Chest Protector

[GarthB]

Originally posted by Rick Friedmann
I'll be moving up from bases to plate this season (high-school age travel teams, and high school varsity next season) Should I look at the Honigs or ProNine protectors at all, or only the West Vests? Is the advantage to the West Vest the deflection plates or is there more to set them apart from the fabric-and-pads chest protectors?

Also, does anyone wear Itech protectors?

The mundane first: Get a hard shelled protector. Carlucci, West Vest Gold and Douglas are, in my opinion the best, in that order.

Now for the more interesting: Does your association actually make one work nothing but bases for a season or longer and then "move you up" to the plate?" Really? Where are you located that this happens?