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We put this into replay. Length is: 13 inches (not 13.5) without extension. 4 inches (not 4.5) on the extension. We have some worn shots in development with and without the extension going up this week. Stay tuned.

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They're not just going after the West Vest crowd... they copied (I'll use the term "China-fied") the WestVest Platinum! The Platinum specifically. Look at it – the same layout of the chest piece with the center sternum plate attached and flanked by pectoral-to-shoulder arch plates. The same shoulder pauldrons and ailettes ("gap plates"). Same T-hook securing parts. Same open-cell – the antiquated, dreaded sofa-cushion – foam vest. Same (or damn similar) harness. And it's even in the same color! And you can't even get the foam vest separated (easily) from the carapace plates! They're riveted together! Why? Oh, you'll love why – because the velcro tabs through the carapace plates method, thus allowing you to separate the vest from the carapace, is the bloody patent that Wilson holds! Could we get the plates and vest separated? Surely, if you've got a drill to kill the rivets and then replace them with Chicago Screws. I do commend Diamond (with a courtesy golf-clap) regarding a few things. First, the unit appears to be narrower, along with being more form fitting because of the articulated carapace plates. That main transverse seam, instead of being arbitrarily straight across like the Platinum, looks intentional and planned. Call me crazy, but I have a hunch that this is the first real step at designing a hardshell CP for a female umpire. Consider that this thing is not being offered in 2-3 various sizes, but merely one size. Diamond does cater more to the softball crowd than the baseball crowd, after all. Second, Diamond attached and included a plated abdomen extension – an appealing accessory part that Wilson has utterly neglected to put, or even make allowance for, on their Platinum. The included bicep guards are also a nice Value Added Feature (VAF). Most of us "hardcore" umpires have (at least been told) to "suck it up" and deal with arm and abdomen hits. Some of us just take them as they come. I myself acknowledge their benefit on CPs like this, including my much-loved Schutt/Adams XV-HDX, but I myself would still leave them off – to each their own. But if it helps to alleviate amateur umpires' fears, and keep them more protected and engaged with umpiring, such that they aren't discouraged by umpiring and opt to leave, citing the risks and pains, then let's heap on all the extra guards possible! We need more umpires! I will never ridicule or demean an umpire for wanting to attach an abdomen guard extension, or wear bicep guards, on their CP. I will chortle and deride anyone who wears a CP – especially a Wilson – incorrectly, drooping down like a shop apron so as to protect their tummy. You fool! Why didn't you get a CP that offers an extension to begin with??!! Oh, because that's not what the Big Leaguers wear on TV??!! Oh, because your association evaluator / trainer / poobah harumphed and said, "This Wilson is all ya need!"??!! Anyway, thirdly, Diamond was also so kind and smart to leave off that stupid, asinine, unnecessary billow pad!!! About time someone used their grey matter. The cost is somewhat appealing, but still not differential enough to cause me to leave my Schutt. Especially when the foam vest is still archaic sofa-cushion foam, and cannot be (easily) removed.

Be sure to follow MiLB Umpire Academy on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/milbumpireacademy/). They are posting 30 Facts about the academy over the next 30 ...err 27 days (I'm a bit late) If you're on the fence about attending there will be some great posts to help you make up your mind.

I’ll be there. Looking forward to it

Like not telling the batter what pitch is coming? Or not telling a runner if you are going to try a pickoff? Or not telling the defense you are going to try a suicide squeeze? Or having a starter only pitch to one batter so the other team gets stuck with the wrong lineup? Trying to gain an advantage is the whole point in a game.

I completely agree. Especially if it is obvious they are trying to gain an advantage. What worries me is if someone reads this rule and decides if it happens 2 or 3 times in an 8u ballgame with players that dont really know the game. They will try and enforce it.

Simplistic answer does serve the OP poster because the gist of his question is where the fielder was. Let’s leave it at that.

