[cowbyfan1]

Been wearing the hockey mask for 3 years now and love it.

Upside: I call in 90-105 temps with humidity and overall it is cooler.
Downside: I carry a small hand towel with me on really hot days to wipe sweat since there is no hat to catch it. I keep the towel in my second bag.

Upside: Vision is much better.
Downside: go to a cage first so you can get used to it or you will probably flinch, especially with the pitches that come in at your face.

Upside: Offers awsome protection. Not as loud when you get hit in the head as a batting helmet does. Back of head protected from rebounds with close in backstops. I took a foul tip straight into the facemask that actually slightly bent a bar on the facemask part and it did not hurt at all.

Downside: Bit bulky feeling when giving that safe call with it off. Needs to be buffed to get ball scuffs off when you do get hit.

Tips to keep in mind if you get one.
1. Put lock tight on the screws on the back of the helmet so they don't come undone during a ball game. I had this problem and I ended up unscrewing the screws to really cover all I could with the lock tight and have not had a problem since. I also keep a small screw driver that has interchangable flat tip and phillips heads in my ball bag in case a screw does come apart during a game. Have not had to use it in over a year tho since I used the lock tight.

2. To buff I got buffing compound and a buffing pad that fits my electric hand drill. Works great to shine it up and get the ball scuffs off. Only takes a few minutes.

3. Keep your hair short so it doesn't look as bad when it gets messed up behind the plate. Plus this will help keep you cooler on the hot days.

4. I tossed a baseball up in the air and let it hit my facemask with it on my head, while laying on my bed, to get over the flinching problem.

[Edited by cowbyfan1 on Sep 28th, 2004 at 03:13 AM]