Thunderer or Fox 40
 

Gotta pick up some new whistles..some of my friends use the fox 40, but others are loyal to there acme thunderers...any suggestions?

My uniform specifically states the Fox 40. ;)

I was an Acme man for years but after countless boilings, one broken top right before kickoff, and an R telling me he couldn't hear my whistle, I've switched.

Now I'm trying to transition from finger to lanyard.

What are boilings? And why the switch from finger to lanyard? What position are you working now?

Sorry for all the rookie questions... But... I'm a rookie... Go figure

I've used Fox40 since they came out, so I'm not unbiased. But why not get one of each & see which you prefer? You won't be tying up a lot of capital.

Boiling= metal whistles collect gunk from your saliva over time. Boiling them in hot water helps loosen the gunk.

I started with a finger whistle and still feel its the best to start out with as a newer official. It gives you that extra split second to process what you see and maybe not blow an IW. As we have increased our film review over the last few years, I noticed that I just don't like how I look using it and also you have a tendency to begin signals with one hand/arm because the other one has the whistle on it.

If you use a lanyard, it is best to "spit" it out after the snap.

In earlier days when the Fox 40 was coming in to use, the difference in the two sounds was distinctive. A veteran white hat recommended that every one on the crew use the same whistle as you don't want to stand out as different. I think its been proven that the Fox 40 is louder.

We tell our association guys to get rid of it at the snap. I've now gotten to the point where I don't have it in at the snap. I hold it in my hand. Each step you take is a step in "comfort level." I've become comfortable now with it out at the snap.

I prefer a Fox40.

I also agree that using a finger whistle when starting will help avoid an IW.

Fox 40 all the way. It is the most relyable whistle around and unlike others does not fail to work in multiple situations.

I do not think a finger whistle is good because you end up doing "one armed" mechanics. You need to be able to have your hands free when you do this. If you know not to have the whistle in your mouth all the time that is better to help you not blow the whistle and communicate appropriately to everyone watching you work.

Peace

Fox. Pea whistles are things of the past.

Yup. Welcome to 1995.

You should also check to see what is used in your area and if there is a standard, de facto or otherwise. Where I started in California, everyone used pea whistles and it was frowned upon to use Fox40s. Here nearly everyone uses Fox40s. I won't go back to pea whistles myself.

Do the old traditional pea whistles have any upside? Do people that ref higher level games still use them?

No. No.

At least in football and basketball, the only place old, traditional pea whistles are used regularly are in commercials and movies (and apparently in Welpe's former corner part of Cali).