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Maybe he's worked with 250 partners because nobody will work with him twice.

Just arrived via UPS today: the limited edition “Kuta.” Same plates as the Enduro, with a different pad and color way. Same great quality coming from Derek and his team. Looking forward to strapping it on in 4 weeks!

Yes, the Davis site is only Davis equipment and apparel and will be the only place to get our Limited Edition pieces and NASO Member benefits. Right now, it is in a minimally viable form. In the future it will have: More technical content Better content comparing various product lines Product breakdowns Memberships (yes they will provide value) Early access to new products It's all evolving in time but anything Davis branded is available there. Gerry Davis Sports remains a full retail experience.

It's an ineffective attempt to boost the search engine rankings of the authors website. Where they link to their site using "custom sports uniform". With that being said, I have my own beef. I’ve been umpiring for over 10 years now—mostly Little League and softball games—and something’s been really bugging me lately. We’re always chatting about strike zones, balk calls, and that one coach who won’t shut up (you know the type), but hardly anyone dives into how our chest protection gear—like the top-notch Davis DX Enduro D3O Umpire Chest Protector—actually impacts our safety and authority on the diamond. I swear, this is a way bigger deal than most of us realize—seriously, it could be game-changing. Just last tournament, I noticed half the crew rolling up without proper umpire chest protectors—some dudes were sporting those cheap knockoffs that look like they came from a garage sale. And let me tell you—the difference is huge. Before I switched to the Davis DX Enduro D3O, I got nailed by a foul tip that left me wheezing like a deflated balloon. But now? With that sweet D3O tech absorbing impacts—it’s like wearing a force field. Coaches and players see you geared up in premium sports officiating equipment, and bam—respect levels skyrocket. No more getting treated like a human piñata; it’s all about that pro vibe. This totally links to the massive umpire shortage we’re facing everywhere—new refs show up in flimsy baseball umpire gear that barely protects against a stiff breeze, and they bail after one bad beanball. If leagues shelled out for quality Davis DX Enduro D3O chest protectors right from the start—think how many more would stick around. Feeling invincible helps you own the field—and when a rookie ump feels bulletproof, they’re way less likely to quit over some sore ribs or bruised ego. What do you all think—time to upgrade your umpire protection essentials? /s

I'm back in the game after a several year hiatus. I've been using the F3 Defender for a few years as a men's league catcher, so it was a logical decision to replace my beat up steel Dyna-Lite with TW pads. Speaking as a catcher, the biggest adjustment to this mask was how much farther the bars were from my eyes compared with other traditional masks. Thankfully men's league pitchers aren't sitting 96 with a slider at 89. Having read the @MadMax At Face Value treatise, I'm intrigued by the next generation of magnesium masks by Davis. I don't at present, however, feel the need to possess two high dollar masks (plus the trusty Dyna-Lite) to work 15-20 high school games. This is probably not in the spirit of the U-E community but it is definitely in the spirit of staying married.

Even A YelloW Slug Can Be A Classic So I took on rebuilding an old Wilson WV Gold for a colleague who was introduced and has been smitten by the new Davis DX -family of CPs. We had him using and trialing one all summer. While he was using the DX, we arrived at the conclusion that I'd update / renovate his current Gold, and this is what I took it to... Since he's a Dodgers fan (ouch), I recommended something evocative of the Dodgers. I would not be able to replace the pad vest; I don't have an industrial sewing machine. His biggest appreciation of the Davis DX (theta unit he was trialing) was how low profile it was, especially at the shoulders T-hooks are evil and vile; G-hooks are the best solution. Took the entire carapace apart by removing all rivets, splines, and metal hardware. I went further, and rendered the seams connecting the main torso vest to the shoulder pauldron pads, since you'll see that I actually reconstruct each and every CP that cheats like this with an actual connecting spline. I also rendered the seams connecting the (far too plump) pec wings. Repainted it a dark grey (road greys!), and then rebuilt it, using nylon and polypropylene webbing, with royal blue rivets. Where I used aluminum Chicago screws, these are in spots where there's a lot of stress and/or the CP may need to be (further) modified, or that part repaired/replaced. From the backside, you'll see that I completely removed and deleted the terrible shoulder pauldron pads which, because they're way too thick and oversized, make the Gold look so bulky and hulking. Instead, I made my own shoulder pauldron pads from the unused (and superfluous) pauldron flaps from Schutt-Adams XV's. Half the thickness, half the weight, and because that's actual D3O you see (the orange color), much better performing. Also, because they're articulated, they conform to the shoulder perfectly instead of just sitting atop the shoulder like the Gold's sofa-cushion foam pads did. Detail on the reconstruction of the shoulder assembly. I run a 2" wide (at least) connecting spline between the shoulder arch plate and the pauldron plate. Then, the ailette (gap protector) is secured atop that. Rivets fasten the individual plates to the connecting splines, but the splines are always connected to the shoulder arch plate with Chicago screws, both to survive any stresses, and also for potential repositioning or repair ease. Almost done. I completely removed all the hardware associated with the T-hooks, and constructed two 1-1/2" webbing loops so as to utilize G-hooks You might also notice that there are now 3 rivets at the trailing section of the shoulder arch plate, so as to secure the D-ring thru which the harness is attached. Golds and Platinums typically use only 1 rivet (each side), and these D-rings have a very bad habit of turning within their webbing. By using more than 1 rivet, this keeps the webbing flat, and the D-ring cannot turn. Improves the fit. Completed unit, with the G-hooks placed on the harness, and secured into the anchor loops.

