Pros and Cons of a Low Profile Umpire mask

[John]

This coming spring I have been debating on weather or not to get a low profile umpire mask. While I have heard that they offer great vision of the entire plate, I have also heard that a shot to the face can really hurt. Does anyone have any experiences with a low profile umpire mask? Any Pros/Cons either or?

[johnnyg08]

Flatter masks will deflect less.

[Majordave]

Johnnyg08 said: "Flatter masks will deflect less."

Everyone says that. I have yet to see any science on it. I'm sure there is some but I have not seen anything I would put stock in. There are just too many variable.

My personal thoughts:

I was finally smart enough to stop coaching and start umpiring in 2006 and my first mask was the Wilson Chrome Moliben, low profile, Davis "New View", sold by Ump-Attire (before Jim Kirk bought the internet sales side of the business.)

I wore it exclusively my first year. Got hit in the facemask area, a LOT, I was learning where to stand, trying new stances and slot angles and working a significant amount of middle school ball (13/14 year olds). i now do college level and men's league here in Kansas City exclusively. I have worked D-1 and even Legion with pitchers throwing into the 90's. Never had a problem when dinked in the mask by a ball.

I picked up some tips from officiating.com, umpire.org and a now defunct site with a lot of articles, Brent McLaren? perhaps. From those sites I learned to wear the mask loosely with the straps attached to the outer ear protector flaps. I eventually got other masks, gray new view, Wilson Titanium in low profile, but only one "standard" or normal curve mask. a Honig's navy blue lightweight on closeout. I also have the new Diamond Magnesium or aircraft aluminum in silver that Jim Kirk/Ump Attire along with many sells.

I worked over 250 games a spring/summer/fall season from 2006 through 2009 then went to Afghanistan until this past summer and have resumed working college and men's league level games with some Legion thrown in this past summer. I cannot count the number of baseballs, whether they be foul balls, deflected off catcher's mitts or other parts or direct hits that hit me in the mask. Well over 100 for sure and never felt a thing different between the two differing curvature masks. I have never left a game and never sought treatment or had a headache from any of the hits. My mask usually spins left or right and sometimes lands in the dirt. I never needed a second to clear my head or gain my bearings. I have had direct to the eyes/middle mask, top half. lower half, right and left side hits. None of them hurt or slowed me down in the slightest.

So, all that being said, either I am extremely lucky or there is no difference in the effect of the curvature of these masks or the looseness of the masks matters more than the curvature.

I'm sure someone will disagree with me, maybe even strongly, but this is my personal testimony from my own experience. I have friends who sometimes get their bells rung and I ask them or check on how tight they wear the mask. It is usually someone with a tightly strapped to their head rig that gets their bell rung and suffers ill consequences and affects.

Again, my own personal experiences and observations on this matter. My two cents, if you will. Your mileage may vary.

Dave Teater

KC MO

[johnnyg08]

Hi Dave,

You're right.

The only evidence I can provide are from my own experiences. YMMV

The times I've been hit while wearing my low-profile mask on what I'd consider same or similar blows, the hits seem to be more solid as opposed to glancing.

Obviously there's no science behind what I'm saying, only my personal experiences.

[John]

Thanks to both you for the feedback!

[midmoump]

Major,

Perchance you have been hit in the head once too often?

I think we can agree that the ball's energy must go somewhere, and that deflection causes less of the ball's impact energy to transfer to your mask and head. If the ball hits a flat surface, more energy will be transferred to the mask, and consequently your head, than if the ball is deflected. A low profile mask has more "flatter" surfaces, while a standard profile mask has more "curved" surfaces. The curved surfaces will increase the opportunities for the ball to deflect its energy somewhere else, and more opportunities to spin your mask (and transfer energy away from your head).

That's how I see it, although I wish I would have spent less time sleeping during physics class. I agree with JohnnyG, "Flatter masks will deflect less." However, that is just one factor that should be considered when choosing a mask. The pads, frame material, design, how the mask is worn, and the shape of your face (as suggested by kylejt) are all factors that play a part in impact deflection and absorbtion.

Pete

[mazzamouth]

I wear a "low Profile mask" have been hit a few times, but nothing big happen...

I for one want to see some research done..LOL

Buy it you'll like it.

[Kevin Finnerty]

I started with the standard profile Wilson chrome moliben with wrap-around leather pads. I then graduated to the New View chrome moli with leather wrap-arounds. My third style of mask was the original low-profile titanium. I now work exclusively with my fourth style: the standard profile titanium.

