Gerry Davis Chest Protector Testing

[mrm21711]

Originally Posted by kylejt

Why? I mean it looks like a K1 with a big hunk o' white plastic jammed on it, like an "Opps, we should have been a hard shell all along". Plus you'll look like a '58 Edsel is trying to drive through your black shirt. At least the Davishield is cool looking.

I think Honig's makes a big mistake trying to directly compete with the Wilson Platinum & Gold in terms of price. Without knowing specifics about their sales volume, I would have to believe they would be more successful selling the K1 or this one at around $99 or so. Although they finally reduced the K1 price, they introduced this one. At a price of $150, theres no reason to buy this product IMO.

[kylejt]

Originally Posted by mrm21711

I think Honig's makes a big mistake trying to directly compete with the Wilson Platinum & Gold in terms of price. Without knowing specifics about their sales volume, I would have to believe they would be more successful selling the K1 or this one at around $99 or so. Although they finally reduced the K1 price, they introduced this one. At a price of $150, theres no reason to buy this product IMO.

I can get a platinum for $135. So any competitor has to prove it's A. Better than a Platinum/Gold, B. Be a better deal. This rig is neither. And a big white oval on your chest just shouts "STUPID!"

I don't care what that dopey Davis chart says, I know better.

Now, if All Star integrates the ideas I gave them into their new c/p(carbon fiber, mesh backing, velcro adjustments, Cool Max, washable) THEN I'd consider changing. The Honig's and Davis models have missed badly. No soup for them.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by kylejt

Now, if All Star integrates the ideas I gave them into their new c/p(carbon fiber, mesh backing, velcro adjustments, Cool Max, washable) THEN I'd consider changing.

I look forward to a new and improved All-Star. After working about 30 plate games in the Fall NABA league and serving as the test dummy for the CPU30, I am extremely disappointed in the protection that it (doesn't) provide. A longer model would also be another great suggestion, perhaps offering 3 sizes like many hard shell models do (13, 15 and 17" would be about right). I took quite a beating and felt nearly every shot that hit the CPU30, and that just shouldn't be the case for a $140 + protector.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Go for the Gold, baby. Go for the Gold. The Platinum's great too. But the Gold is the sh!t.

The others don't need to exist.

[kylejt]

I've been using a drilled out baseball glued to a stick for years as a teaching aid. When umpires are behind the plate, it's easy to demonstrate ball position, to make sure they aren't blocked out.

I had an old graphite golf shaft hanging around, so I Gorilla Glued (good stuff) a ball to the end of it. It's got a nice grip, and works well for instruction.

When I got the Davishield, I really liked the fit and construction. But, I was dubious of the thickness of the padding, and whether the panels would lock up on impact. I could have had someone throw balls at me, or fired up the Jugs machine and hope for the best. Naw. To test it properly I needed to take hits in specific places.

My son is a decent golfer, and a long (300+ yd) ball hitter. So I had him dial in on certain parts of the chest protector, and increase the velocity of the shots. The Davishield worked okay at straight blows to the sternum. It seemed to flatten out, lock up the plates, and spread out the energy. But shots to the rib cage, or off center shots, had painful effects.

So here's my take on the testing. If laid flat, the Davishield will interlock the panels, and disperse the energy as designed. But, if wrapped around a torso, the side shots won't lock up the panels, and one small panel will transmit the energy through the thin pad. So I can see where the Davis will out perform the WV, but only if laid flat. Unfortunately.................