They will be released next week (at some point) to customers who have purchased the frame and then publicly about a week after that. As previous mentioned, here is what we're initially launching: 3 pad core options Tango2 Pad Core (01) - $34.99 D3O® Cloud4 Pad Core (02) - $49.99 D3O® Shear3 Pad Core (03) - $69.99 4 pad socks (covers) Black/Black Mesh - $24.99 Black/Black Microfiber Suede - $34.99 Charcoal/Black Mesh - $29.99 Charcoal/Black Microfiber Suede - $39.99 *Pricing: This is standalone MSRP pricing. I do not know how pricing looks when combined with the frame, combined as a set, or when multiple cores/socks are purchased yet. Pricing for whomever has purchased the frame will be discounted and sent via email. The concept for all the pad cores is similar they but the complexity and the materials are different. Most modern traditional padding, with the very notable exception of Team Wendy, is a two-layer system. Typically a medium density EVA and a softer open cell for comfort. EVA is doing the vast majority of impact protection, with the other half of the pad primarily for comfort and contributes minimal resistance. I need to say that these pads have not been tested in a laboratory and none of my claims are scientific or absolute but here is what we used in theory to develop these cores. Multi-Layer Energy Absorption: Instead of one or two thick layers doing all the work until it is hits maximum compression, we have multiple thinner layers each operating in a more optimal range, progressively managing the impact without any single point of failure or sudden escalation of force. More layers working in sequence means the impact takes longer to transmit through the entire system. Even an extra 2-3 milliseconds of deceleration time makes a significant difference in peak force. Graduated densities ensure smooth force transmission rather than abrupt transitions between each layer. Density Grading: Impedance is how much a material resists the transmission of shock waves. It's determined by density and how fast waves travel through the material. Dense materials have high impedance, soft materials have low impedance. With densities stepping down (outside to inside), each transition has a smaller impedance mismatch. More of the shock wave continues traveling through each boundary rather than reflecting backward. When energy reflects at impedance boundaries, it stays in the stiffer outer materials or frame, potentially causing higher peak forces and vibration. Graduated impedance allows energy to distribute through the entire padding thickness for better overall energy absorption. Load Distribution: The front of the pad socks are made from EVA molded to specifically fit the Mirage 12 (they also fit some other traditional wire frame designs) creating a strong form fit with the frame and offering a solid backing for the hdpe plate. As the plate bends under a frame bar, it creates a curved depression. This curve naturally spreads the force. The foam isn't just compressed directly under the bar, but also in the surrounding area where the flexed plate pushes into it. Instead of narrow 5-6mm pressure lines directly under each bar, the flexing plate creates a much broader compression zone. Our pads cores are roughly between 20-30% thinner then most pads on the market but each mm is active protection. This additional functional cushioning translates to meaningfully longer impact duration and lower peak forces transmitted. Nothing here is revolutionary, just more thoughtful design and better materials. Tango2 Pad Core This is a dual-foam pad with a semi-flexible 1mm HDPE plate on both the top and the bottom pads. Bottom pad core 35mm, Top pad core 30mm The outer most foam towards the frame is EVA. It is a medium density and common to other pads on the market but it helps keep down the weight and offers solid protection at a more economical price point. Our medium density viscoelastic foam makes up close to 70% of the pad. When impacted it stays compressed, maintaining its deformed state well through the impact duration helping with distributing the load over time rather than creating a sharp force spike. Instead of storing energy elastically and returning it back toward the frame, this foam converts most impact energy into heat and internal friction. It's the most economical pad and in theory should perform above levels of most pads currently available on the market especially with the distribution plate. Like all pads using viscoelastic foams, these pads get more comfortable the warmer the ambient temperature is. D3O® Cloud4 Pad Core This is a quad-layer pad with a semi-flexible 1mm HDPE plate on both the top and the bottom pads. Bottom pad core 35mm, Top pad core 30mm Uses a combination of D3O, various density EVA and a medium density PU foam. (The top pad substitutes D3O with Covalta - our proprietary chemically cross-linked foam) The two first foams in the laminate do the bulk of the energy absorption passing the remaining energy through the medium density foam which is then backed by a soft EVA for comfort and to provide better moisture resistance. This is the softest pad available and is better suited to lower ambient temperatures and individuals who prefer a softer more predictable feel on the face. D3O® Shear3 Pad Core This is a tri-layer pad with a semi-flexible 1mm HDPE plate on both the top and the bottom pads. Bottom pad core 34mm, Top pad core 30mm Uses a combination of D3O, a medium-high density viscoelastic foam and the medium viscoelastic foam used in the Tango2 pad core. This pad does not include any comfort enhancements and is best suited in ambient temperatures above 65 degrees where the pads become softer. On paper these are the most protective pad cores and offer the lowest resilience and highest levels of energy dissipation.

