Drank the Kool-Aid

johnnyg08 · #1 (**permalink**) Thu Jul 15, 2010, 12:59am

Well fellas,

I finally drank the Kool-Aid and upgraded to the WV Gold. I've been using a Pro-Nine CP for the last 6-7 years and for the most part it was fine. I took one shot this year that was a near-miss on the collar bone and had a colleague actually break his collarbone this year. I said F-it, what's a couple of game fees for the best one out there.

Reviews after game one:

I had to do quite a bit of adjusting to the straps and I taped all of them with athletic tape. It's quite a bit more of a CP than what I was using, but I love the fit and I feel like Happy Gilmore...I'm almost want to get drilled this weekend just to feel the difference because I know this is a major upgrade to what I was using. It's not as hot as I thought it would be...to me, it wasn't any different than the Pro-Nine under same/similar conditions. It's bulkier, but it's better. I don't think I'll have any regrets.

Kevin Finnerty · #2 (**permalink**) Thu Jul 15, 2010, 03:16am

Silly guy; drank the Kool-Aid and frivolously forked over some well-earned cash on something that merely protects his clavicle, his ribs and HIS HUMAN HEART!

yawetag · #3 (**permalink**) Thu Jul 15, 2010, 03:57am

Johnnie,

When you figure out how to get your shirt on without help, please tell me.

johnnyg08 · #4 (**permalink**) Thu Jul 15, 2010, 06:30am

You know, I'm all about having good gear. I strongly believe in it, look in the trunk of my car and you'd see. When I was a just starting, I really didn't have any money...I scraped by on what I had until I could afford better gear. Until this year, my Pro-Nine was fine. Yes, I suppose some of it was a little luck, but I didn't feel unsafe until that collarbone shot that nearly ended my year as well as my friend breaking his collarbone. Here in MN, I probably don't see the pitching like you guys see in other parts of the country on a consistent basis so the shots I remember are far and few between. Now I don't have to worry about it.
:-)

jicecone · #5 (**permalink**) Thu Jul 15, 2010, 07:32am

I also "Drank the Kool-Aid" this year after taking a real good shot on my Davis vest and feeling it for a week. I guess when I was forty or fifty, those shots didn't bother me as much. At sixty, it is well worth the bucks.

Haven't had many problems with the shirt though and the protection is definitely better. As far as being hotter, well here in New Orleans in the summer there are only 2 temperatures, Hot and Hotter. I tried a few summer Legion games and decided that dieing from heat exhaustion was just not on my agenda yet. Looking forward to Fall ball.

mbyron · #6 (**permalink**) Thu Jul 15, 2010, 08:32am

I use a Gold. The only shirts I have trouble getting over it are those that are a little too tight. Try a bigger shirt, Andrew?

kylejt · #7 (**permalink**) Thu Jul 15, 2010, 09:11am

Long after the money is spent, you never regret buying the best.

MrUmpire · #8 (**permalink**) Thu Jul 15, 2010, 09:39am

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbyron

I use a Gold. The only shirts I have trouble getting over it are those that are a little too tight. Try a bigger shirt, Andrew?

Same here. No problem with shirts or pullover jackets that fit.

yawetag · #9 (**permalink**) Fri Jul 16, 2010, 12:18am

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbyron

I use a Gold. The only shirts I have trouble getting over it are those that are a little too tight. Try a bigger shirt, Andrew?

I don't think it matters, but mine's a Platinum. My shirts seem big enough, but I could always try the huge size.

Ump Rube · #10 (**permalink**) Fri Jul 16, 2010, 09:16am

I moved to the Platinum and have never regretted it. I regretted telling my wife how much it cost, but she understands it now. She comes to most of my games and I have taken some good licks and just kept on going like nothing at all.

Definitely needed to size up a shirt though once I had it (moved from Pro9 as well).

mbyron · #11 (**permalink**) Fri Jul 16, 2010, 09:27am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ump Rube

I regretted telling my wife how much it cost, but she understands it now.

Complaining wives need to compare it to the costs (not just financial) of a broken collar bone.

Perhaps that what you told her.

Kevin Finnerty · #12 (**permalink**) Fri Jul 16, 2010, 10:03am

How come when she needs to make an expense, it's "Honey, we need a ..." and when it's something like a chest protector, it's "Why do you need ... ?"