Blasphemy. Besides, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The FM4000's planform is born out of research by All-Star, undertaken on their own, aimed at designing a mask that was strong, resistant to (most) deformation by transferring load outward, reducing the amount of flat surfaces presented to a ball. Through CAD work, they arrived at a pyramidal -shaped cage, curved along an arc. The utilized this cage in what became their signature HSM, the MVP2500 / 4000. Going further, they expanded it into a TM, with the mask shaped almost as a true half-sphere, but also curved around the face so as to increase pad contact and effectiveness. Lots of design and science here. While All-Star introduced the FM4000 in a hollow steel model, it was what they did "behind the curtain" during the next five years that really makes them stand out amongst their peers. Of the various materials that could be employed for a mask, magnesium had always been intriguing – supremely lightweight, incredibly stiff and resistant to deformation (bending). Its limitation, though, was one of cost (understandable) and bonding – magnesium is not welded together, but instead is cemented (or, more like glued). Welds are more desirable than glue joints because the bond is homogenous, and thus, easier and less costly to do en masse. Cement or glue bonding becomes more costly because you have to introduce another substance, control the amount, allow it to set and cure, and then quality control check it to make sure it held. Magnesium becomes much more attractive when you can eliminate all joints and bonds, and the magnesium alloy part is die cast. So, All-Star worked out how to die cast molten magnesium alloy into their strongest mask geometry (planform). The resulting FM4000MAG mask is incredibly light. And, because it is magnesium (alloy) it will never bend or break. There aren't any welds or bond joints to pop, either. The mask is one piece, injection-molded, homogenous magnesium. Now, this extreme light-weight-ness comes at a single price – like titanium, there is such little mass and density, the mask will instantly transfer compressive energy (impact force) to the next thing adjacent to it, in this case, the pads. It is absolutely crucial that high-density (Team Wendys at least) or high-volume pads are used. One of the first professional catchers to use the FM4000MAG, Jonathan Lucroy, identified that the pads needed to be thicker (greater volume), and could benefit from having a pressure plate. As such, the latest version of LUC-4K pads have a hard plastic plate as their foundation, which makes contact with the mask bars. Then, the pads' volume is greatly increased. When any force impacts the mask at a localized spot, the entire plate is engaged and the force distributed throughout the entirety of the pad. While the chin pad received this treatment, the forehead pad did not. Why would it? Catchers wear a helmet with their mask, do they not? This helps to absorb and dissipate most of that energy. Who would wear just a common hat? Huh.

You are a very cruel human being! Lol

Sounds like the lightest shoe they have ever made.

I put gel insoles in my 3n2s and they made a huge difference.

3N2s are great for sub-varsity, but the metatarsal plate is waaay too flimsy for comfort and it doesn't have very good inside foot protection compared to the Zig Mags and NB. @UmpJeff I've seen a few places that still have Zig Mags in size 8 (Amazon I think?). Not sure if that's helpful, but maybe there are soles or socks you can wear to help with the difference. BR

There isnt a 15 or 16" and to go from 13.5 to 18, with no in between, seems kind of rough.

Exactly...lol. I like the idea of maybe going up to 17" max...beyond that you're getting into giant territory at 18" there aren't many people who would be able to wear it without there being movement issues getting into the crouch upon initial thoughts.

A cpl of observations before MadMax beats me to the punch lol. Doesn't look like modern cushioning or breath-ability there. I like the breaks and the overall design of the front side...the question is...is it better than a Champion P2xx at the $55-70 range or the Schutt XV in the $75-85 range? On the apparent padding questions alone I have my doubts....but I like the physical design and the modular options...though I wish the chest were a bit longer with a shorter add on piece. That's a huge jump from 13.5 to 18". For many of us 13.5 isnt going to be enough and 18 is way too much. It's pretty obvious that they are going after the West Vest crowd with this CP.

To all the brothers here in Umpire-Empire, I wanted to thank you for all of the help over the years, ...YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!! I wanted to pass along that I was selected to work the MHSAA Semi/Finals this year. What an honor, privilege,.... and what an experience!!! One of the best things about it was that my crew comprised of 2 other partners that I work with regularly during the season, one of them being our own @Jeff C. I had 3 games ... 2 semi finals on Thursday, and one final on Saturday. My rotation was the plate first game out on Thursday ..... 10 innings later .... WOW! We rotated like normal as MHSAA goes 4 man from the Quarterfinals onward. The experience of learning the system quickly and catching on with the rotations was a blast! A special thank you to @Jeff C. also for being a great umpire, a great partner, and a great friend .... it was an honor to work with you sir!! My U-E brothers .......... Thanks again for the years of experience, knowledge, and of course, the comradery of the brotherhood!