No. Every shot a mask takes has the potential to dent the mask or to injure the user. A mask could get dented on the first blow it takes. That doesn't make it a bad mask as all masks (maybe not titanium masks) will dent if they are hit right. The right hit might be on the first hit the mask takes or the 100th.

The same thing happens with injuries. One could get injured using a mask then get a new one and then a 9 months have passed and he hasn't been injured again. That doesn't necessarily mean that the new mask protects better. It is quite possible that the old mask would have provided the same protection as injuries are freak things; they come up randomly. Of course some masks are better than others when it comes to dent resistance and protection but judging that by how long it takes to dent or to injure the user isn't the best grading system.

was your mask fitted properly? the only reason I'm pressing on your concussion from 10 yr old baseball is that I've been blasted w/ my SUL many times, at levels much higher than 10 yr. old ball and certain shots will always sting...but the mask has deflected...not to say it couldn't have happend to me (see LDUB's post) I guess I just never saw or heard of any injuries that occurred simply due to the fact they the ump was wearing the SUL, not that it couldn't have happened because you never know

Plenty loose. When I bend at the waist, I'll get the chin pad 2-3" off my chin.

Here's my point: A flat mask, like the ol' +POS SUL, will tend to absorb, as opposed to deflect, square shots. My blow was totally absorbed by the mask, as the ball fell at my feet.

It seems like the pads should be the thing we're discussing. Part of what makes it resilient to a blow is the constitution of the pads.

I had one like that with the titanium, and unlike the dynalite with the regular pads, the titanium with the wrap-arounds really made it much less jarring.

interesting points.

there's another site out there in cyberspace where a family member of +POS details the reasons for the company shutting down. Many good points made...

I think a lot it had to do with how squarely it hits you. You can take shots all day at your cheek bones, but one on the nose will ring your bell. The flatter the mask, the more you have a chance for a square shot, IMO.

With the HSM, the bad spot is the top of the forehead, as there's little padding there. Luckily, my All Star is fairly pointed at that spot, and I've only caught a couple flush ones.

Geez, I thought that was posted here.

I have seen two break - one of each generation. Fortunately no one was hurt (Ball didn't reach the face).

Tried one long ago & changed back after 1/2 an inning because the view was so bad (This was before I knew about the problems).

Stated by a family member on different forum, one of the things that killed +POS was lawsuits resulting from SUL mask failures/injuries.

i use mine for fastpitch h.s varsity and never had a problem! i use it for baseball also from 9-10year olds to american legion and never had a problem.taken plenty of shots over the years.im buying a HSM this year because i like the bottom area around the throat and adams apple area alot better.

Sul100 Vs Sul200
 

The Sul100 did have a design flaw. +POS was not the patent holder or the designer of the mask.

After the injury was reported to the designer, +POS was told there had been other injurys. +POS recalled the mask at the first reported injury.

A recall letter was sent to buyers. Buyers that moved, wanted to keep the mask or bought from a 3rd party and had no record did not recieve a replacement.

After the recall there were 5 additional reported injurys out of several thousand.

I spoke to a few competitors spreading rumors about the mask shattering, that is not true.

I witnessed the testing of several masks in a press. The ball was balanced on the mask frame vision bars. The press is lowered on the ball and pushed with force. The ball would go though any metal mask we tested as well as the SUL100. The Sul200 did the best, cut the ball and did not allow to go through the mask.

On a Pitching machine at 90 MPH from 4 feet the mask, the SUL100 and SUL200 preformed better then any other masks, not allowing a ball to go through.
EVERY metal mask we tested the ball went through the vision bars after 4-5 shots and denting the wire. I may do this again and post it on youtube, I will be sure to post it here.