Tested my Nutty Buddy yesterday

[JHSump]

The other day my partner showed up late and in all the commotion I forgot to "iinstall" my NB.  Did the whole varsity HS game without one.  Didn't realize it until the drive home!!  First, that's how comfortable it can be --- you can't  tell it's there.  And, I was lucky I didn't have any "tests"!

 

On the other hand, a week ago, on the second pitch of a JV game a curve bounced in the dirt, skipped past the catcher without any contact with him and hit me smack full on in the NB.  I felt it, but not in any painful manner.  I just stayed in my crouch, and said, "That hit me right in the nuts."  The batter asked if I was wearing a cup, right?  I chuckled and told him yes, of course.  I was tempted to say something else to the catcher, but didn't.  He apologized.  Thank you NB.

[Welpe]

The other day my partner showed up late and in all the commotion I forgot to "iinstall" my NB.  Did the whole varsity HS game without one.  Didn't realize it until the drive home!!  First, that's how comfortable it can be --- you can't  tell it's there.  And, I was lucky I didn't have any "tests"!

[Mike Prince]

I wore the SD TItan Flex (stainless steel) for the past 4 years and switched the the NB a few months ago - I've taken similar shots wearing each.  IMO the NB performed slightly better and is (to me) more comfortable.  I was aware of the contact with both, but felt less of it with the NB.  I feel more protected with the NB as well, especially on the south side of things.  With the SD I sometimes had to readjust to make sure everything was covered up and protected, no such issues with the Nutty Buddy.

 

Another bonus with the NB is ease of installation/removal.  With the Shock Doctor Titan I pretty much had it on for all games on multi-game days, with the NB it is very easy to remove between games so I do not have the discomfort of a cup while I work the bases.  While the NB is very comfortable in my plate stance, I find it less so when I am working the bases.

[Umpire in Chief]

I got a Nutty Buddy this year. Took my first shot last night. Bad pitch - I don't know how it got by the catcher the way he went down to block it, but it found a way through. Bounced off the plate and BAM. I felt it pretty good. I actually wasn't expecting to feel it that much, I guesstimate that I felt it as much as I would have with my ShockDoctor carbon fiber. 

 

But I will say it is very comfortable.

[Welpe]

I wore the SD TItan Flex (stainless steel) for the past 4 years and switched the the NB a few months ago - I've taken similar shots wearing each.  IMO the NB performed slightly better and is (to me) more comfortable.  I was aware of the contact with both, but felt less of it with the NB.  I feel more protected with the NB as well, especially on the south side of things.  With the SD I sometimes had to readjust to make sure everything was covered up and protected, no such issues with the Nutty Buddy.

 

Another bonus with the NB is ease of installation/removal.  With the Shock Doctor Titan I pretty much had it on for all games on multi-game days, with the NB it is very easy to remove between games so I do not have the discomfort of a cup while I work the bases.  While the NB is very comfortable in my plate stance, I find it less so when I am working the bases.

 

I'm not sure how you wore the SD cup but I wear mine in a separate jock and I don't seem to have any of those issues. It's quite easy to put in and remove also.

[Mike Prince]

I wore it in the jock pocket over compression shorts, just like I always have.  Not knocking the SD by any means, I never had what I will call an issue with it and frankly I tried the NB out of curiosity   Just highlighting why I like the NB just a bit better.  This being the most personal of equipment and I was just relaying my personal experience against what I consider the premium conventional cup on the market.  Plus the thread is about the NB so I was trying to highlight (for me) the advantages of the NB.

 

With the gel perimeter of the SD, my experience was that it did not easily slide in or out of a jock pocket, especially while I was wearing the jock.  With the NB it couldn't be easier to put in or remove.

[Aging_Arbiter]

Has anyone tried to see if the NB fits into the shock doctor compression shorts?  Pocket on these seems a little larger.  I just brought two pair of the SD shorts and would be great if it fits.

[Mike Prince]

NB doesn't go in the pocket, the empty jock holds it against your body.  Best way to wear it in context to your question will be jock>NB>shock doctor shorts>body.

