Confirmation on why I wear a <acronym title='Hockey Style Mask '>HSM</acronym>....

[KLAH316]

Yesterday, JR. High Game.

Batter fouls one straightback past my head. The backstop at this particular school has the 6" of wood at the base of the fence and this is actually angled up a bit probably due to it being so old.

As soon as it goes past me I straighten up "Foul"! Then I feel the ball drill me right in the back of the head. SInce I was not expecting it I was startled for a few seconds to say the least. The parents behind the screen were great, they felt bad for me since that was the 2nd shot in the head I had taken already the game. I look out to the field and my partner who is a good friend of mine is laughing!! Between innings, he came up to see if I was ok and said he had never seen that happen before. He said from his angle, he never thought it would hit me.

I have the Wilson Shock F/X and there is just enough padding on the rear head piece to protect me.

I don't think I will ever go back to a regular face mask.

It was a "One in a million shot" and I think I'll keep my head protected!!

[Welpe]

Yikes. Glad you're OK. I have always worn a traditional mask but have entertained the idea of an HSM for fields such as these.

[T-Rav]

I love my allstar HSM. Do you take it off for plays at the plate or third? I have heard some mixed feelings about this and it is pretty hard to get off in time for plays at the plate especially since I wear a beanie.

[KLAH316]

I love my allstar HSM. Do you take it off for plays at the plate or third? I have heard some mixed feelings about this and it is pretty hard to get off in time for plays at the plate especially since I wear a beanie.

Mine comes off as easy as a traditional mask with just my left hand. I always pull it off for plays at home and usually have it off already as i'm running up the line.

[T-Rav]

I love my allstar HSM. Do you take it off for plays at the plate or third? I have heard some mixed feelings about this and it is pretty hard to get off in time for plays at the plate especially since I wear a beanie.

Mine comes off as easy as a traditional mask with just my left hand. I always pull it off for plays at home and usually have it off already as i'm running up the line.

Hmmmm. Mines a real pain to get off and it's pretty loose, I'll play with it.

[yawetag]

As soon as it goes past me I straighten up "Foul"!

There's no reason to call "Foul!" on an obvious foul ball.

[KLAH316]

As soon as it goes past me I straighten up "Foul"!

There's no reason to call "Foul!" on an obvious foul ball.

That's besides the point.... Honestly I may or may not have even said it.

Some people on here get so nit-picky!!

[BT_Blue]

As soon as it goes past me I straighten up "Foul"!

There's no reason to call "Foul!" on an obvious foul ball.

That's besides the point.... Honestly I may or may not have even said it.

Some people on here get so nit-picky!!

This is true. However Andrew does have a good point.

[JaxRolo]

Always take off the ham just like a regular mask. It looks pretty silly to see Ate Umpire running down the line with it on. Also don't say foul on an obvious one.

[Welpe]

Autocorrect not being so kind to you Jax? :)

[JaxRolo]

Autocorrect not being so kind to you Jax?

Darn iPhone!

[scrounge]

I probably say foul on every ball just out of habit, but if it's obvious or clearly behind us with no chance of being caught I don't say it any louder than hushed conversation level. I doubt anyone other than the catcher hears it. Not really on purpose, just a perfunctory habit of saying it every time. Maybe it reminds me to put it back in play, I dunno. I agree it would be obnoxious to yell it and make a big display.

[johnnyg08]

It would be a good habit to get rid of.

[jourdyn08]

i have a HSM Wilson with the shock absobers. love it. took one off the face the other day and my ear was ringing for the rest of the game. it felt as if i took a shot from the heavyweight champ. lol

[scrounge]

It would be a good habit to get rid of.

I really don't think it's a big deal at all. Necessary? No, but I've got about 42 other things to improve upon before I get to that.

[Kevin Finnerty]

It would be a good habit to get rid of.

I really don't think it's a big deal at all. Necessary? No, but I've got about 42 other things to improve upon before I get to that.

Start with that. It is a big deal.

[AJtheUMP]

I often say "Foul - out of play" when it is obvious to every one..... except the catcher. I have a lot of kids who will throw their helmet off and look around for the ball. I don't yell it, just let them know they have no chance at it. I should point out that these are usually the ones that go high and back over the back stop or dug outs (backwards pop up?), since they are usually looking up to see if its catchable.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Do not do that.

[sdix00]

I probably say foul on every ball just out of habit, but if it's obvious or clearly behind us with no chance of being caught I don't say it any louder than hushed conversation level. I doubt anyone other than the catcher hears it. Not really on purpose, just a perfunctory habit of saying it every time. Maybe it reminds me to put it back in play, I dunno. I agree it would be obnoxious to yell it and make a big display.

I was in a clinic and just raising my hands on the foul. Maybe I would say foul, but not yell it.

Angel Hernandez pulled me aside and said "Please don't call foul unless you are straddling the line and in a position to call it. If you don't need to get in position, then you don't need to call it."

At a different clinic, the instructor made a big deal of only calling foul on balls within the width of the cutout, or balls between the plate and mound.

"No, SH*#" was the instructor's favorite response to obvious foul calls.

[JaxRolo]

Do not do that.

I agree. That is why he has team mates and coaches.

[NWA_UMP]

If it is a "no SH*#" type foul...I usually don't even put my hands up or if I do they never get over my shoulder level. I certainly don't verbalize the call....kind of like the out at first where the B/R isn't even to the 45' runners lane. I just watch the play and walk back to A...nothing else needed.

[JaxRolo]

We are not ragging on you (at least me )

Just trying to advice you to make you better.

When I post something I don't mid any criticism.

[AJtheUMP]

I am always learning! I value the opinions of the people on here very highly! I am by no means an expert or anything close! I take all advice into consideration and usually adopt it, especially if its as unanimous as this is!