait wizard, or the harrow h2. If you can find it, and x2 is good as well. I have both the razer pro and revo pro, and both have been through a lot, and i play pole as well. I would say im moderately aggressive, and throw pokes when i need to, but im also a slap dman.

[Last Don]

Thanks guys. I'm looking into possibly getting a Wizard.

I'm not so keen on Warriors, because I've broken a few in my day. Maybe they're better now.

Which shafts would ya'll recommend? If I go with a Wizard, I'm probably going to get an 803. Like I said above, I'm uber-aggressive. I throw lots of checks, and insanely hard ones. Plus, some of the guys I play against are huge (ALL), so I need tough, durable equipment.

I'll probably wait until the end of the season sales to pick up a stick. My season is almost over, and the next thing I have to worry about is the tournament season (Charm City, Ocean City, Laxtoberfest, etc.).

[Project X]

803 may suit you really well, or it may not... It is really light, but from what I understand it can dent/bend pretty easy. I personally have Kryptolyte, and its bent slightly, so if you throw really hard checks, you could probably bend one no problem. I'd look into Harrows if I were you, I have a teammate with one and its a great shaft, and from what I hear it won't bend or dent, but eventually will just break, and even when that happens you will have already had great use out of it, or if not, you will just get a new one under the one year warranty.

[Ironwolf]

I'm kind of an old guy by this forum's standards, so I'm not up on all the new heads that are out there. I'm 23, and haven't gotten a new stick since my freshman year of college. I got my stick when the team ordered equipment, fell in love with it, and refused to get a new one. In fact, my back-up sticks are identical to the one I play with.

Anyway, I'm in my second year of club ball in the ALL, and am starting to look at other stick options. I play with an Edge Aero with a perfect pocket, and a Brine Ignite Supra (or Optra, whichever the 7075 is), and I have two of these.

I'm a defensemen, so I'm looking to find the strongest, most rigid head out there. I need something that's going to hold up to my checks. As far as shafts, I'll just buy the lightest one I can afford when I go to get a new one.

Also, do any of you know which stringing style would be most like the perfect pocket, since I can't find anywhere that will still string a perfect pocket?

Thanks ya'll.


One of the guys on my team has a whicked STX Proton with a fantastic pinch job. Usually, being a goalie, I'm not so pro at the Indian Pick-up, but with this little number, it's like nothing. I've nick-named it the Hoover (like the vacuum); sucks up everything that comes near it :D

He has a fairly long Harro shaft as well, very nice to play with. Good reach, tons of torque on the shot. Great for deqing.

[goalie1215]

dont get a harrow. they break like no other. if you werent concerned with weight so much i would suggest a wooden shaft on an h2 but....id say throw an h2 on your aero, those things (aeros) are like amazing from what ive heard.

oh yeah pinching and dyeing the h2 doesnt void its warrenty :agree: :agree:

[Buzz1991]

Definatly a bionic, its like half an inch thick.

[lax_crazy027]

Alright guys dont just say a head and say its the best, tell why you think its the best and also tell about its weaknesses.

Personally if I was in your position I would try to find a STX X2 or Debeer Wizard because they are both proven tanks and are wide. In my experiences going to camps and playing at the varsity high school level the kids I have talked to who own them have no complaint from the defensive end, and said they havent had a problem with their durability after 2, 3, and 4(STX X2) years with them.
As for a shaft if you could find one a F15 or F22 would be a decent choice because of their durability and they also are fairly light. I have used both Harrow dshafts and the Brine F15 and liked them both. The Harrow shaft had a much more solid feel to it, to me it did not feel that heavy. I have also used an 803 and from what you have said about your style of play I would try to stay away from it. For the money its a good shaft but I dont think that it would last you very long, but than again if you want lightweight this shaft is very lightweight

[RockStar]

Seriously, I can't find an "H2" anywhere, and have no clue what a mohawk mission is.

I've been out of the stick market for a while guys. I found my stick, and stuck with it. It's like my soulmate.

Take a long look at a Mohawk Mission before you buy anything else -www.mohawkintlacrosse.com . It's cheap, has a great shape and is tough as nails. If you like straight heads as opposed to offset, the Mission Extreme is for you.....one of the only non-beginner straight heads still available.

Bonus 1 - Mohawk International is still owned by Natives, so factory stringing is probably by a Mohawk Indian......I've dealt with a couple Mohawk heads and they're typically ready to play right off the shelf.

Bonus 2 - They'll factory pinch anyway you like.

Harrow H2 might be OK too. They're kind of weird looking though and I've heard mixed reports from the handful of guys I know who've tried them.

[jnico129]

the strongest head ive seen some one use is the origonal revo not the revo pro but the revo. my friend revo was old and he wanted a new one. it took us and hour to break it it is too stiff and solid to break in like 6 months.


400 posts

[FastBackAttack]

no doubt about it, edge aero's a beast, and especially for a d-pole. but its face is way tooo wide, now-a-days.
not that it doesnt deserve love. my first head right there. but i'd check out the x2, revolution, wizard, or the brine vapor if i were you. all nasty for a long-pole.

