I like the traditional umpire look, complete with the traditional protective face mask. I have been contemplating a hockey style mask though for a couple of reasons.

For one, I think that it might be cooler than having to wear a wool hat under a regular mask. Two, I am starting to come around to the way it looks, having seen a few MLB umpires who now where them. Third, some of the games I do have close backstops or worse yet, wood back stops and it is just a matter of time before I catch a richocet on the back of my head. Fourth, I have heard that the view out of them is better than that of a regular mask. His High Holiness also just related a story of how he required three stitches to his face when his mask spun around after getting struck with a ball. That has got me thinking too.

So, anybody out there where the hockey style masks? Care to make any comments on how they work, if they are cooler, do you get a better view of the strike zone, etc.? What are the downsides?

Of the top 10 umpires in our association, 8 wear these masks.

I purchased mine this year and fell in love with it immediately. I had a completely different view of the strike zone and yes they are cooler. Temps here in the summer run in the high 90s with 90-99% humidity.

As for protection - My mask paid for itself the first game I worked with it on and two times since then. While wearing the old style mask this year (before I bought my helmet) in a HS Varsity game I took a foul ball off the side of the head where the ear protector is. It dazed me and knocked my mask off. This hit was different because I was kind of out of it for about 20 minutes.

My first game with my mask, I took a foul ball off the chin portion of my mask, the impact was distributed around the helmet, the mask jerked, but then quickly returned to position and I had no adverse effects. The same type situation has occured on two other occasions and I have experienced the same results.

One word of caution - don't do like I did and try your helmet out during a game situation. Go to the cage and spend some time working with it. Your perception is different with the helmet and game time isn't the time to be playing with it.

I concur with Jumpy
 

I call baseball and softball and I've been using a hockey stlye helmask for 3 years now. I was hooked on it from the very first time I used it. Trust me, you'll like it, too. If you've gotten past the "look of it", then you're going to enjoy it. I can't say that it's dramatically cooler than a cap and mask, but it's certainly no hotter. The view is great and you really don't even need to remove to make any calls, unless you just want to. Mine has definitely saved me from taking a couple of shots, since I've started using it.

I'm still going back and forth. I use my helmet at clamshell style backstops, where the balls hit straight up, come straight back down. Ever get hit on the metal button of your cap by one of those? Youch!

I like the helmet best when I remove it, and breeze blows through my sweaty hair. THAT'S when it's cool. Hat hair is not so cool, so there's the trade off. A navy blue, wool cap on a hot summer day is no picnic.

When I first started with the helmet I flinched alot. I was seeing so much more I guess my brain wasn't too sure I was protected.

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]

I have been using the hockey style helmet for three years. I personally wouldn't go back to the old mask and hat. My helmet is not any hotter than the mask and hat combo. I have found that the vision is much better, and after getting used to the view, I feel a lot more protected.

Bare headed?
 

So what about between innings, and plays at 3rd or home, when you remove the mask? Doesn't it feel a little odd to be without a hat?

Re: Bare headed?
 

Nope not at all anymore. Like I said, if you keep your hair short then it won't look like a tangled mess and thus not unprofessional.
If you notice MLB blues that use them have short hair cuts.(least the ones I have seen)

One other potential problems with the mask--especially during the first couple of times it's used: Be sure to put sunscreen on any "exposed" spots on the top of your head! That sunburn on the "solar cell" really hurts!!! JMB

I have posted the details of my experience with wearing a helmet on this website.

http://www.reegind.com/helmet.htm

A helmet is a great way to go !