throat protectors?

[ozzy6900]

That "cumbersome chuck of foam at the neck area" is there to close off the throat area. If you adjust the WV Platinum properly, this bumper touches the bottom of the mask when you are set. I've used the WV Platinum for years and taken many hits to that area - nothing got through to my throat.

I see no value in chopping up a protector just to fit a dingle-dangle throat guard. Just my opinion.

[pdxblue]

My dangling throat protector has save my throat many times over. I would never consider going out without one!

[LLPA13UmpDan]

I use a ProNine chest protector and a Wilson 3019 mask. I wear one. In fact, almost everyone in LL i know uses one. However i did use it for one game without the throat guard. I would strongly suggest everyone wear one. Never know when a ball could get up and in there.

[nickrego]

I wear one, even though my USM (Umpire Style Helmet) has an extended cage. I get hit in the 'hanging protector' several times per year.

My son used to not wear one, until he took one in the throat. Now, he doesn't care how stupid they look, he's never without it.

[TussAgee11]

Nick - does he play LL? they mandate the throat protector. Cal Ripken should do the same, but they are idiots IMO when it comes to saftety (10 year olds with on deck circles?)

One problem I have with my WV Platinum is that, being a small guy, I can't get it to come up so far for that bumper to touch the mask. It sags a bit, and the straps won't get any tighter...

[nickrego]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

Nick - does he play LL? they mandate the throat protector. Cal Ripken should do the same, but they are idiots IMO when it comes to saftety (10 year olds with on deck circles?)

My son is 19 years old, and umpires at all the same levels I do. He no longer plays, only officiates.

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

One problem I have with my WV Platinum is that, being a small guy, I can't get it to come up so far for that bumper to touch the mask. It sags a bit, and the straps won't get any tighter...

Never heard of such a thing. If you want your chest protection to come up to, and touch the bottom of your mask, you need to switch to an outside Balloon protector.

[LLPA13UmpDan]

Originally Posted by Tim C

You probably carry an indiclickercounter on the bases too.

I take offense to that comment. Hey, I use one

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by nickrego

...my USM (Umpire Style Helmet)...

Must be a typo. You obviously mean your "USH", or Umpire Style Mask.

[SAump]

I didn't like the dangling throat protector swinging off the bottom bar of my mask. So I attached it to a bar near the chin and held it firmly in place. Now I have been hit at least a 1/2 dozen times to the top of the mask, the center and the bottom and I have three different reactions.

1) the top of the mask - every now and then the top bar of the mask slams into my head and this hurts. Other than visual symmetry and tunneling vision, I can't figure why so much useless padding is inserted beneath the top bar. I wish they would redesign padding between the top bar and one's head. I have learned to make sure to adjust the mask slightly higher to get more use from the top edge of padding than I get from the bar. It hurts a second but I recover quickly. The pain goes with the job.

2) the center of the mask - often the most frightening. Once the initial shock and flinch wear off, I get an internal laugh out of it because I admit I was scared of something that didn't really hurt at all. My mindset begins to question the damage to the integrity of the face cage because what I don't know may hurt me later. I now worry more about the next one, than the last one. The worry goes with the job.

3) the bottom of the mask with added throat protector - often the loudest and a win win. Once I added the throat protector, I worry less about this area of the mask. The hard plastic TP, the metal bars, and the padding combine to provide the best possible protection. It doesn't hurt, I don't flinch, and I know that cheap throat protector adds to the overall strength and integrity of the mask. Let's strap it on.

[TussAgee11]

Originally Posted by SAump

I didn't like the dangling throat protector swinging off the bottom bar of my mask. So I attached it to a bar near the chin and held it firmly in place. Now I have been hit at least a 1/2 dozen times to the top of the mask, the center and the bottom and I have three different reactions.

1) the top of the mask - every now and then the top bar of the mask slams into my head and this hurts. Other than visual symmetry and tunneling vision, I can't figure why so much useless padding is inserted beneath the top bar. I wish they would redesign padding between the top bar and one's head. I have learned to make sure to adjust the mask slightly higher to get more use from the top edge of padding than I get from the bar. It hurts a second but I recover quickly. The pain goes with the job.

2) the center of the mask - often the most frightening. Once the initial shock and flinch wear off, I get an internal laugh out of it because I admit I was scared of something that didn't really hurt at all. My mindset begins to question the damage to the integrity of the face cage because what I don't know may hurt me later. I now worry more about the next one, than the last one. The worry goes with the job.

3) the bottom of the mask with added throat protector - often the loudest and a win win. Once I added the throat protector, I worry less about this area of the mask. The hard plastic TP, the metal bars, and the padding combine to provide the best possible protection. It doesn't hurt, I don't flinch, and I know that cheap throat protector adds to the overall strength and integrity of the mask. Let's strap it on.

Plus the throat guard makes a really loud noise, which creates some "you alright Blue's" which are always fun.

[nickrego]

Originally Posted by GarthB

Must be a typo. You obviously mean your "USH", or Umpire Style Mask.

Thanks Garth