Helmet wearers

[etn_ump]

Originally Posted by SAump

Guys can always repeat the advantages of wearing a HSM if they feel a need.
I also have read and believe that it may provide a larger field of vision.
It may also improve the limited physical movement of our eyeballs.
But I am tired of reading the lie that a HSM improves our vision.

The advantage of a larger field of vision would place you too close to the real action. An umpire would be better off a few steps back.
Any improvement of the physical movement of eyeballs would be needless to one who is looking at the action directly in front of him.
But the vision near the periphery isn't any better than the vision directly in front of one's nose.
I think the advantages I listed above are fluff. I wish some people would stop repeating them.Like any helmet, it protects the head. You win that one.

You vigorously and tearfully ask for some people to stop repeating them and then you repeat every one of them! The word MORON comes to mind.

[SAump]

Originally Posted by etn_ump

You vigorously and tearfully ask for some people to stop repeating them and then you repeat every one of them! The word MORON comes to mind.

Actually, I repeat every one of them! Then I vigorously and tearfully ask for some people to stop repeating them. Obviously, the phrase "some people" doesn't necessarily apply to me. A HSM will not protect my head. The HSM cannot provide me with a better "vision" that I guess I may need for one situation or may not need for another. I would feel like a moron if I became an umpire after I had my vision problems improved by a HSM. Does anyone suggest vision improvement for the BU? I may be a moron for wasting my time trying to explain these things to some people. I already have enough vision to know some of those people will ignore my attempt.

[jkumpire]

Men,

I never, ever thought I would say this, but I loved the HSM.

It was a cool suny day when I used it, so as to using it on hot days I'm not sure, but yesterday it was great.

It was comfortable, it was easy to deal with, usually I kept it on between innings. I did have trouble getting it on around my glasses, but that might just take time to fix.

I never noticed a real big change in the viewing area over a regular mask.

I did have some questions about the fit, and I may have some adjustments to make on it:

1. The mask was hard to put n the correct place at first, if I put it on so my forehead hit the padded front of the HSM, the cage did not match up with my eyes, and it didn't fit well around the chin. Is there supposed to be space between the front of your head and the front of the HSM?

2. I am not really sure where my chin goes on the mask. If I put my eyes where they should be in the cage, the chin does not fit into the center of the chin pad, it seems to sit on the top of the pad. If I put it where i though the chin should sit, it was also tight around my chin.

3. I may need to tighten the back piece a little, because it did slip a little.

But overall, I was very, very surprised at the helmet, and how well it fit, esp with having a large head.

I was suing the Allstar 2000ump, which might explain a lot of why it was good. If you want a HSM, that is the one to get.

[SAump]

Originally Posted by jkumpire

Men,
I never, ever thought I would say this, but I loved the HSM.
It was a cool suny day when I used it, so as to using it on hot days { } I'm not sure, but yesterday it was great.
It was comfortable, it was easy to deal with, usually I kept it on between innings. { } I did have trouble getting it on around my glasses, but that might just take time to fix. { }
I never noticed a real big change in the viewing area over a regular mask. { }
I did have some questions about the fit, and I may have some adjustments to make on it: { }
1. The mask was hard to put in the correct place at first, if I put it on so my forehead hit the padded front of the HSM, the cage did not match up with my eyes, and it didn't fit well around the chin. Is there supposed to be space between the front of your head and the front of the HSM? { }
2. I am not really sure where my chin goes on the mask. If I put my eyes where they should be in the cage, the chin does not fit into the center of the chin pad, it seems to sit on the top of the pad. If I put it where i though the chin should sit, it was also tight around my chin. { }
3. I may need to tighten the back piece a little, because it did slip a little. { See comment 2 above, }
But overall, I was very, very surprised at the helmet, and how well it fit, esp with having a large head. { Me too, }
I was using the Allstar 2000ump, which might explain a lot of why it was good. If you want a HSM, that is the one to get.

Everytime I read this, I must stop to admire your courage for posting it. I am not saying that I disagree with your opinion of using a helmet, especially one you like. I am saying that I am not sure that this post supports the exclusive use of any helmet. I also admire the honesty in this report. I hope it works out well for you after the proper adjustments have been made. If it doesn't work out for you, I will gladly have uxley11 send you instructions on how to get rid of it on eBay. Have a great year.

[jkumpire]

Thank you for your kind words!

If you would ask some of the other posters on this forum, some of them would admit to knowing me for a while, via internet boards and the like which are gone but not forgotten.

They wil also tell you I am as traditionalist an umpire as you will find, so trying a helmet is a pretty radical thing for me. I was one of those guys who never thought a HSM was good, and I swore I would never wear anything but a mask and hat. I'm not toally sold on it yet, but I am impressed with it.

I do hope to get some guidence about fitting these things a little better, and I'll wear it somemore, and see where we go with it. But I will be able to tell my new umpire students in the future that if they want to go with an HSM, go for it.