Looking back over the summer, I worked thirty plate games with the D3O across two professional leagues and one collegiate wooden bat league. I took two shots directly to the chest and five to the right shoulder/clavicle area. I feel like the protection is solid and I never had any loss of confidence. In my opinion, the low profile appearance is its best feature. Every game from this summer was streamed with a solid center field camera view and the look is so solid. Gone are the days of looking like the lead blocker on a sweep play in Southwest Conference. For the last 20+ years umpires have been buying the West Vest if they could afford it. I honestly don't know how you'd pick a Wilson chest protector if you knew about the D30. Godspeed, @DerekGDS. I hope you're able to get the word out.

I wrote this about 6 weeks ago for catharsis. I wasn't sure about posting it, but what the heck. I've been at this umpiring thing for 25 years. I have seen a lot of baseball and a lot of partners. Yesterday was a whole new experience for me. Yesterday (Friday) actually started out on Thursday when I texted a new-to-me partner with my introduction, when I would be arriving and "Bring black!" because I like wearing black. About five hours later I received a message from my partner referencing his military career as a captain in the US Navy and that he only takes orders from superior officers, his assignors, and his wife. He has worked with 250+ partners and I was only the third person who presumed to be above his station because I was assigned as the plate umpire in a children's baseball game. When we met prior to the game I mentioned that my text was not intended to be an order as a way to break the tension, which was followed up with him advising my that he had been to 3 umpire schools, umpired in the Armed Service League, and he worked with 250+ partners (again). He said he never really understood the whole hand signaling thing, so we went through the typical pregame discussion about coverages, rotations, and hand signals. During the game he did things that suggested that he really didn't have a good understanding of proper positioning, communication, or, for that matter, how high school baseball was played on the field and off the field. As an example, when the bases were loaded and the infield was in with less than two outs, he was in on the outfield grass Little League C. A couple of times during the game I offered a suggestion and was summarily ignored. In about the 5th inning he said that the home team was acting unsportsmanlike because they would occasionally make some noise as F1 was delivering a pitch. If it was that bad, I said, I would have put an end to it. I told him that I didn't think it warranted any intervention and he once again referenced his credentials and how I had nerve to presume that I knew better than he did. (in retrospect, if he thought it so egregious he should have squashed it) The game went into the 9th tied up at 2-2. The visiting team got a couple of runners on and became loud, especially since their JV team joined them (their game had ended already). They began to do things to distract F1 as he would deliver a pitch and I told them to knock it off. Visiting team scores five in the top of the ninth. Between the top and the bottom halves of the inning my partner came in to tell me I should have done something sooner. Home team goes quietly in the bottom half. Game over. As I am handing baseballs back to HTHC and shaking the hand of VTHC, my partner approaches VTHC and advises him that he will be sending a report to the state organization about the other team's behavior. The coach is confused and says there is no need to do that and my partner insists that there is. As we begin to exit the field, my partner tells me that I was played by the HT and I should be embarrassed. He tells me that he will be reporting me to the state as well and I stop walking with him. I then tell him to get my name correct and I spell it out for him. As I walk to my car I have a lovely conversation with one of the parents for the home team about the game, his son, and how beautiful a day it was. When we are at our cars I said that he seemed to take offense very easily and that for someone who went to 3 umpire schools he was out of position a lot, didn't communicate at all, and seemed entirely overmatched in a midlevel HS game. He then asked me if I wanted to settle this like men. I asked him if he was challenging me to a fight. He asked me the same question and reiterated that he would be sending a report to the state. I told him to go ahead and to make sure he sent me a copy as well. He said he wouldn't, I called him a punk, and he drove off. Anyone who knows me will probably tell you that I am fairly low key and there isn't much that gets me all revved up. This guy did it because he was, as my eldest son would say, aggressively stupid. Not only that, he was not good as an umpire. He struck me as the kind of guy who has to hold the upper hand in every relationship he has. I spoke to my assignor about the pregame text, the in game performance, and the post game antics. Apparently this is not the first time this has happened. This person is only the second person I have asked to never work with again. All of my umpire friends will know what to expect should this name appear on their schedules. Thanks for the therapy!

Courtesy of everyone's favorite gear hound and all around great influence here @MadMax, @Richvee and I had the chance to meet up with @cgroom and his crew before last night's Frontier League game here in NJ. The guys could not have been nicer and we had a great conversation about a whole bunch of things . Their work on the field was a joy to watch as it was a demonstration of how the three man system is actually supposed to work. There may have been one slip up, but nothing like I have seen recently, like when I as PU had to cover 2B because U1 was acting like a ticket holder as the BR was steaming around 1B as the ball and U3 (that being Richvee) were in left field. Many thanks to both Max and Caleb for putting us in contact with each other and hopefully we will be able to see them or anyone else on this forum if they come through Northern NJ for their assignents

If I'm getting my plate brush out, unless there are no runners on, I will call time 100% of the time. As soon as I grab my plate brush, and start walking out in front of home plate, I'll throw my hands up and call time. It takes no extra time to do this, and prevents any possible shenanigans. I can't understand why we even have people against calling time in this situation. It does no harm what-so-ever, and can prevent a SH*#storm. I'm not opposed to someone not calling time, I'm just opposed to those saying you should not ever call time to brush off the plate.