[stinisonfire]

Go with a STX GForce. Those things are super stiff. As a bonus, it has the teeth for those attackmen.

[MinnetonkaLax]

my original edge that my coach gave me is a figgen tank, im gonna string it up and use it as my game head with the pinch "as-is" u can get the edge for cheap at great atlantic i beleive so if u wanna stick with the edges thats another option for you

[cloo24]

from my lax experience you'd be best suited for a Gait/Debeer wizard with a brine f15(if you can find it) i've never seen or heard of a wizard breaking and it's the stiffest head i've ever used. The f15 is solid again i've never heard of a bend or break with an f15 and if you can find one it won't put a dent in your wallet. I'd keep away from any sort of ignite series shaft since i've seen and heard multiple instances where they snap in half.

[crazydrew86]

yes ignites dent/break/are crap. from your description of your playing style they wouldnt fit you at all. if you want something strong that will last a while go titanium or kpro. as an attackman i have felt the pain of both these shafts and fooled around with both in practice. i have never seen a kpro break nor a ti. they are both quite expensive but they dont tend to break so it may be a good investment

[FastBackAttack]

from my lax experience you'd be best suited for a Gait/Debeer wizard with a brine f15(if you can find it) i've never seen or heard of a wizard breaking and it's the stiffest head i've ever used. The f15 is solid again i've never heard of a bend or break with an f15 and if you can find one it won't put a dent in your wallet. I'd keep away from any sort of ignite series shaft since i've seen and heard multiple instances where they snap in half.

f15 is beast, but my first f15 took a maaaajor dent at the top when my friend was goofing off looknig for a ball, hit it against a tree. however, the f15 powergrip that i have now is quite worthy of admiration. i'd go db803 for a long pole personally.

[Last Don]

I'm heading down to LaxWorld tomorrow. I'll have to check things out first-hand. I appreciate ya'll's input, and I do think I'm going to have to upgrade my shaft to titanium or something like it. I have a penchant for bending shafts and breaking heads, so I might have to denegrate my old, reliable stick to back-up duty, and invest in something new and really bad ***.

I may send the head away to get a Rock-it Pocket. I hear they're bad ***, and I lack the necessary skills to string something that nice.

[mase005]

H2 www.harrowsports.com

[slinkyspine]

H2 Harrowsports.com

X2 Out of production check local stores

Revo Pro Warriorlacrosse.com

Wizard Out of production check local stores

Any MIL head Mohawkinternationallacrosse.com

[RFC]

the wizard is extremely tough from my experience, i once tried to break once to get a new one while still under warranty, it was so tough that it took a very sharp edged pole and about 100 hits to break it, and it was so mutilated from the hits they would accept it, it was obviously broken on purpose. i say the wizard is a great d head aswell as the original edge.

[mkd1230]

what about the BIONIC yea baby that thing is hot

[ByrdDpole]

Edge Plus is the stiffest head ever made. I've driven into the ground, stepped on it and it bareley beant. Thing needs vices to be pinched.I've had mine a few days and love it, looking forward to using it next season.

www.rock-itpocket.com has them, and the only ones I've seen for commercial sale. They have alot of old school heads too, including edge aeros.

EDIT: I'd like to add I got normal hard mesh strung from rock it pocket, and it was broken in the day I got it. I played catch with it (you may have to play with the shooters loose to get the right whip level) and that thing is already almost illegal.

[cgv1016]

edge-very stiff, stiffest, x2, e3,

[NEMESIS_keeper]

wow no one like a Triton in here. those are wicked strong. they are like a brick

[lax4life6]

yeah man check out the STX titanium. its a beast.

[LaxKing101]

The db803 is a really light shaft more suited for attack men. It is currently the lightest shaft on the market. The lightness comes at a price though, they can deant pretty easily. For D you will want a heavier and more durable shaft. Personally I think one of the best D shafts is the CU31 Platinum Alloy. It is light(but stil heavy enough to give hard checks), very strong, and only costs about $55!!! The following are some good d head, and shafts.


some good d heads are:
Revo, Revo Pro, H2, E3, G Force, Wizard, X2, Chaos, Bionic, and Evolution.

some good d shafts are:
CU31, F15, Titan, Titan Pro (or any other titanium shaft), Krypo Pro, or a Harrow Box Shaft.

[RamLacrosse]

Bionic is also a great head

[laxstarmp]

all the heads in the edge seiries are strong,but bionics are almost destructable. my brother has a warrior revo and the have so much sidewall it's discusting-he's a dpole GOOD LUCK

[laxstargt]

Rock-itpocket also has the wizard head. My friend just picked one up from there a couple of weeks ago.

[checklax]

A bionic is stiff, durable, and strong. It'll make such a good checking stick head. Plus its thick and heavy, just really really strong.

[bigdawg10]

If you want a shaft for D tha is light, but als really strong, then go w/ a Scandium. i got mine 3 yrs ago and it hasnt even dented. its not as cheap or light as the db803, but its not as heavy and expensive as the Titanium sticks. i got mine for around 125. as for heads, i agree w/ all those that say the Chaos. it is light and stiff. i like to shove it into guys stomachs when i slide, and all the heads i had previously warped becasue of that. the chaos didnt.

