Nike L3 Lacrosse Head
The Nike L3 Lacrosse Head, a successor to the iconic Lakota line, carves its niche as a top-tier option for midfielders. Its tight face shape enhances control and accuracy, while the deep bottom rail facilitates a mid-to-high pocket ideal for quick releases. The PowerForm material boasts increased stiffness and durability, making it a reliable companion in any condition. This head caters to advanced players seeking versatility across passing, dodging, and ground balls.
Key features include:
| • | PowerForm material for increased stiffness and toughness. |
| • | Tight face shape for control and accuracy. |
| • | Optimal shape for ground ball play. |
| • | Stringing favorite, deep mid-angle pocket setup. |
| • | Short round throat allows you to get your hand very high on the lacrosse shaft. |
Top Competitors
The L3 prioritizes a lightweight design and a shallower pocket, making it ideal for quick transitions, ground ball pickups, and facilitating checks. The STX Hyper Power leans towards a stiffer pocket and wider face shape, excelling at generating powerful shots and holds for offensive plays. The StringKing Mark 2V takes a middle ground, featuring a mid-depth pocket and a balanced face shape, offering versatility for both offensive and defensive contributions, with good pocket customization options.
Progression of the Nike L3
The Nike L3 is a rebranding of the Lakota 2 with a material upgrade. While the L3 retains the core features of the Lakota line, some players might not perceive a significant difference in feel or performance between the Lakota 2 and the L3. All three models are designed for offensive players and excel at quick release and accurate shooting.
- Lightweight and compact design provides extra ball security.
- Reinforced lower sidewall offers increased stiffness.
- Multiple stringing holes for a variety of setups.
- Built to universal specification for all levels of play.
- Lightweight and compact design provides extra ball security.
- Reinforced lower sidewall offers increased stiffness.
- Multiple stringing holes for a variety of setups.
- Built to universal specification for all levels of play.
- HyperLite™ Technology reduces the overall weight of the head.
- Secure Lacelock Technology along the sidewalls helps reinforce pocket tension.
- Narrow pinch face and offset enhance accuracy for pinpoint passes and shots.
- Optimized rounded scoop ensures easier groundball pick-up performance.
- Redesigned sidewalls boast greater stiffness for added durability and consistency.
- Changed from Lakota to L3, potentially signifying a new era for the design, but retaining the core features of the Lakota line.
- Exclusive PowerForm material for increased stiffness and toughness.
- Tight face shape for control and accuracy.
- Stringing favorite for its deep mid-angle pocket setup.
- Short round throat allows you to get your hand very high on the lacrosse shaft.
| 👍 Pros |
|---|
| Super versatile head that works for attackmen, middies, and defensemen. |
| Incredibly light, and a cinch to string. |
| One of the best middie heads in the game. Face shape is ideal for shooters. |
| 👎 Cons |
|---|
| Sidewall holes could be larger. |
| Too much pinch for me. |
| Too versatile, imo. Jack of all trades, master of none. |
The Nike Lakota 3 is a part of 13 year lineage of the Lakota family that is known for its reliability across multiple playing styles, such as both Attack and Midfield. I have also seen some LSM’s use it for the offensive and ground ball advantages that the head encompasses. The 2023 Tewaaraton Award Finalist and 1st team All-American CJ Kirst has been using this head at Cornell since the Nike Lakota 3 was released in 2021.
Jake Caldwell