[JHSump]

 

The other day my partner showed up late and in all the commotion I forgot to "iinstall" my NB.  Did the whole varsity HS game without one.  Didn't realize it until the drive home!!  First, that's how comfortable it can be --- you can't  tell it's there.  And, I was lucky I didn't have any "tests"!

 

That made me uncomfortable just reading about it! Think from now on you'll do a double check for that piece of equipment?

The once bounce direct shot I took with my ShockDoctor titanium caused a loud "OOOOH!" from the stands along with the defensive manager yelling at his F2 to go talk to the pitcher while I stayed in my crouch and processed what just happened. Didn't feel a thing other than acute awareness that I got nailed right in the junk.

 

[3rdGENump]

My NB got its second test this past weekend.  It was a bouncer in the dirt straight up into the NB.  I felt this one a little more than the straight shot I took from a foul ball.  However, the hit was probably the loudest I have ever heard from a cup shot.  Everyone is the stands let out a big OOOOOHHHHHH followed by mostly laughs....  

 

The partner I was working with just got a NB and wore it for the first time in the game before.  After I got hit he comes to me and says, "I was thinking I wanted to test out my new NB, but after seeing you get hit I will just take your word that it works..."  Thanks Buddy! 

[BigUmpire]

Long time ago we did buddy checks for the plate umpire.

We used to help our partner get in gear and brush his shoes if needed.

Partner would tap shoes, shins, CP, cup and mask with baseball.

It seems that no one does this anymore.

Mike Taylor did state he has done something like this. Maybe not the cup check.

In a tournament we would always ask to “own" one field and 3 of us called all the games on that field all day. Next day we would switch age groups and “own" that field all day.

The off guy was a "clubhouse lackey" and would clean shoes, get drinks and food and get ready for the next game and anything else we needed. The plate guy was the next off guy.

If we thought it needed it we would do three man.

[Aging_Arbiter]

Long time ago we did buddy checks for the plate umpire.

We used to help our partner get in gear and brush his shoes if needed.

Partner would tap shoes, shins, CP, cup and mask with baseball.

It seems that no one does this anymore.

Mike Taylor did state he has done something like this. Maybe not the cup check.

In a tournament we would always ask to “own" one field and 3 of us called all the games on that field all day. Next day we would switch age groups and “own" that field all day.

The off guy was a "clubhouse lackey" and would clean shoes, get drinks and food and get ready for the next game and anything else we needed. The plate guy was the next off guy.

If we thought it needed it we would do three man.

 Partner or not, not sure I would trust anyone else "cup checking" me (not even Maineump).  I do however take a physical and verbal survey before I go on the field.  Foot guards, leg guards, nard guard, chest guard, mug guard.  Had a few partners look at me funny, but they got the jest of it.

[grayhawk]

In a tournament we would always ask to “own" one field and 3 of us called all the games on that field all day. Next day we would switch age groups and “own" that field all day.

The off guy was a "clubhouse lackey" and would clean shoes, get drinks and food and get ready for the next game and anything else we needed. The plate guy was the next off guy.

If we thought it needed it we would do three man.

 

That sounds like a great way to go.  Base, plate, then off.  If there are 6 games on that field, then each guy works four games and gets 2 games to rest.  You could also watch when you are off and give feedback to the other two and everyone improves.  And then there's that possibility of working 3 man on occasion.  It's a lot of changing out, but this sounds like a great day of umpiring.

[BigUmpire]

 

In a tournament we would always ask to “own" one field and 3 of us called all the games on that field all day. Next day we would switch age groups and “own" that field all day.

The off guy was a "clubhouse lackey" and would clean shoes, get drinks and food and get ready for the next game and anything else we needed. The plate guy was the next off guy.

If we thought it needed it we would do three man.

 

That sounds like a great way to go.  Base, plate, then off.  If there are 6 games on that field, then each guy works four games and gets 2 games to rest.  You could also watch when you are off and give feedback to the other two and everyone improves.  And then there's that possibility of working 3 man on occasion.  It's a lot of changing out, but this sounds like a great day of umpiring.

It is a great way to do a tournament.

TDs and UICs love this.

It also covers if one guy needs to leave.

Really builds a great small team.