Luke, I don't see how it is even arguable. I got hit in the back of the head with a rebound from a backstop a couple weeks ago. Didn't feel a thing. Try saying that with a standard mask. I know you don't work games on fields that have rec center style wrap-around cages, but many fields here do, and foul balls hits you in the head once in a while:eek: .

I've found the best way to not worry about being hit is to just get in there and work the game. The batter might get hit. The catcher WILL get hit. Gear up, keep your eyes OPEN so you can see it and get it square in the mask instead of closing your eyes, flinching (or God help you TURNING YOUR HEAD), and keep a nice one pound New York strip steak in the freezer. IF you get hit, use it. If it's a good game and you get out one one piece, GRILL it!

im obviously not luke, but i am interested in this as well: put 2 umpires out on a regular old high school field with a regular backstop. id like to see how a HSM provides more protection there when put up against a properly adjusted original style mask. this is completely ignoring the vision differences, straight protection here.

sure, if someone delmon young's you when you arent looking in a regular mask, you might be bleeding from the ears, but other than that i just dont see a necessary protection increase

I've got an idea. Brian, since you love getting hit by the baseball anyway (I remember vaguely being young myself), why don't you borrow an HSM and go to the batting cages and do a Happy Gilmore experiment, letting shot after shot hit you in the mask. Then switch to your regular mask and take an equal number of shots to the grill. Then get back to us with your results.

One thing is for sure. I've had my regular mask spun around, knocked completely of my head, and also felt many straight on hits which actually rang my bell pretty good over the years.

In 3 seasons with the Mizuno Tsunami HSM, I have yet to feel any of the many shots I've taken to the mask. It's loud, but painless. I know of umpires who have been knocked out (cold) briefly by foul balls into regular masks, but have never heard of a single one hurt wearing an HSM.

huh...?
this is here just to satisfy the character requirement

in another thread you said you would take your bruises and love it, or words to that effect, like you enjoyed the pain of getting hit by the ball. then i said something like wait till your my age and see how you feel after 20 or 30 years of umpiring. remember now?

Tried it. Didn't like it. It felt heavy and hot and did not improve my view of balls and strikes. (However, it did improve my view of areas where I've never seen pitches go.) I went back to my mask.

I know there are those who swear by them. That's okay. I'm not on an anti-HSM campaign. Just understand that they are not for everybody.

Agreed.

Just trying to get others that have never tried the HSM to try one before judging one. You have done that and prefer the traditional.

They are hotter in the summer, IMO.

My partner came to my game last night with a brand spankin' new HSM. He praised the comfort, the larger cone of vision, and the coolness. He didn't quite have the technique down, as he tried to pull it off in situations where he should not have. However, in the seventh inning of this 16-17 y.o. game, he took a shot to the helmet. I never thought I would see this before -- but the ball somehow hit the wrong spot of the HSM and the mask dropped to the ground. He was hurting the rest of the game. I won't be switching anytime soon.

I am having a problem visualizing this. How did the mask simply "drop to the ground?" Did it get knocked off his head? They don't come off that easy. What is the "wrong spot of the HSM?"

Also, what situations don't you remove the helmet, just like you would a regular mask?

Was his head inside it at the time? This is really important.

I have been hit in the cage while wearing a Mask...I have been hit in the cage wearing an HSM.

There is no pain, head snap, or ringing in your years with an HSM.

This is the testimony of a product user. I don't run Bell Labs, so I can not perform a scientific test study for you.

But please, don't take my word for it. Keep wearing a mask. I like the way your eyeballs spin in your head when you get hit. :p

I don't believe it this is the entire story.

Either your not telling the truth, or he didn't have the HSM straps properly engaged. I have been hit from every angle you can get hit from (without turning your head), and my HSM has never budged.

So if I got into a car accident driving a Ford and didn't get hurt, and I got in a car accident while driving a Oldsmobile and broke my arm, it would be okay for me to go around telling everyone that the Ford car is much safer than the Oldsmobile? There is a reason car safety is not evaluated by these standards, and professional tests are done instead. The protection provided by different types of mask is no different.

I have seen a MLB umpire get knocked to the ground after getting hit in the head while wearing a hockey mask.

Bad analogy. Car accidents have too many variables. Try again.


Yes, but it was by an Assistant Coach, using a Thunder Stick. :(

Really though, we aren\'t talking about MLB pitchers here. We are talking primarily HS and under. But in any case, I\'ll take my chances in an HSM. Knowledge is power, and I am very powerful in my HSM !