I will never wear a low-profile again. It definitely makes your head and neck absorb more of the blow. It's discernible. The sweet spot on that low-profile is over three inches wide. The standard has a sweet spot less than half as wide. The standard deflects more shots, just like Pete said. It's that simple. Data or no data, the blows from the low-pro rock you harder. Those are my findings.

Once I read about the extra concussions by low-profile wearers, I ordered the standard profile from UA as soon as it was offered.

The low-profile is a trade-off. The trade-off is a better view of the strike zone, but with more straight, hard shots. The view from a standard profile is fine. I'll go with the safety of more deflections.

[Home of Shiner Beer]

Hello...first time poster.. Been calling over fifteen years for TASO and select outfits.Call a lot of games from mid Jan.-Mid Dec. down in the corridor between and in San Antonio- Austin-Houston.As many high school games as possible that a full time job allows..and select ball of all ages is played all year all over down here.Very fortunate to have taken many "shots" foul balls and quite a few catcher/pitcher cross-ups where the fastball goes untouched straight off my mask.You feel it.. but ..I swear by an old school low profile Wilson mask..heavy..but used to it..that really does give great views.You feel it... but with it sitting loose that mask just spins around and the game goes on.Good pads of course are paramount..but the sheer heft of the mask must have something to do it's ability to absorb/deflect energy...Well that is my story and it is the one I tell my fellow umpires when they pick up my mask and give me that"you gotta be kidding " look.

[Kevin Finnerty]

I've used the heavy Wilson low-profile and standard profile, and I have used the ultralight titanium in both the low profile and standard profile. I can fully attest to the fact that, no matter the weight, the standard profile deflects blows better and is undoubtedly a safer mask. I also prefer the ultralight rather than the standard weight, because for the 10,000 pitches that we call between mask shots, it puts less strain on one's neck, and is less of a strain on the left arm when removing it over and over.

Believe what you want to believe, but the low-profile is less safe, and is truly unsafe at any level above youth or freshman ball. Once pitching approaches 80 m.p.h., you should wear a standard profile mask.

You might not comprehend the concussive effects of the more jarring blows you receive with the low profile, but those you advise to buy this thing just might.

[dumbdumb]

I've used the heavy Wilson low-profile and standard profile, and I have used the ultralight titanium in both the low profile and standard profile. I can fully attest to the fact that, no matter the weight, the standard profile deflects blows better and is undoubtedly a safer mask. I also prefer the ultralight rather than the standard weight, because for the 10,000 pitches that we call between mask shots, it puts less strain on one's neck, and is less of a strain on the left arm when removing it over and over.

Believe what you want to believe, but the low-profile is less safe, and is truly unsafe at any level above youth or freshman ball. Once pitching approaches 80 m.p.h., you should wear a standard profile mask.

You might not comprehend the concussive effects of the more jarring blows you receive with the low profile, but those you advise to buy this thing just might.

Have always enjoyed your equipment analysis as well as those of mid west ump.

Do you have a picture of where the straps should be hooked up on any mask to help with the mask sliding completely off during a shot. Do some guys cut certain straps off to help with this and are there photos of the ones. Also, what's the amount of space the mask is suppose to hang away from the chin and are there any pics of this from you or MWU. Seems like wearing the mask properly should always be mentioned when analyzing the nuts and bolts of the different masks. I know you try and provide everyone with the safety aspect in anything you write, especially with the concussion factors that have become so important in any area of sports where there are impacts to the head for whatever reason. Thanks.

[Majordave]

Double d,

I put my straps on the outermost loop of the ear flap protector bar thingies. (How's that for a scientific, specific description? Ha!). I use black electrical tape wrapped on the strap to hold them tightly in place so they don't slide up and down on the bar and then wear it loosely, but tight enough so it sits where I like it to be. When I get in my plate lock-in stance the chin pad sits about an inch to an inch and a half off of my chin. If I get hit in the mask with a ball the mask spins left or right and sometimes comes completely off. Never felt a thing with this method of mask wear.

My two cents. YMMV.

Good luck.

DCT

KCMO

[kwiggie]

Dave,

Are you saying that your mask hangs off \ away from your chin and essentially floats when in your in your stance, or am I reading that wrong?

[kylejt]

Gosh, I hope not.

You want your pads resting against your face when you're in your stance. It's when you look down at your feet that the chin pad should move away about an inch or two.

I don't attach my straps to the outer most loops, either. But some guys do.