Today I learned that some masochist/sadist put together a 10U travel ball league that included balks.

OK, Here goes.... I've been doing this a while..16 years. 14 high school varsity, 7 Juco, D3. Without sounding overly cocky, I think I'm a damn good umpire. I've seen and heard all the horror stories about poor sportsmanship, confrontational parents, etc. Sure, I've experienced it, but it's been on rare occasions, and the overwhelming amount of the times, I've had respectful coaches, players, and to a lesser extent parents. Fast forward to this year. I thought it was me. I was starting to think my zone was inconsistent. Starting to think my judgement might be off. I know I'm getting slower. Maybe it's affecting my game. I've been talking with some trusted colleagues, and it seems it's not me. The umpire hate is reaching new levels. The overall tone of the games, attitudes, it's filled with anger. Dirty looks from hitters from every close strike, looks of astonishment from fielders on safe calls that aren't even that close. Batter runners stomping up and down when they're put out at first by a full step. Fielder yelling a runner is off the bag when I'm right there looking at a hand on the top of the bag, coaches looking for help on routine plays, (Not asking ..Demanding "You GOTTA GET HELP). Grief on check swings, no matter if I call a strike as PU, or go for help...As BU, whatever I call on an appeal, I'm gonna hear crap from the other side. I had to give a college coach an official ball/Strike warning in the 8th inning with his team leading 22-1. Another one a few days ago after his starter walked 7 in 2+ innings...Most were pitches his catcher couldn't even catch. Besides the ball/strike stuff, these aren't issues or actions that require warnings/ejections. Just ornery attitudes... No one's happy with anything. Yesterday, as we're leaving the field of a home team run rule win, a group of passive- aggressive Dad's start in as we pass loud enough to be sure we're hearing them "Every call goes against us, they all suck this year. They got it out for us. Where do they find these guys? They won by 12, yet they still found the need to make sure we heard them talking about how much we suck and that foul ball my partner called against their team in the second inning. ... Last week we're leaving a college field and after we pass a group of ignorant morons who were on us from the start we hear "Better luck next time, blue." It's taking a lot of strength to ignore. I thought it was me until yesterday. I got calls from two colleagues in the span of a few hours lamenting the sme issues, and questioning if they want to do this anymore....It's not been fun this year" is what I'm hearing over and over. Is it a bad stretch? Are attitudes worse? Am I worse? ....I'm rained out today. and you know what? Part of me is thinking "Thank God". I don't like feeling that. I want this to be enjoyable. It has been for 16 years, with the occasional misbehaviour here and there. This year it's rampant. The table has completely turned. The polite, no issue games have become the outliers. I'm going to put a big part of the blame on social media and the amount of umpire hate being spewed. From national media outlets, to Joe fan's ignorant hatred...It's trickle down to where players, coaches and parents all bring their keyboard warrior mentality to the field. Or.. Is this the way it is across the country, and somehow I've avoided it for the most part for 16 years?.

The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association told baseball umpires not to tolerate it. First instance, team warning; subsequent ejection.

13U USSSA? Yeah, I'd have a word with that little bastard. I'd make sure he knew that if he was tapping on his helmet like a major or minor leaguer, he might not be long for this game. To me, it's no different than a player drawing a line in the dirt with his bat. JMO

I don't feel piled on. I understand and appreciate the critique offered here. That's why I posted! I have subsequently discovered that this HC is a good friend (former college teammate) of an umpire in our association. To @MadMax's point, this umpire says this coach specifically moves a RH batter into the LH batter's box to shield F2's view for delayed steals. I think, in my case, the team was doing this as a test with the leadoff hitter - I believe other umpires (like me) have incorrectly tried to prohibit the practice and he wanted to see how (or IF) I was going to rule on the practice. I failed, obviously. ☹️ I will say this: I don't know of a FASTER way to learn the rules than being on the field, realizing you don't completely KNOW a rule, and discover immediately afterwards that you flubbed it!! It's far from being ideal or preferred, but nothing burns it in your memory more than the absolute embarrassment of mishandling it.

Welcome back!

I'm currently at Wendelstedt Umpire School and @DerekGDS is here with demo equipment for us students to try out, naturally also including the DX Enduro D3O. I'm speaking mainly for me personally (currently an All Star Cobalt user), but I've heard pretty much the same from everyone else who tried out the D3O so far. I am super impressed by it. I almost forgot that I'm wearing it, because it's so light and it fits just perfect. I almost didn't want to give it back 😅 I am seriously considering buying it, despite still being quite happy with my Cobalt (well, except the fit around my shoulders) and it still being in great shape.

I've finally completed a laundry list of software updates some of which were very over due. For the geeks, this upgrade included: Newer version of PHP Conversion of the databases from MyISAM to InnoDB Multiple security updates So I am again allowing new registrations to the site. Please note. This upgrade is in preparation for a new full version of the software in February. Going from 4.7.X to 5.0 in February. I've skimmed through the change logs and the only thing which will directly impact users seems to be that members will no longer be able to log in with their username they must use their email. I will send a couple of email reminders out to all members before I launch this upgrade.

