HSM vs. Traditional

[T-Rav]

I have both a honig's w/ team wendy pad mask and the allstar HSM and constantly switch between the two based on the level of play. I was talking to a college umpire who told me he only wears a HSM because he slightly turned his head and a varsity baseball fouled back and skinned his left ear requiring 4 stitches. He also mentioned he was hit with a bat in a varsity game in the side of the head.

What makes you choose to wear what you wear?

[scrounge]

Huh, I have a very similar lineup, a Diamond Lite with Team Wendy pads and an All-Star HSM. I find myself using the mask less and less and am very close to hitting eBay with it, to be honest. It's lighter and easier to hold, and I'm sure it's very safe with the Wendy pads, but just feel more secure in the HSM. Last year, I did get a foul off a batter who leaned back and deflected the ball just so, having it hit the helmet right below the ear. I'm not sure a traditional mask would have done anything to protect against that. And while it didn't happen to me, my oldest had a ball fouled straight up in a rec game with short backstops, hit the overhang, and come back onto the top of his head. Luckily, he also has a helmet.

I'll still wear the mask when there are deep backstops, but less so. Plus, the vision from the HSM is just so much better for me. The removable, washable padding of the All-Star is a huge plus, and frankly, with a cap on, even a mesh one, I don't find the masks really that much cooler.

[Jocko]

I tried a HSM. Just didn't like it. Felt like a goofball taking it off and it rubbed too much. I wear dyna lite. Scrounge, if you choose to sell, hit me up before ebay. I may be interested.

[semper_fi_72]

3 Concussions in two years and the last 2 in less than a month this season.

Doctors orders as well as SWMBOs, have me wearing my AllStar System 7 MVP2500 every game.

I also recently now of a Umpire who turned his head and had the side of his head cut by foul ball.

DON'T FLINCH!!!!!!!

Vision is great out of my HSM.

I will protect my head so I can still use it to umpire for a few more years.

[grayhawk]

3 Concussions in two years and the last 2 in less than a month this season.

Doctors orders as well as SWMBOs, have me wearing my AllStar System 7 MVP2500 every game.

I also recently now of a Umpire who turned his head and had the side of his head cut by foul ball.

DON'T FLINCH!!!!!!!

Vision is great out of my HSM.

I will protect my head so I can still use it to umpire for a few more years.

Is there any solid data that indicates the HSM is more protective from consussions than the traditional mask? I can see how the HSM would protect better from a backswing or a ball reboudning from the backstop, but I am not sure that it absorbs a straight shot any better. I would think the absorbtion is more in the padding than the shell. Just curious.

[semper_fi_72]

3 Concussions in two years and the last 2 in less than a month this season.

Doctors orders as well as SWMBOs, have me wearing my AllStar System 7 MVP2500 every game.

I also recently now of a Umpire who turned his head and had the side of his head cut by foul ball.

DON'T FLINCH!!!!!!!

Vision is great out of my HSM.

I will protect my head so I can still use it to umpire for a few more years.

Is there any solid data that indicates the HSM is more protective from consussions than the traditional mask? I can see how the HSM would protect better from a backswing or a ball reboudning from the backstop, but I am not sure that it absorbs a straight shot any better. I would think the absorbtion is more in the padding than the shell. Just curious.

No solid data that I know of but:

Look at the profile of a HSM compared to a standard mask.

The HSM is generally more angular, therefore you have a lot smaller sweet spot for a straight on shot.

I have also added pads to my HSM that I am not at liberty to discuss on the open forum.

[Welpe]

I wonder if somebody got something experimental from a manufacturer making an excellent traditional mask pad.

[rth54]

Hmmm a good thought

[MPLSMatt]

I had a chance to talk with Tim Tschida a couple of years ago and he said if he was 20 years old again, he'd start with a HSM because "everyone knows they are safer" but he's too old to switch. Of course some MLB guys disagree and I believe there have been studies (although with questioned validity) that indicate that a mask distributes the impact better if it spins. I switched to a HSM 3 years agao and I'm very, very glad I did. I've been hit in the side of the head (I know, don't flinch) and once with one that hit the screen and dropped on me. I currently wear the Wilson shock...

[zebra2955]

Switched to a HSM years ago and will never go back. The vision is better and even the slightest breeze cools you down plus I believe the protection is superior

[JimKirk]

Is there any solid data that indicates the HSM is more protective from consussions than the traditional mask? I can see how the HSM would protect better from a backswing or a ball reboudning from the backstop, but I am not sure that it absorbs a straight shot any better. I would think the absorbtion is more in the padding than the shell. Just curious.

This is not a black-and-white answer. The answer is it depends on what type of helmet or mask you are wearing and on where you are hit. For instance, a less expensive ABS shell HSM with less dense foam padding (see Diamond's umpire helmet) will be much less protective than a All-Star System Seven with a polycarbonate shell and more dense padding (especially at the forehead area).

If you have a ball or bat to the side, back or top of your head, obviously the HSM is your winner. On a side shot, the HSM will deflect better.

With a straight shot, the difference will be less. Arguably, there may even be less protection to a forehead shot with a HSM than a mask, again depending on the mask and HSM you are comparing. The All-Star HSM has a better angle at the forehead than the Wilson Shock FX. And Wilson padding and Team Wendy padding give you better protection than what you see on other masks. What I'm trying to say is to be careful in over-generalizing whether all HSMs are better than than all masks in all cases.

Someone mentioned the spinning of the mask helps with deflecting force away from the head. It does! In general, the recommendation is to wear it as loose as tolerable. But then with MLB Umpire Ed HIckox, he alleged that his mask spinned off and the frame caught him in the ear and broke 3 inner ear bones.

The moral of the story is that you are in harm's way no matter what you wear or how you wear it. So choose wisely based on your level of play and always stand as far in the slot as you can out of harm's way.

The technology is getting better. Not as fast as I'd like. And I am seeing some things on the horizon that look promising as well in padding and absorption.

[JimKirk]

BTW-There is a good article on pros and cons of wearing an HSM vs a mask that discusses protection, hat wearing issues, field of vision, etc in the July issue of Referee Magazine on pg. 12 written by Matt Moore.

[zebra2955]

I should have mentioned I have a MVP model, with the Kevlar shell.

Makes it bulletproof LOL

[Fittske24]

I know of a few guys that wear a "bump cap" liner in their hat to help provide more head protection. I have been tempted to try one of these.... It fits inside your exsisting umpire cap.

[semper_fi_72]

I should have mentioned I have a MVP model, with the Kevlar shell.

Makes it bulletproof LOL

There is no such thing as bulletproof.

[Chris Hickman]

I know of a few guys that wear a "bump cap" liner in their hat to help provide more head protection. I have been tempted to try one of these.... It fits inside your exsisting umpire cap.

I would look like the guy from Tron if I wore that..lol

[Fittske24]

I would look like the guy from Tron if I wore that..lol

it goes on the inside of the cap :)

[RichMSN]

My MVP4000 just showed up. Put it on, started humming Darth Vader music, and scared the dog.

[mjr_2013]

If I have a partner, I use my All Star MVP2500... If I am solo, I use my Gerry Davis Traditional because I like the lesser weight when running around the diamond.

[zebra2955]

I should have mentioned I have a MVP model, with the Kevlar shell.

Makes it bulletproof LOL

There is no such thing as bulletproof.

No kidding. I meant that as a joke, thats why the LOL at the end>

:shrug: