Chest protectors-UPDATE, changed his mind again. looking at the Rawlings 950x.Anyone?

The chest protector you linked to is designed for umpires, not catchers. It might protect your son well enough, but it doesn't look like the design would allow for the full range of motion that a catcher would need (such as throwing down to 2nd base).

I have two boys (ages 13 & 16) who catch and they both love their All-Star gear. My younger son uses the CP1216APRO (http://all-starsports.com/products.php?prod=24) and the older one just upgraded from the CP28PRO to the CP30PRO (http://all-starsports.com/products.php?prod=20). Both have nothing but high praise for their chest protectors.

I've lurked around on this board for quite a while and have pretty much only read good things about All-Star gear. You didn't say which model chest protector your son was using, but if it's an older one (or designed for younger players) maybe it's just time to upgrade.

Good luck!

This is off topic, but I wish someone had told us when my son was younger to get a good cup. He had to endure a cracked plastic cup before we wised up. He wears a stainless cup now.

Hope you don't mind the volunteered info, but with your son playing up, I thought I'd try to spare your son the experience my son had when he was 15!

Thanks guys keep them coming....speaking of cups, I was really thinking of getting him one of these, Nuttybuddy anyone around here know anything about them. I watched the videos and my God they have to work.

My son's first set of catcher's gear was the cheap Rawlings gear from SA.He used it for a couple of years and it served well. When he started getting serious/better at the position,I got him Mizuno gear.He absolutely love it. He will eat anything in the chest no matter how hard the pitcher is throwing. After the inning,I ask him if that block hurt.He tells me he can't even feel the ball hit him.He has tried just about every brand except All-Star and prefers his Mizuno.I have heard alot of good things about All-Star but I haven't seen anyone in our area using them to try out.

Check out the Nike and All-Star catching gear. It is my recommendation for the players I coach and work with.

I especially like the All-Star helmets (best you can get) and the Nike chest protector due to it's flatter blocking surface when compared to other brands.

Most kids I see are either going entirely with All-Star or go All-Star helmet with Nike chest and leg guards.

Do you have a link for the Nike gear your talking about? Thanks

Son has All Star helmet and Easton chest protector, with no complaints. However, the Nike cp sounds like it is worth a look.

On the NuttyBuddy, I can't believe the video hasn't gone viral. We bought a different brand, recommended by a hockey dad. My food coma is preventing me from remembering the brand.

My son uses All-Star legs and chest protector and the Mizuno newer Samurai helmet, mainly because it is relatively low-profile and has a thin grill = great visibility. Of course, he's only 12. I expect we'll look into an All-Star helmet before too long.

quote:

Originally posted by SOUTHERNFRIED:
Do you have a link for the Nike gear your talking about? Thanks

Here's a link to some of the Nike chest protectors:

http://www.baseballexp.com/Cat...4294967230/index.cat

We were watching 2010 season highlights on the MLB network today, and there seemed to be more Nike chest protectors than any other brand. Never noticed before reading this thread.

Be nice if there was a "Darrel's" report in baseball like in golf, lol.

A good set of gear should protect him without the need to trick things up. My son wears the Wilson Shock FX gear and loves it. Obviously, there will be times where the catcher will get stung with a pitch, but it's just part of the position.

Most brands make multiple styles and quality levels of catchers gear. For chest protectors, the more expensive models typically feature a better quality foam - a type that will "deaden" the ball better. If you press your fingers into them, the indentation stays longer. This gives the catcher better ability to keep blocked balls close in front. You don't want "stiffer" as the ball will deflect further away. So, it's not the brand, but which model within the brand. Also, getting one that fits best is critical.

Many young catchers/parents buy chest protectors too big thinking this will provide more protection and growing room. You want adequate protection, but you also need a close fit and mobility.

All helmets are properly safety approved (NOCSAE) - as someone mentioned earlier, lightweight and visibility are key. Again, this usually is dictated by price more than brand.

As far as MLB exposure, that's a player contract issue and does not dictate one brand being better than the other. Some brands such as Rawlings and Nike are more willing to pay pro athletes to wear their gear than others.

I can see selling out and wearing an inferior cap or jacket, but not so much on equipment worn for protection. Or maybe you are saying that the best of each manufacture's chest protectors are essentially the same, and Nike pays the players to wear theirs.

twotex,
Yes, in some instances, catchers will have their favorite gear and stick with it no matter what. But this, too, is definitely a business. Most companies will look at MLB exposure as an advertising expense and pay players (some quite a bit more than others) to wear their gear. They will sometimes take gear to Spring Training, etc. and ask players to try their bats, gloves, gear, etc. If players find the gear comparable or better than what they use, the negotiations begin.

If his normal chest protector isn't working well enough to make him comfortable, you can check out Evoshield products. They make a plate that molds to your body that may help.

My 12yo son was his team's primary catcher this season. I took him to buy new gear as he had outgrown his old stuff. He ended up picking out an Easton helmet, All Star chest protector, and Schutt Scorpion shin guards. He had his reasons why each was the best for him. He'll take comfort over appearance. (At least they are all the same color...)

He also wears an Easton TorsoTection shirt, which helps absorb impact, while not being bulky. I'm not sure how much it helped him behind the plate, but he sure was happy to be wearing it when he took a pitch off of the hip pad while batting...

quote:

Originally posted by rsn_mw:
The chest protector you linked to is designed for umpires, not catchers. It might protect your son well enough, but it doesn't look like the design would allow for the full range of motion that a catcher would need (such as throwing down to 2nd base).!

That is correct, the protector in the link is an umpire model....it is a knock off of the Honigs K-1 model. I do not know many serious umpires who do anything above rec ball that would wear Champro gear.

also because of the hard plates, It would not be good for a catcher to wear umpire gear as the ball will rebound a good ways...I have had a ball fouled off my Wilson Platimum chest protector that was caught by the third baseman.....on the fly....

My son uses the Mizuno. The chest protector feels hard but according to Mizuno it has the lowest amount of rebound. He uses the Mizuno Samurai G2.
He has never complained about blocking balls.
I have heard good things about All-Star as well.

My 18 yo uses Mizuno Samurai chest protector and has for 4 years. He is very satisfied with it.