BRIEF HISTORY OF LACROSSE HEADS

Lacrosse has Indigenous roots, dating back centuries. The original heads were carved entirely from hickory wood and strung with leather and sinew.

These traditional sticks had a fixed shape, often with a deep pocket and a long, narrow throat.

Because of their weight and limited flexibility, players focused more on cradling and passing rather than the advanced specialized heads you see today.

The plastic head was introduced in the 1970’s.
This innovation changed the game. This allowed for mass production, lighter and more durable heads as well as customization and adjustment. Suddenly, you had uniformity, better performance, and accessibility. This moment is often considered the birth of the modern lacrosse era.

In the 1980’s and 90’s, brands began to push the boundaries with new innovations.  Head shapes began to evolve. Soon you had pinched throats for better ball control, flared sidewalls, and offset heads and tech which gave players better hold and feel, leading to faster, more dynamic gameplay.

In the 2000’s heads began to cater to specific positions — attack, defense, FOGOs (faceoff get-off), goalies, etc. This led to the stringing revolution. Mesh (especially hard mesh) became dominant over traditional leathers. Innovations like mesh pockets with wax, semi-soft, and performance coatings became popular.

From the 2010’s to the present advanced developments in resins has been the epic tale. With the advancements in 3D printing & CAD design, heads are now engineered digitally for optimal flex, strength, and ball control. It’s been a fascinating evolution — and arguably, the lacrosse head is the most innovation-rich piece of equipment in the sport.