Diamond Titanium? Mask

[Bigdog]

Hey all,

Anyone familiar with this mask?

Bigdog:cool:

[Umpire in Chief]

Wow Diamond is now in the Titanium mask market and is underpricing Wilson -- by a lot. This should help bring the prices down across the board.

So far I like the looks of the Nike mask the best.

[Majordave]

It is an aluminum alloy like you see in military aircraft with an odd shaped wiring. The wires are an elongated oval shape with the thin side being what you see from the front. The wider side or thick side cannot be seen in two-dimensional photos. It is a shinier silver than titanium.

It is, however, very light and the guy I met who had it at the International Umpires camp last month liked it. Especially the price vs. Wilson Titanium. Nike Titanium-fuhgedaboudit!

The Diamond mask has visible weld marks where vertical and horizontal bars meet. The guy who had it had replaced the cheap cloth pads (his description) with Wilson doeskin wraparounds in tan. I didn't like the look but that is my opinion.

The only site that shows that mask as a titanium is dugout sports. SOS sports has it listed without that titanium puffery. The proper description would be titanium like or feel. By the way this diamond mask shape is the exact same as the one they sell in black. Another guy I know has that one and the black rubber coating has cracked off and looks the same as this new silver colored one. The weld spots are very visible on his mask as they were to be covered by the black rubber coating.

I don't know of any stories of this Diamond/Schutt/Gerry Davis featherweight frame failing other than the rubber coating cracking off.

[JimKirk]

Thought I'd weigh in on the new Diamond Silver Frame Mask. This mask is actually lighter than the Wilson titanium mask and the price difference is obviously related to the difference in metals.

I brought the idea up with Diamond designers about a year ago to make a non-titanium silver metal frame using their 1 lb lightweight mask design and padding in hopes of capturing the interest in the Nike style silver/black mask. I think they did pretty well.

It has been available since late August and believe we received our first shipment in mid-October. More at links below:

Mask Worn Front and Side Views and Features

Blog Post/Announcement of Mask

[kwiggie]

As a part of a combo kit I got the DFM-UMP mask (pictured above only in black). It is light, it has good visibility, and the profile is close. I have been using my partners Wilson titanium (i think that is what it is) for the front half of a H.S. season and he was impressed with the overall make up and "Wieght" of the Diamond mask. As far as protection it has been tested (my experience) from youth through H.S. levels and has absorbed or peeled just like it should upon impact... I have yet to take a direct shot to the mush however, knock on wood

[ShinySideUp]

I bought the diamond silver mask at the beginning of the season. I love it!

This being Iowa, I haven't worked a ton of HS games yet (school got out yesterday), but the mask has held up to at least two direct strikes in a 14U tournament w/AA teams. I've no idea how fast the pitchers were throwing, but the first shot spun the mask off my face, and the second was straight from the bat to my nose. Rocked my world for a minute (and gave me the flinches for the rest of the game:banghead:) but no real problem.

The mask got a bit of green ink from the ball rubbed onto it, but appears no worse for the wear.

My partners are consistently amazed with the light weight, but seem to think that lightweight = flimsy.

If I were doing upper-level Legion or college ball, I'd probably spring for the Wilson...but then, I'd also be making enough to do so.

[kwiggie]

Just got back from working a HS Varsity game (Summer League) tonight and must have jinxed myself when I mentioned "not taking a shot to the mush"

(above), cause I got it tonight. Mask worked perfect, it absorbed and peeled upon impact. Spooked me for the remainder of the bottom inning but did give me confidence in the mask. Very, very happy with this mask for the price.

[twjones]

I really like the view this masks offers. I orginally bought the silver frame from Jim back at the beginning of the season (March). I liked it so much that I bought the black frame too. I've taken one good shot and the mask did its job.

[BT_Blue]

I bought the silver diamond from Jim back in late January or early February. I instantly, due to information gained on this and other boards, removed the diamond pads and replaced them with the black wrap around pads from wilson. I found that these pads added a couple ounces to the mask and made it some what uncomfortable to wear.

Luckly though I worked with a guy that had bought the titanium mask but didnt like the two tone pads it came with. He wanted just the black ones so I instantly worked out a deal to trade mask pads.

I will have to say I absolutely love the new two tone wilson pads. They are nice and light and feel great on the face. I highly recommend them if you can find them seperately.

[mstaylor]

How does the Diamond mask compare in material and weight. They are about the same price and I have tried the Davis and it is extremely light with good vision. I would consider the Diamond if they are comparable.

[BT_Blue]

Michael, in trying to silver davis mask you have actually already tried the Diamond silver mask. It is the same mask just rebranded. Kind of like the Geo Metro and the Chevy PT Cruiser. (Same chassie and engine, different body)

Edited June 11, 2009 by BT_Blue
clarification

[mstaylor]

Thanks, I will order it from Jim instead of GD.

[BT_Blue]

my recommendations exactly. I ordered mine from Jim and I havent let him forget how much of a help he has been.

[umpire08]

can this mask be purchased at honigs

[twjones]

can this mask be purchased at honigs

No.

Try Ump-attire or Purchase Officials.

[BT_Blue]

Yeh, Honigs only sells their masks or the wilson titanium. Ump-Attire as well as many others (Gerry Davis has the mask but put their pads and harness on it).

[shagpal]

allstar has a new titanium mask. anyone got a review?

http://www.sportsdepot.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=FM25TI