[Last Don]

After hitting up LaxWorld, I decided to go with a Bionic on a Zirconium shaft. After looking at my finances, I couldn't justify spending $200+ on titanium, so I went with this set up.

I've played with it a bit, but I find that the scoop in the Bionic is weird. The shape doesn't really track the ball into the pocket. It allows for a good scoop at a high angle, but it doesn't retain the ball on those particular scoops.

So far, this is my only complaint. I'll let you guys know how it does this weekend in the Charm City Classic!!!

[crazydrew86]

zirconium is pretty weak. but i have never used it in a game. the bionic is loved by all the dmen i know. as far as stringing goes, you probably gat a factory string job since you bought it from lax world. you should take that out a soon as possible. i doubt you will get another perfect pocket because that was sreated by bacharach and they went out of bisinuss(im pretty sure if not correct me). i if you are haviing trouble retaining the ball you should string it up with 5 diamond to increase hold.

[Last Don]

I actually put a pita pocket in there, because I love traditional.

My issue with ball retention isn't throughout my cradle, etc. it's only on the scoop. When scooping the ball, the angle of the scoop/head doesn't seem to accept the ball down into the pocket. The stick scoops well, but it doesn't want to hold the ball down low, it seems like there is a hump that the ball doesn't go over.

If I scoop perfectly, it's not an issue, but it is if I'm lazy and on the run. I know this shouldn't be an issue and I should scoop in a textbook manner every time, but let's be realistic, that's not going to happen.

Also, Bacharach is out of business. They still have a website, but it's owned by Great Atlantic.

The guy at LaxWorld said Bacharach's stringer has the Perfect Pocket patented, so I reckon I'll have to wait until the patent runs out.

[$uperman15]

edge aero 30 bucks
http://sportsoutfit.com/products/3/582?cat=1

[cougarlax10]

STX Proton. its used by a lot of d-men I know and it a nice wide head, but still has all the ball control you need.

but, if you can find another Edge Aero from the site stated by superman, I'd go with that.

[Formerlaxdemon]

Actually, if you are looking for the strongest Edge, try and find an Edge Plus!

I would love to have one of those babies.

[BelliesLax]

If you are looking for a really strong pole id buy an stx titanium i know people that have played 2+ seasons and still have no dents or bends

[MeTHLax18]

yoo man.
brine ripper is good.

[cougarlax21]

http://sportsoutfit.com/products/3/582?cat=1

I found this in another thread, I don't know if you want this but I thought I would throw it out there.

[HRLAXER]

i have an edge plus. but it has no pinch and i dont want to ruin it by pinching it. i use the revolution and the X2. i used a revo pro and it didnt seem that strong to me. and also it warps way too fast for a poke check kind of defenseman.

and as for shafts i got a real nice scandium for 135. its super light and not THAT expensive.

[Mr.Pockets19]

from my lax experience you'd be best suited for a Gait/Debeer wizard with a brine f15(if you can find it) i've never seen or heard of a wizard breaking and it's the stiffest head i've ever used. The f15 is solid again i've never heard of a bend or break with an f15 and if you can find one it won't put a dent in your wallet. I'd keep away from any sort of ignite series shaft since i've seen and heard multiple instances where they snap in half.

A guy on my team broke his f15, snapped it right in half, but it was in box, so i guess its not likely to happen in field

[laxattack333]

is the x3 any good

[LaxMaxVince]

I have an E3, and its very stiff and durable. Its lasted me a year and its still going strong. Also, the Revo Pro is a great D head. Also strong and stiff.

[laxhockey1563]

You can buy an F15 from probosslacrosse.com I've heard they're great shafts

[lax4life6]

I actually put a pita pocket in there, because I love traditional.

My issue with ball retention isn't throughout my cradle, etc. it's only on the scoop. When scooping the ball, the angle of the scoop/head doesn't seem to accept the ball down into the pocket. The stick scoops well, but it doesn't want to hold the ball down low, it seems like there is a hump that the ball doesn't go over.

If I scoop perfectly, it's not an issue, but it is if I'm lazy and on the run. I know this shouldn't be an issue and I should scoop in a textbook manner every time, but let's be realistic, that's not going to happen.

Also, Bacharach is out of business. They still have a website, but it's owned by Great Atlantic.

The guy at LaxWorld said Bacharach's stringer has the Perfect Pocket patented, so I reckon I'll have to wait until the patent runs out.

can you put up a picture of the perfect pocket? i dont know what one looks like.

[TRIPLE THREAT]

yeah a wizard is good, but its almost impossible to find them.

[CHSLax14]

I have a revo pro and it's not that strong.....i used it for like a season and it's starting to get flexy.....sigh hopefully the x2 i'm gettin will be better

[Mikehenry8742]

Get the WIZARD its so stiff, and it hurts to get hit with. also very durable.

[EI Lacrosse26]

guys he already bought the bionic i think its safe to say this thread can get closed