what are they wearing?

[gordon30307]

Maybe I've just been lucky but I've had hits where:

The mask gets bent.
Twisted around.
Almost knocked off.
Catcher has missed the ball completely and hits me square.

All in all some really nasty shots over the years. I only do games (99.9%) on the big field.

I use a Gerry Davis mask.

I haven't come close to getting my bell rung. Maybe I can take a "punch" or I'm a cement head as per my wife.

I sometimes wonder if the concussions occur because the mask isn't adjusted properly.

Incidentally I saw the hit and it went off the catcher and caught the PU square in the mask. I don't think it hit his collar bone.

[Kevin Finnerty]

He got two shots and as we all know, a second shot on the same bone as the first one and you're ready to leave the ground and not land. And if he took two shots on the clavicle with a ribbed protector, then I can easily understand it. Also, that part of the mask gives you a pretty good jaw shot, which is always a pretty good bell ringer.

And your mask should be so loose that it spins or completely comes off on any indirect shot. You only want to absorb the direct ones.

[gordon30307]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

He got two shots and as we all know, a second shot on the same bone as the first one and you're ready to leave the ground and not land. And if he took two shots on the clavicle with a ribbed protector, then I can easily understand it. Also, that part of the mask gives you a pretty good jaw shot, which is always a pretty good bell ringer.

And your mask should be so loose that it spins or completely comes off on any indirect shot. You only want to absorb the direct ones.

If he got hit in the collar bone he needs to either adjust his protector or buy a new one. If he was using the ribbed one then as they say "you get what you paid for."

IMO if your mask is loose a direct hit will get you twice first the ball and then the mask.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Ahem ...


A large percentage of umpires would disagree with wearing it tightly.

[gordon30307]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

Ahem ...


A large percentage of umpires would disagree with wearing it tightly.

I wear it so it stays in place. So it fits. So when I take it off my hat doesn't come off as well....... Like I said I've taken some nasty shots never had a problem.

[Kevin Finnerty]

That's cool ...to each his own. I take a good punch, too, but if I wear the mask so that it just lays there, it softened a lot of blows since I started wearing it that way. Super lightweight mask worn loosely, that's what the masters say, so that's what I do, and it really works.

[Rita C]

Originally Posted by gordon30307

IMO if your mask is loose a direct hit will get you twice first the ball and then the mask.

Loose doesn't mean it isn't in contact with your face. What it means is that if it takes a side blow it moves instead of your head.

I had one ball come off a bat this year that took my mask off so cleanly I didn't feel a thing. If it had been tight, I would have.

Rita