In my experience, this is level-dependent. Might work well in games where the kids aren't shaving yet, but it'll get you the wrong reputation (unapproachable) at higher levels. Sometimes, they're just trying to get a feel for your zone, and other times they're arguing balls and strikes. It's usually easy to tell the difference. "Steve, did you have that down?" is quite different from, "Where was that?" Tone of voice will also give it away. But answering, "I have a ball" makes you sound rigid and obstinate. College coaches expect you to work with them, within limits, and stonewalling them like this will deter from having at least a civil relationship, especially beyond just that one game.

Just a reminder, guys... @DerekGDS and I came up with this system of "Cores & Socks" because: The anecdotal direction (or advisement) of "change your mask pads yearly" has next-to-no technical basis. Far more often than not, the innards of mask pads – the cores – are intact and will continue to perform adequately for (multiple) years. Surely, the skins / casings – the socks (in our current lingo) – take all the abuse that would intrinsically "age" or render the mask pads no longer effective. The sweat, the grime, the dirt, the tobacco juice, the UV rays, the heat, the cold, etc. The materials (the foams, et. al.) used on mask pads and on chest protectors & shinguards are all largely the same... so why are mask pads advised to be changed yearly, but not the other units? Surely, then, it can't be a temporal (time) thing... it must be an "exposure" thing... If anything ages Core material more rapidly, it's exposure to detergents and all those activities involved with cleaning. So if mask pads need to be cleaned to be "effectively presentable", then the best method is to separate the outer casing from the core. So we did exactly that. The casings – the socks – can be separated from the cores, and washed repeatedly, or replaced outright, without affecting the cores. If the anecdotal direction is based on time, then surely you want to use your mask pads as often as possible. So a set of pads just sitting on a (spare) mask frame are "aging out", too, right? Without you even using them? So, with our method, you can have multiple socks, in a variety of fabrics and colors (or readiness of cleanliness), then encase your one set of cores and optimize / maximize the use of them. Additionally, manufacturers currently have to factor in that traditional mask pads may sit in storage / warehouse for prolonged periods of time, simply because they're in a color or fabric type of little appeal to the market (pink? black leather?). As such, the "engineering effort" on the core structures and materials hits the lowest common denominator... which is where we get the typical sofa cushions on your face. With our method, the cores can be the best-engineered pieces on the market, optimized to be put into immediate use (instead of sitting on a shelf or in a warehouse somewhere), and effective for a prolonged span of time, with the latitude to change colors / fabric with ease. Am I going to spend $50-$65 on a set of "special edition" pads to use on a game on a special event (Mother's Day, Memorial Day, Father's Day, Canada Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, etc.)? When I already have a set of pads in black? Probably not. Would I spend $20-$25 if it meant using (all) my existing gear, and looking completely dapper for the event game? Oh heck yes. I'm especially looking forward to not having 5 masks anymore! Just 2, with two sets of cores... and anywhere between 6-8 different sets of socks. 😎 So! That's the story... go out there, use this system, it was made with you – all of yoU – in mind. Other colors are coming, and I'm sure Derek has a cavalcade of fabrics on his list...

That is my actual goal. Why don't hippies make good umpires? (They call every pitch high.)

It's very well made, and you can tell the D3O will disperse energy. It's unlike any other foam on the market. The hard shell is good, but it doesn't cover as well as the S7. The S7 overlaps the plates where it counts most, especially near the collar bone. It's very low profile, especially in the chest area. It light, but still substantial. It's a bit more difficult to put on compared to my S7 because the G-hooks stay tucked in the loops, so it's a bit like putting on a shirt. Maybe it would be good to pull one of the G-hooks out of the loop so it's easier. The bottom straps do get twisted, and the foam that wraps around the waist must be pulled back when you engage the G-hooks. The stock harness is good, so no reason to go aftermarket there, though I do love the UmpLife harness which is what I had on my S7. Overall, this is a CP for high level baseball, and I have full confidence that it will protect me where I need it. I still believe the S7 is the most protective CP ever made, though it's very bulky in its original form. My mods made it much more low profile without sacrificing much protection. I plan to wear the Enduro all off season, including 2 plates at the Area Code Games coming up next week. That showcase features many pitchers throwing mid-90s, if not faster. The problem is that they're throwing to catchers that have never caught them so it can be a smoke fest.

Hey everybody 👋🏼, @834k3r’s son’s HS baseball ⚾️ team won its class’s Idaho State Championship!! Emphatic congratulations to the young man, his teammates, and Beaks’ family!!

