Head Check
Overview
A head check is a minimal-exposure peek where a player quickly raises or tilts their head to gather information without committing to a full snapshot or wide lean.
Key Points
- Used to confirm opponent positions or active lanes.
- Minimizes exposure compared to full body peeks.
- Often executed from tight bunker contact.
- Essential for timing bumps and reading threats.
- Requires precision to avoid chip eliminations.
Details
A head check is a micro-peek movement used to gather visual information while exposing as little of the mask as possible. Unlike shot-ready snapshots, head checks are purely reconnaissance: the player lifts or angles their mask edge just enough to confirm whether opponents are looking, shooting, bumping, or repositioning.
Proper head checks are extremely brief, relying on rhythm, timing, and anticipation. Players must avoid predictable patterns repeated or prolonged head checks lead to chip shots and easy eliminations. Head checks combined with audio cues help construct an accurate mental map of field states.
Elite players sequence head checks before bumps, wraps, or angle switches, ensuring safe transitions without giving unnecessary information to opponents.
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