New member, HS umpire

I called Nike again and escalated my complaint.  Whether it will get me anywhere remains to be seen.  I am disappointed with them as I have been a Nike user since the early 70s when the owner was selling shoes out of his trunk and the company was called Blue Ribbon Sports. A friend of mine and teammate has his original beat to heck waffle trainers in their museum.  

IF I get replacement padding, I will likely fix the bucket, replace with a Wilson with leather padding and sell the Nike.....stay tuned, if interested.  

From a catching aspect and talking with catchers with MLB and semi-pro experience my son settled on two piece helmets for travel and Legion.  Of course for HS he needs the hockey style.  Our contention is that when a foul ball hits the mask and the mask "shifts" it puts less vibration or force on the actual head of the catcher.  Plus I have seen in the MLB last year where a back swing caught a hockey style mask catcher on the top of the head and he was STILL cut.

So with that being applied to umps, you guys dont where skull caps correct?  So there is no risk of a back swing caching you guys.  Aren't the traditional masks a little cooler, particularly in the hot summer? Need some kind of scientific studies to see which style actually absorbs more energy compared to the other.  Obviously.  Do you guys really need a full style mask??

Just curious on your thoughts.

I wear the Traditional mask. I am not a fan of the HSM. I've tried out a couple and I just don't like them. Of course if you are of a certain age  (older) and were a catcher,  your experience with the HSM can be limited.....it wasn't an option when I played for catchers or umpires.....

But I have tried it, a good friend loaned me his one summer when he had to take off umpiring due to some health issues......I never developed a liking to it.......I found it hot, restricting and awkward. My calls seemed to reverberate inside it and I could never find a good way to manage it when it needed to come off.....the little things I needed to "hear" seemed more difficult. (I'll agree that a HSM mask gives you more side and top protection.)

I always thought that as the HSM became more common/required in the youth/HS leagues that the traditional mask would lose its popularity as the youth moved up to college/pros and then also on to umpiring, but I don't see that happening. I see many catchers ditching the HSM for the traditional mask and helmet.

In my HS games, it is not uncommon for HS catchers to try and use the separate mask and helmet that they have been using in travel ball for a NFHS game. They  usually have the approved helmet in their bag and grumble when told to change.  

My own son who caught in college, ditched the HSM for the traditional mask/helmet even though both were provided to him. Its personal preference....... in my current association, I would wager that its 95% traditional 5% HSM

(And yes there are still no definitive stats or science to prove or disprove which is safest. Some even say the HSM transfers more force to the head and neck versus the Traditional mask.)

piaa_ump posted:

I wear the Traditional mask. I am not a fan of the HSM. I've tried out a couple and I just don't like them. Of course if you are of a certain age  (older) and were a catcher,  your experience with the HSM can be limited.....it wasn't an option when I played for catchers or umpires.....

But I have tried it, a good friend loaned me his one summer when he had to take off umpiring due to some health issues......I never developed a liking to it.......I found it hot, restricting and awkward. My calls seemed to reverberate inside it and I could never find a good way to manage it when it needed to come off.....the little things I needed to "hear" seemed more difficult. (I'll agree that a HSM mask gives you more side and top protection.)

I always thought that as the HSM became more common/required in the youth/HS leagues that the traditional mask would lose its popularity as the youth moved up to college/pros and then also on to umpiring, but I don't see that happening. I see many catchers ditching the HSM for the traditional mask and helmet.

In my HS games, it is not uncommon for HS catchers to try and use the separate mask and helmet that they have been using in travel ball for a NFHS game. They  usually have the approved helmet in their bag and grumble when told to change.  

My own son who caught in college, ditched the HSM for the traditional mask/helmet even though both were provided to him. Its personal preference....... in my current association, I would wager that its 95% traditional 5% HSM

(And yes there are still no definitive stats or science to prove or disprove which is safest. Some even say the HSM transfers more force to the head and neck versus the Traditional mask.)

Thats awesome info.  And I have heard the same argument re: HSM and transference of energy.

What my son likes with the two piece, titanium masks are that they are so darn  light!