Nice review! My two cents: For the All-Star if you find it slipping I recommend getting another set of pads and mixing two sizes. I'm a 7-3/8 and in theory the large should fit me, but the large slips, but the medium is too tight. M/L mixture is PERFECT for me. As for the looks, no, it doesn't look great, but I think the padding is the best of any other option, so I'll take (perceived anyway) improved protection and comfort (again, my perception) over looks. I don't notice the weight or have venting problems with the UmpLife harness (I did have them with the DeltaFlex, because that harness is designed for catchers, so when you wear the mask forwards the DF covers the vent holes - that's not an issue with the UL, but overall I do like the DF harness better because I think it slips less.) I'm pretty certain the shell of the AS is the same size no matter what padding you get. Mentioning that only because this issue was mentioned on the Rawlings. I'd REALLY love if Gerry Davis and/or @MadMax come out with a true UMPIRE skull cap - with great padding made for umps, but until I can consider that option I'm sticking with the All-Star and recommending it to all my partners. Overall what I love to see, no matter which one, is so many of us using skull caps now!

One of the things I teach to new umpires working the plate in 2-man. With no one on and a fly ball to the outfield, you have 2 possible responsibilities and neither one of them involve the PU staying at the plate. Just bust out and start moving. Once you are 5-10 steps into the infield, glance at your partner. If he/she went out, keep moving towards second to take the B/R. If he/she came in, keep moving as far out as you can to be set for the catch/no catch. If you wait at the plate to see what your partner decides, you are already too late to cover your responsibilities. I'm not sure what type of training your association offers, but what you are looking for is something an association should be providing. In Indiana, the state allows for only 1 official 'controlled" scrimmage (between 2 schools) during the last week of preseason where teams usually will work specific conditions. Our association also works with local schools to work intra-squad scrimmages and work with live pitching in cages. We have also gotten permission the past 2 years to run special scrimmages for training with our new umpires.

Like it or not, those platforms are the way people are communicating, connecting and “learning” and that’s not going to change. If you want a new generation of umpires that are educated in the field, I’d suggest some of the excellent knowledge, experience, and talent on these forums be apart of that future and join in the conversations on those platforms. Heck, if @MadMax were smart, he’d start a TikTok channel. He’s got the knowledge, the personality, and the looks to be a REAL benefit to the profession as an “influencer”. A good chunk of the information being shared by “umpires” on the gram or tt is just crap and, outside of myself, its rare to see anyone respond with actual rule book quotes. There is almost zero information on gear. Zero information on positioning. Heck, half of the umpires on those platforms don’t even use obstruction/interference correctly. I try to steer some of the young ones here but they don’t understand forums, to them they are all boomer Reddit trash. Believe it or not, umpires are generally well liked on those platforms (more tt than gram), coaches and parents do make very positive and supportive videos and comments about us, far more than you’d imagine.

Thanks to all the replies. It all helps. I'm sure it's a bad stretch that will improve. (Doesn't mean I can see the end of the college road not fay ahead. Special thanks to those who have said I've made a difference in their umpiring career. That's the best compliment I can ever receive. ❤️

Another sighting…Nick Mahrley

Took an 80-ish mph foul straight to the eyes wearing my Mirage with Cloud pads yesterday. Felt the impact, sure. 3-4 fans and both varsity coaches asked if I was okay. Honestly? It was a non-event. Thanks for a great mask, @DerekGDS and team!

There’s a confession – by the industry – to make on the Adams XV. The orange foam on that one? It wasn’t D3O. 😲 Yes, the Schutt XV was true-blue (err, orange), genuine D3O. Schutt was able to employ it on the XV, at a relatively scandalous price point (≈ $89), because they had sourced it from D3O for their football helmets and high-end shoulder pads. Schutt has had a terse, toxic rivalry with market-competitor Riddell, and has lost several lawsuits between the two. This put Schutt in a precarious position in 2018, when they were acquired by a private equity holding company. The PE firm restructured them, and their assets, and split their departments up (ie. sports). Officiating gear was relegated to the Adams sub-brand. As a consequence, Schutt lost its relationship with D3O, and their Adams gear could not use it. So, starting in 2018/19, the Adams XV’s were equipped with a generic EVA foam, dyed orange. Here’s where I need to disclose a secret, and confess – I didn’t use it. When my original Schutt XV plates gave out (cracked) in 2019, I was given a “new” set of plates from an Adams XV, sans the foam jacket, and transplanted my genuine D3O foam vest to them. To its credit, that D3O has lasted 10 years of near-constant use, primarily in SW-USA environments, and in MLB velocities. Not. A. Hiccup. So we’ve disclosed, the Adams XV is not real, genuine D3O. Only a Schutt XV from 2015 (debut) to 2018 has it. But even then, the D3O being used on the Schutt is not the same D3O on Davis gear today. It has evolved, of course. Same “mechanics”, but it has certainly improved. One of the big telling points, as you’ve noticed, is pliability. It’s less springy, more… spongy. More like putty than trampoline. That allows it to conform to the user’s shape more/better than simply sitting atop it. Someone a page back mentioned heat-bending the plates, and the XV wasn’t particularly good at it. Like its football pad cousins, the XV’s plates were primarily cast in ABS, but with a twist – because they shared the same molds as shoulder-pad plates, Schutt had “perfected” their shape to be as low profile, curved, and thin as possible, and likely optimized the recipe with a hardener so the resulting plate held its shape instead of creeping (flattening out). That, or they might have used polycarbonate (which is used for football helmets), which would explain the high-shine gloss finish on a brand-new XV. Note that Douglas, Wilson, Champro, Champion, and pre-Cobalt All-Star CPs all were… semi-gloss… more like satin. Telltale ABS (without an additional lacquer or finishing spray). Point is, polycarbonate is a b!+€h to heat-shape. I know… it took me many, many hours to shape my original XV, cycling between a heat gun and a freezer. Yup, the freezer. However, the +POS Cobra, the All-Star Cobalt, and now Davis DX-family CPs use HDPE (high density polyethylene), which while more expensive, retains its shape better with less material required.

