Rock Bottom

I use the UnCap in a regular umpire hat. Works great in my opinion. https://unequal.com/uncap-baseball/

I searched this but couldn't find it, although I'm guessing it's been asked and answered before so my apologies. NFHS rules. Right-handed batter bunts or takes a full swing, but the net result is the same, a ball a short distance away from home plate. The catcher quickly moves out from behind the plate to field the ball, bat at the same time the B-R takes off for first and runs into the catcher. Is this a no-call - play on? Or is it interference on the batter? (Of the 3 choices I'm 99.99% sure it is NOT obstruction on the catcher.) Thanks!

So, the black mag paint chips? For some reason I was thinking that was the die molded color. Is it still worth getting the black, or is another mag color better at not chipping? (Or at least not showing the chips.)

I've seen some sales sites say it means Lightweight Ultra-Cool, but I have no idea if that's accurate. Haven't found that on the All-Star official website.

Thanks @MadMax! That answers it for my purposes.

So, if you had to choose just one mask between the FM4000 steel and the ZRO-G which would you pick?

Wore my plate shoes with these laces for two games today and they worked great. Made the whole shoe fit better as was able to quickly adjust it as needed. @catsbackr let me know how they work out for you. I do too, which is one reason taking them off and re-tying between innings takes too long. I'm tying the laces tight trying to get the best fit.

Maybe they just find the FM4000Mag better period. You'd think there would be some independent testing you could have to compare mask to mask.

I never wore a Ti, so I could only guess, but I thought people liked the hollow steel better than Ti because it absorbed more impact. And if I'm a major league catcher I don't care about a bent mask. (Plus I just think the FM4K looks cooler!)

Isn't the FM4000 steel just 17oz while the FM25Ti is 19oz?

I do too, which is one reason taking them off and re-tying between innings takes too long. I'm tying the laces tight trying to get the best fit.

I always have trouble getting a nice tight tie on my plate shoes, and they are a little bigger than I'd like, but the smaller/narrower sizes weren't comfortable, so I figured better too big than too small (that's what she said). But I find I get dirt/rocks in my shoes, and trying to untie/retie between innings would take too long, and the shoes loosened up too much during the games. Anyone try Lock Laces? https://www.locklaces.com/ I got some and was going to wear them tonight, but my game was rained out (no one told me though, so I did wear them from the parking lot to the field. The shoe fit much better overall with these, but they did seem to loosen up some just in that brief walk. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else had tried them and what a longer term experience was.

Thanks gentlemen! Glad I asked first!

I had a pitcher today start on the set position with pitching hand in glove and set as he took the rubber. First move was the delivery. Is this legal? I'm thinking based on the below (Fed 6-1-3) I should have balked him, but I wasn't sure and the opposition never even hinted at complaining about it so I let it go. This is for a rec league and I didn't want to start issues where there weren't any so I figured I'd check here tonight. Thoughts? 6-1-3 ART. "For the set position, the pitcher shall have the ball in either his gloved hand or his pitching hand. His pitching hand shall be down at his side or behind his back...."

I can't get over how it appears to completely cover everyone's mouth.

6 straight days (9 games) of rainouts, and tomorrow looks unlikely as well. So frustrating. Just had to complain to people who would get it!

What happened to Wilson's contract supposedly being up? I don't see any Under Armour stuff that was predicted either.

Adding to the above, I"m really surprised that the current MVP fits many pro catchers (and the MVP4000 is the same size according to the All-Star website). Of course they I'm guessing get customization that mere amateurs don't, so maybe that's how they fit them, but I wouldn't say I have a large head by any means (no Michael Scott jokes!), and it's just too tight for comfort. Oh well, the FM4000 is a great mask, so I'm sure I'll be happy with it long term (the only real reason I started looking at the HSM again is because I took a foul to the jaw, but that was my fault for set-up and turning my head problems, not the mask's).

Thanks @MadMax! Interesting re: the two tone - I could swear in the past you said "black only" for umps! LOL!! I'm guessing (but could be wrong) that these are actually the "new" models still, but I'm taking this as a sign to just go with and stick with the FM4000 as planned. I've only gotten 4 games in so far this year and wore it for 3. (I've had snow/rain/cold cancel 10 games on me so far this year, and it's not looking good for my double header tomorrow as the ground is absolutely soaked. Standing water everywhere.

My All-Star HSM model MVP2500-1 just arrived and I was surprised to find that the size is now smaller than the old (about 3.5 years old) MVP2500 I had (formerly my son's when he was in HS). They changed the interior side padding some (I think it's better now, but more substantial and takes up more interior space - it's firmer but more protective it seems to me) but it appears the helmet itself might be slightly smaller as well (I can't say that for certain though). What I can say for certain is that the new helmet is much tighter on the inside than the old one (at least for me) and the size listed on the MVP2500 itself was "7-7 3/4" but the MVP2500-1 lists it at "7-7 1/2." I have to say, given that I'm right at about a 7 3/8 to 7 1/2, that it is a very noticeable difference. For someone with a smaller head it's probably great, but I sadly will likely return it as my jaw is pressing against the sides. (And that's after working inside all day at about 70*, it would likely be much tighter in 85*+ temps.) (This is the same reason I returned the Schutt HSM, which actually was very nice too, but again, too small for me.) Just wanted to let people know about this in case you were looking at these and found the older model too big/small, this could be good or bad news. (I guess for me the silver lining is that it makes it an easy decision to keep my All-Star FM4000 and just pair it up with the UnCap.) Edited to add that I don't find a straight MVP2500 on the All-Star website anymore, it seems the 2500-1 replaced it (or I'm just not finding it).

I put it on top of the small cooler bag I hang in the corner of the backstop.

Thanks @wolfe_man! What made you go back to the TM?

I tried wearing both a 6 and a 4 stitch under there and hated it. If I decide to go with the HSM, I think I'll just bring a cap and wear it pre-game and between innings.

Thanks all! I'm still debating between the HSM and TM. Such pros and cons for each. I used the HSM for the one game I got in this weekend that wasn't snowed out, and used a regular hat for the plate meetings all between innings. Liked the vision of the HSM and the feeling (not sure if it's accurate) of being better protected, but didn't like holding it when the ball was put into play. I was hoping to decide on one and return the other while I can, but maybe I'll keep both... Decisions...

Is it acceptable to leave on your hockey style mask given the vision is so good with them (at least the All-Star) when the ball goes into play, or should you remove it in all the same situations you would a traditional mask?