Mask Porn?

[Thunderheads]

A black FM25 looks just fine w/ tan TW pads ...........  it's all about personal opinion, ................if you like a look, rock it!

[catcher]

I was leaning toward the tan but this has made me reconsider. Does anyone have pics of the black fm25/tan wendys before I order? Somebody posted one on another thread but I couldn't see the picture.

[Thunderheads]

I was leaning toward the tan but this has made me reconsider. Does anyone have pics of the black fm25/tan wendys before I order? Somebody posted one on another thread but I couldn't see the picture.

[gnhbua93]

My next purchase is going to be an FM25 (black steel). Should I get black or tan team wendys for it? I can't decide. I also still catch and would use that mask for catching too. 

Just because of the catching use that you will use the mask for, get the black ones.  Or better than that get one of each.

[JaxRolo]

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1383011991.320617.jpg Wilson ti power coated black with the grey wrap around pads and a 4" throat guard.

 

Looks good but is the throat guard there just for looks? I don't see how it offers any protection on the upper rung.

 

I wear mine on the upper rung but its the longer TG

[catcher]

Thanks for the help. Think Ill be going with the black-that was a good point about washing the tan ones. Too bad it'll be six months before i can test them out on the field.

Next is justifying a system 7 catchers cp and s7 hard shell. I think ill be able to convince myself though;)

[Txump10]

Side view of throat guard. For jax

[Platejob29]

Before getting the Spider throat guard I never used a throat guard longer than the smaller 4" variety and I've never had a problem with them. I personally am not a huge fan of the look of larger throat guards. I know that the longer ones generally offer more protection but I just don't like the way they look. I don't much care for the look of any throat  guard for that matter. I've never actually had a situation where I felt that I actually needed a throat guard as far as protection goes. I actually called ball for 3 1/2 years before ever using one and then wore one for about a year and then took it off again. It wasn't until recently I put one back on and that was only because of a recommendation from a friend suggesting one for lower level minor league ball (which I hope to get into after umpire school this january) where quirky things that may lend benefit to a throat guard are more prone to happening.

[alex7]

Certainly a quirky thing happening at 90+ mph minor league ball would be significant, but I find plenty of quirky things (ball glancing off C glove, 55-foot curveballs come up under your mask, ball glances off batter towards your throat) happen at the lower levels that make it worth protecting the throat.  I've seen a couple of our guys get hit in that area.

[UMP45]

 

My next purchase is going to be an FM25 (black steel). Should I get black or tan team wendys for it? I can't decide. I also still catch and would use that mask for catching too. 

Just because of the catching use that you will use the mask for, get the black ones.  Or better than that get one of each.

 

If you are going to catch then get 2 masks. An umpires mask NEVER touches the ground!Just like the umpires "bucket" shouldn't touch the ground either!

[catcher]

If you are going to catch then get 2 masks. An umpires mask NEVER touches the ground!Just like the umpires "bucket" shouldn't touch the ground either!

 

 

I wish!   Don't think my budget right now permits that.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'd rather spend the money on one mask with great pads than two masks with the okay stock all star pads.

[Moe]

 

If you are going to catch then get 2 masks. An umpires mask NEVER touches the ground!Just like the umpires "bucket" shouldn't touch the ground either!

 

 

I wish!   Don't think my budget right now permits that.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'd rather spend the money on one mask with great pads than two masks with the okay stock all star pads.

 

I have to say, if I was a catcher, I'd get two All-star FM4000 and put TW on one and use that umpiring and use the stock pads on the second one for catching. The reason is that it is an amazing mask and is reasonable priced. If I had unlimited funds, I'd get the Rawlings TI for catching. But it's about 200$. The all-star should be around 60-80$ so I'd get two. You can also get different colors of stock pads to match your team color and get black TW pads for umpiring.

[billy28]

allstar.JPG

 

After seeing this mask turn dull gray and the coating start to pop off after a year of use, I decided to get a new mask. I wanted a Nike mask but just couldn't pull the trigger on $400 plus mask

 

Here is what I decided to go withrawlings5.JPG

 

 

Here is inside of mask, it is painted blackrawlings2.JPG

 

 

Updated with Team Wendy's Pads from my all star maskrawlings3.JPG

 

 

Finished product, may take sun shield off at some pointrawlings4.JPG

 

 

I will try to update with a review after a couple of games

Do you happen to have the Rawlings pads still?

[dl1340]

Yes I do

[Moe]

Picked up a Wilson TI with two tone pads, and I got black TW pads to go with it. Pics to come.

[erickjovan]

Wilson Pro Stock Shock FX 2.0 Matte Black Finish...Added the Wilson Shock FX Throat Guard...I really like my rig, no issues, is light and provides good protection...No complaints so far...

Where can I get the fx throat guard?

[gnhbua93]

 

IMG_1835.jpg Wilson Pro Stock Shock FX 2.0 Matte Black Finish...Added the Wilson Shock FX Throat Guard...I really like my rig, no issues, is light and provides good protection...No complaints so far...

Where can I get the fx throat guard?

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=fx+throat+guard&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=rcs

"you can find a lot just by searchin'" @erickjovan

[BT_Blue]

I was leaning toward the tan but this has made me reconsider. Does anyone have pics of the black fm25/tan wendys before I order? Somebody posted one on another thread but I couldn't see the picture.

I dig this look as well and am willing to check it out. However, having trouble finding these online. Any recommendations of where to look and find a good price for this mask?

[catcher]

This is the cheapest one.

 

http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/all-star-men-s-pro-catcher-s-mask/pid-37675?color=Black&N=293860485&Ntt=mask&Ntk=All

 

If you do decide to do it post pics:)

[Moe]

Here it is. Wilson TI with TW pads. Before and after:

[umpstu]

Here it is. Wilson TI with TWO pads. Before and after:20131227_112433.jpg20131227_121330.jpg

Very nice

[acpar72]

So much better. However, IMO TW needs to hire or increase their QA / QC. 

[Moe]

So much better. However, IMO TW needs to hire or increase their QA / QC.

I noticed that they are really hard. Will they soften up? I hear so much about them that I put them on both of my masks, but both times they are really stiff.

[acpar72]

They will soften up. Give em 5 games. 

[BT_Blue]

So much better. However, IMO TW needs to hire or increase their QA / QC.

I noticed that they are really hard. Will they soften up? I hear so much about them that I put them on both of my masks, but both times they are really stiff.

yes they do. However, if you wear them in cold weather, they will feel stiff for a short time until your nody heat warms them up. Do not worry. As many have said before, wear with confidence.