I took my first glancing blow in my Enduro on Saturday. Varsity ball, batter fouled one back off my arm/shoulder guard - I didn't feel a thing beyond the impact! CP fits great, is aerated for cooling, is comfortable to wear and protective. Everything that one could ask for in a great CP!

Um … I did. 😁 I wore it for many years up through Varsity baseball. Derek can vouch for me, as mine became an organ donor or lab rat or something of the sorts. Was it the most protective CP? No, but there were lessons to be learned from it. I found the fit, flexibility, and comfort to be superb. I liked the plastic “slide knob” instead of clips. More importantly, I loved the first time my wife saw me putting it on to adjust it in the living room. She took one look and said, “What the hell are you supposed to be, Batman?”

In all seriousness, I don't think any company serving both the player and umpire markets has put real R&D into the umpire side. It's almost entirely player oriented. It varies but a lot of their umpire gear is just relabeled or tweaked. In other cases, something is developed and not even touched or looked at again for a decade. And honestly, for those larger companies, the total addressable market for umpires is too small to justify dedicated investment. Now, the Enduro does operate in a narrow segment within an already niche market... no getting around that. But our full lineup does cover the lower-mid/mid market, so we're not just chasing the top end. I think the real gap isn't product, it's distribution and education. Two of our admittedly weaker areas that we're working on improving.

100%. But I got to say, at least there's Patrick Farber @ Umpire Classroom is trying to raise the bar for NFHS education. Some...if not all of his videos, especially new rules and interp videos should be required for any NFHS umpire

I try to shut it down early. Whenever it's about the other team, stop it. I'll start by asking the coach to help out and take care of it. Usually they agree. When I get an answer like "What did they say?" or "I didn't hear anything". I'll just tell them "There shouldn't be any negative comments directed at the other team." Next step. walk up to the dugout between innings. Tell the kids calmly. "look guys, you know how this works. Cheer for your guys.Nothing about the other team from your dugout, OK? That usually stops it, rarely does it go to a bench warning, and ejection for any further nonsense. Stopping it the first time you hear it also stops the inevitable first question..."But what about them?? They've been doing it the whole game. I'm OK with the comments like "Leave it for the worms", "That's 6 in a row", 'NOOOO NEVER" .. But just like our cues for ejection, when it gets personal, I try to stop it. ... "Give him a bucket he's throwing up" (one of my favorites, but over the top for high school).."noodle arm", etc. have to be addressed I have mixed feelings on stuff like "Rattled", or Nightmare" and the like. I tend to let that go early. but if it escalates to anything else where I've talked to the coach and/or the bench. then those comments need to stop also.

Not “bush league” at all. It’s a veritable tactic, and with how… “vigorously” (?) some clubs / programs alert and adjust themselves when faced with a LHB to defend it, it’s worth utilizing. Didn’t Tsun Szu say something about inducing panic in your enemy, and let them defeat themselves? Say you’re a HS team, behind by a run, and you’ve got R1. Instead of bunting, why not try this? Send your next batter up to get in the LHB box. This shields the R1 from F2’s sight, reducing backpicks, and gives R1 a “screened” jump against F2’s throw. Then, once your Runner is standing on 2B, switch your Batter back to RHB box. If your Batter is well coached or disciplined, he’ll reduce his chances of BI when R2 steals 3B. Once standing on 3B (now R3), you can have the Batter stay RHB, and potentially set up a steal of Home, or a safety squeeze. Or, switch the Batter back to LHB and increase your chances that a ball put in play to the right side of the infield will score R3. See the game within the game? All legal. Not shenanigans. Please understand @UAME, I’m hot heaping on ya, but do you now see how much we dig our heels in when we don’t know the rules comprehensively? That, when confronted with the very situation that we only have a marginal, tenuous knowledge or understanding of, how defensive and inflexible we get? We (the umpire community) do a 💩 job of demonstrating and explaining the Rules for the… not “a”, the variety of learning types in the landscape of umpires that will be upholding those Rules. How ‘bout a diagram? How ‘bout a web article, with photos/illustrations? How ‘bout a video? No no! We’re far more perseverating on determining that eye-black is gang intimidation (how ‘bout some photos or illustrations?), and cramming that in the latest one printing per year paper tome of the year! At least NCAA has a digital version, emailed updates & notices, and the videos ta boot. That should be, in this day and age, a minimum standard.

