Team Wendy Pads

[Jocko]

@Majordave - I do have older TWs. And have taken shots that should have made my ears ring. Nothing. Last weekend I took a foul directly to the mask. Didn't hurt, but was uncomfortable enough that I thought wtf?!?

[Majordave]

@Jocko

 

Hoping some more folks weigh in here about new (2014) versus older TW Pads. Might be a bad batch or a new formula/material provider, etc.

 

I will keep watching for comments.  Might start a new thread and you might contact TW about it since you own them now.  I bought them from Honig's.  Came in in late February or Late March.  I can check if you need me to.

[kylejt]

Of course the trouble in all this is that no two shots are the same, so it's really hard to compare.

 

I know my TW pads were stiff to start with. And, they're hard in cold weather, and need to warm up, either by wearing them for a while, or by hand before the game. It's now become a pregame ritual to massage them before the game.

[Moe]

I got mine from ump-attire.com and like I say, they are pretty stiff. I'll try them this season and see if they soften up. Season starts Monday so I'll be weighing in. 

[umpstu]

@Jocko

 

Hoping some more folks weigh in here about new (2014) versus older TW Pads. Might be a bad batch or a new formula/material provider, etc.

 

I will keep watching for comments.  Might start a new thread and you might contact TW about it since you own them now.  I bought them from Honig's.  Came in in late February or Late March.  I can check if you need me to.

Might be the low profile mask

[GerryB]

@Majordave

 

Interesting thought. I use 2012s but have some 2014s I bought on sale from Honigs.

Might swap them in earlier, which of course would guarantee I wouldn't get hit on the mask...

[dl1340]

My old tw pads where 2 years old, wearing my mask loose like recommended. The pads didn't fit flush on my face. I replaced them with new team wendy pads on Tuesday, the new ones fit snug up againt my face. No adjustments where made on the tightness of the mask when I switched them out. Haven't taken a shot with the new ones yet but I am sure the ball will find me soon enough

[Stan W.]

NO scientific post here from me, just a "my experience"....I picked up a pair of early TW pads from a friend of mine who was leaving umpiring when I bought out his gear and uni sets. I'm assuming they were from around 2012. They seemed fine, but poorly made.... they were the ones I posted about looking like they had been sewn by Miss Marples 7th grade home ec class.....

 

I put them in one of my +POS masks and they did not fit as flush as I would have wanted......and so I was not comfortable with them. I've since sold that mask and TW pads. I purchased a new set of TW and the difference was marked.....the sewing on the chin pad was much better and the fit was fine.....so far I like this set......

 

so was it an early product life-cycle issue, or just a production flaw.......clearly this set is better....

[Majordave]

@umpstu

 

Might be the combo of Low-Profile mask with TW pads.   Anyone else wear TW pads on low-profile Wilson masks?  If so, Ti or Cro-Moly?  Any hits feel different with TW pads versus traditional or wraparounds?  Older TW pads, pre-2014 or new pads?

 

Thanks for your replies.

 

@Stan W.

 

Have you taken any hits and can you compare the way the hits felt between older and uglier pads versus the newer and prettier (LOL) pads?

 

Thanks.

 

 

Anyone else taken hits in older TW pads versus hits in newer TW pads and have any comparison stories about how the hits felt?

 

Thanks.

 

Dave 

[Stan W.]

@Stan W.

 

Have you taken any hits and can you compare the way the hits felt between older and uglier pads versus the newer and prettier (LOL) pads?

 

 

I have taken a few hits on both sets, but no significant rocket shots on either set.........but this set fits the mask better and as a result sits better on my mug.......had they been the same, for fit alone, I would have gone back to my doeskin pads.

Edited May 23, 2014 by Stan W.
clarity

[Mr Ump]

Ok, I got these three Dyna Lites with TW's in rotation this year. I have taken shots with the Tan and the Black on Black mask. The Charcoal mask with Black TW's is a virgin and has not been hit. The Tan pads are 2013 issue and the other two are 2014. I wear my mask snug. The Black pads seem fuller and stiffer than the tan. All work fine and the stiffness is nothing that I think about beyond the first time I put the mask on. Tomorrow I am going with the above suggestion of hand loosing the pads before putting the mask on. The TW's feel very comfortable on my face. As the game moves along they seem to form to my face and become even more comfortable. Oh yeah, when I have taken shots (2-3 total) I have felt NOTHING and I do mean nothing.

 

So in conclusion I am staying with the TW's and have sold all of my Wilson wrap arounds.

[amb1995]

I loaded my plus pos zero-g with the tan TW pads and I am in love. mine were softer, thinner, and just felt overall better than the stock pads. took a foul ball of the top of my mask with them, not really that hard of a shot so I wouldn't have felt much of anything anyways. however, I have bought into the majority feelings and have pretty much fallen in love with the TW pads after just one 7 inning senior little league game.

[loopdude]

I have 2012 TW pads in my mask and love them (the term "liquifying" is on point). I plan on using TW in every future mask so this comparison really interests me.

[TStokes97]

I wish they made tw's for my hsm