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This past year, Wilson ended production of the Shock FX line of Hockey Style masks. While technically progressive, the unit represented a customer service headache for Wilson and a marketing dud when put up against the more sculpted, more rugged, and yet less expensive All-Star System7 series and Easton M series. With cages being bent by impacts, or the shocks becoming fouled up by constant frequent tossings or hurlings to the ground by catchers, more than a few were being sent back to be replaced by all-new units. At one time, Wilson did offer a replacement cage alone, but that option was quickly exhausted. Then, with a substantial portion of their production run going to replace returned units, the Shock FX wasn't generating a sufficient profit margin. Thus, last year, Wilson debuted the Pro Stock HSM, which is a great catchers HSM, as it is very sleek and looks like an even more sculpted and tapered All-Star System7. But where does that leave Shock FX users? As far as umpires were concerned, the Shock FX was a rather well-designed and accommodating HSM, offering very good viewing space and the critical stand-off distance – supplemented by the shock suspension – necessary for good forward protection. It wasn't too heavy of a unit either, all things considered, but did have some shortcomings that could have been addressed and remedied in subsequent versions. The leather pads would unfortunately retain oils and grime, and made laundering and cleaning a challenge; to their credit, Wilson did offer a replacement pad set (still may, but supplies are likely limited). Then, of course, no cage is impervious to the tremendous energy that a ball potentially carries, and the cages would get bent. Compounding this was Wilson's dalliance into titanium which, while lighter and thinner than steel, cost a substantial amount more and were "impossible" for Wilson and the average user to repair. So while Wilson was closing the line down, and supplies of replacement parts dwindled, the response back to users became, "Sorry, you'll have to purchase another one". Frustrating, to say the least. Especially when a retail Shock FX was $150 - $200 and a retail All-Star System7 was $115 - $150. Well good folks, that bent-up Shock FX can get a new lease on life. Mask-It can make repairs on the cages of the Shock FX, as the cage does remove rather easily. Two screws – one at the forehead, one at the chin – hold the cage in place, then the cage merely slides forward and free of its shock-&-spring suspension. Take note of how the parts are arranged, put them in a zip-lock bag or a jar, and then send the cage alone to Tony and his crew at Mask-It. The one they just did for @KenBAZ had a fairly large dent in the eyebrow region, and the paint was long gone to corrosion. Mask-It not only trued the mask back up, but filed the bar ends smooth (before, they were blunt and sharp) and gave it a powdercoat job in Liquid Gunmetal – one of the sexiest colors in their palette. Looks good as new, doesn't it? It came to $40, but it sure does beat trying to find and purchase a new one! Oh, I do recommend wrapping the four mounting posts in masking tape. I forgot to, and suddenly remembered an episode of American Chopper wherein powdercoat was applied to the sleeve mountings of the front fork, and they had to file and grind it off to get the fork struts in. Same thing here, I had to file the powdercoat off the four mounting posts so the springs and bushings would fit.

Fellow Gear Hounds, Over the winter, I bought a Nike NR Steel from @JoHart10. He had it powder coated Gunmetal Metallic by Tony at MaskIt, and it is a beautiful piece of equipment. It became my primary gamer, and really want it to be my go-to for upcoming tournaments and CDP. Just yesterday, I finished a stretch of 14 games in a local tournament (lost 1 due to rain), with the championship U16 game being the last game in the entire complex. I'm on plate, and trotted out the really snazzy gear. All pitchers were dealing, with the combined walks kept to the single digits. In the 4th inning, I took a foul ball to the face, and the mask, TWs, and loose harness did their combined job – I didn't feel any pain whatsoever, despite everyone immediately inquiring "You alright, Blue??". Even my grizzled BU partner came in my direction to check before I laughed off everyone's concerns and rearranged my mask and said "Play!" Peering through the bars, I felt crooked. After the next batter, I took my mask – my treasured Nike NRS – off to find... that impact bent the bars!! Just to the right of the lower eye slot, off-center, just off the upside-down-U, the ball pushed the main horizontal bar in noticeably. Now, I'm a farm kid and a technological whiz (quite the combo, huh?), so while I know bumps and dents are inevitable, I also know there must be a way to fix this. How would you fix this? Please advise!