@DerekGDS . . . I want to say that I really appreciate the lengths you are going to in an effort to explain this important fact. For too many years, umpires have just thought of our gear as something between us and an impact. Just throw something hard over something soft, and it will be fine. Think of a car crash in a 1970s Buick versus a car crash in a modern vehicle. Which vehicle would you rather be in? Historically, we have not given adequate consideration to the capabilities of our equipment and, more so, how those capabilities diminish over time and under certain circumstances. Most types of safety equipment, from a child's car seat to professional PPE, have recommendations as to when it should be replaced. Yet, many older umpires wear gear that has been umpiring longer than I have. It is kept in the car, exposed to temperature extremes, doused with chemicals that can harm it . . . all without a thought about how the effectiveness deteriorates. Foam is not always what it was. It breaks down, it behaves differently, and its properties can change due to time, temperature, moisture, or whatever. Take care of your gear so it can take care of you. Replace and upgrade your gear regularly.

Congrats on moving to the next level. I think, overall, you will find HS baseball easier than rec or travel. For the most part, the players do more of what you expect them to do and you'll have less funky plays to officiate. I'm sure your training will cover HS rules. Some of the major differences: ALL obstruction is a delayed dead ball, and ALWAYS results in at least a one base award from the runner's position at the time of the obstruction. There is no "in the act of fielding" in HS. The fielder either has possession, or he doesn't. Force Play Slide Rule - it's different from the bonafide slide rule in OBR Runner's Lane Interference - pay close attention on how your association wants it to be called. Follow-through interference (sometimes called backswing interference) - same as batter's interference. Someone is going to be out. Pitching positions - I'm not up-to-date on them, but they'll be different from OBR Dugout Restrictions - nothing similar in OBR. Part of your "toolbox" to manage a game, which will be important in those freshman games that might only have one babysitter coach. You'll likely be asked to confirm game details a few days in advance via email with the coach or AD. Game date, time, location (JV field, varsity field), and if you'll have access to a locker room (more for varsity). Get examples of emails from a varsity umpire you trust. We always asked our umpires at all levels to arrive no less than 45 minutes before game time, wear decent clothes (business casual) and then go to the field and find the coach to let them know you have arrived and to reconfirm game time and when you'll come back for the plate meeting. There have been several times in my career that the visiting team will be late because of bus issues or traffic. Good to know before you show up 10 minutes before the game starts for the plate meeting and only the home team is there. Your association may do things differently.

The DX Kuta is a prototype we were field testing in 2025. The DX was simply a carrier for Covalta which is our chemically cross-linked closed cell foam to get some additional real world testing. The foam itself is engineered to be extremely good when dealing with high speed, localized impacts. It is already used in some pad cores and in the DX Mk2 as well in a limited role. The feedback was very strong but Covalta is being considered for different product lines so this is a limited edition product, we only produced 60 pieces. The Kuta itself weighs about 18% less then the DX Enduro with the same thickness. If anyone is interested in picking one up early, please contact me. What is remaining is likely to go on sale in mid-February. @blue32 stand by on the shins. We're working through a number of prototypes at the moment.

Just a quick update for folks waiting patiently. I expect the first set of pads to be released by the end of the month at the latest. I will follow up with technical specifics for those interested but here are some shots of the final product. Pads will also be available in black and there is a pad skin/cover that is microfiber suede instead of mesh.

I took 3 big shots tonight (estimated about 80-83 mph) and the Mirage (paired with All Star mag pads and AS Cobalt skull cap) came through with flying colors! (Yes, I was in the slot - confirmed with my partners - players were swinging at really inside fastballs.) I'm looking forward to the new GD pads though.

Like it says, I am just getting started in SE Michigan. My youngest daughter is starting her HS year, and just committed to play Softball in college. As I saw our time on the field starting to go away, I wanted to find a way to give back, so I thought I would give this a try. I got lucky and have a good friend who has been doing this for a while, and has offered to mentor me! I also found out about Battlefields to Ballfields from this forum, I was accepted this week, and placed the order for all of my gear today. If you are a Vet, definitely check this resource out (I served 23 years in the Army before retiring). The plan is to do some LL games this fall to get my feet wet, and my mentor said he could get me on a crew with him for some fall tournaments, so that will be nice. Hopefully by spring I will be ready for HS ball. Anyway, looks like a great forum, and I have a lot to learn!!

... And it's a 3-man crew?? ... And there's a kid out-of-uniform (green T-shirt and shorts) prominently amongst the congratulatory Smash Group?? I can see why PU "took it" it went over the fence between the LFFP and F7 running that way. However, U1 wouldn't / shouldn't be slashing in. The rotation should have been PU continues down the 3BL to 3B, judging F/F (Fair) and HR. Stay at 3B for both R1 and BR. U1 would / should then watch touch at 1B by BR and "ROTATE!" down to Home to replace PU and watch touches of Home by R1 ... who... dis... a... pearred...

There was a "sudden death" type of extra inning in the Frontier League. The 10th inning was regular international tie breaker, the 11th, they would have a plate meeting, home team would get to pick either offense or defense. They would then start with a runner at 1st, and it was either get 3 outs or score the run, who ever did what first wins.

Hopefully, no one takes them to the pool.

Army. 82nd Airborne Division. '76-'79.