Head, First! Survey Regarding Additional Protection on the Modern Mask

[MadMax]

My fellow umpires –

 

As a designer, I am constantly looking at equipment, structures, systems and processes and analyzing their features and flaws, their successes and failures, and developing ways of championing them or improving them.

 

I have read, heard and witnessed many umpires convey that they either wear a HSM because of the total head coverage, or wear a catcher's skullcap because of the additional head protection from a foul ball ricocheting off the (closely placed) backstop, or careening off the overhead netting. There are also some concerns expressed by some umpires who may be turning their heads.

 

My professional opinion is that a TM reduces concussions more so than a HSM. I won't totally poo-pooh a HSM, but when I hear from HSM users why they wear a HSM – namely, because they don't want to get hit in the head by a ball off the backstop – I start thinking of ways to address that, and at least present another option.

 

I think I'm on to something. I've found a hybrid – one part helmet, one part hat – and am about to make some adjustments to it and possibly put it to prototyping and eventual production. It's very good as is, allowing you to easily wear (and remove) a TM with it. I'd like to hear from you, though, what sort of interest you might have in it.

 

Please respond to the poll, and/or if you have any other feedback, drop me a PM. Thanks for your time.

[BaltimoreUmpire]

I don't see enough data that masks reduce concussions over an HSM to me the HSM is good enough at preventing them that I'll take the full coverage. I think any difference between both styles in concussions is minimal.

[Rulekeep]

HSM also offers a wider field of vision IME. But a TM that had been opened up and had some side/top protection would be lighter and cooler.

[Jocko]

Was it GD that sued Wilson (and won) over concussions wesring a shock fx hsm?

[kylejt]

That would be Ed Hickox.

[Rulekeep]

And the HSM exploded.
 

[JaxRolo]

Buckets are for umpires with no garbanzos!

[LMSANS]

Buckets are for umpires with no garbanzos!

It's not the garbanzos the helmet is protecting...

[MikeSafari]

I'm interested in trying out a full HSM, but I'm not worried about the protection my mask affords me.

[Rulekeep]

Buckets are for umpires with no garbanzos!

Then why aren't you wearing one?

[JaxRolo]

 

Buckets are for umpires with no garbanzos!

Then why aren't you wearing one?

 

I won't make the comment I want to make in the presence of a minor!

[Rulekeep]

Buckets are for umpires with no garbanzos!

Then why aren't you wearing one?

I won't make the comment I want to make in the presence of a minor! I'm forever a 12 year old boy, I'll just laugh.

[BaltimoreUmpire]

Buckets are for umpires with no garbanzos!

I strongly disagree with that statement.

[grayhawk]

I answered that I use a traditional mask, but would like more head protection.  However, if you were to ask me to rank the importance of more head protection on a scale of 1-10, I would say it's about a 4 or 5.  Yes, I would like to be better protected from getting hit in the head with a backswing or errant bat, as well as a ball that rebounds from the backstop, but not as the cost of looking like a douche (difficult for me in any case).

 

I have umpired hundreds of games without ever getting hit in the head, so I'm not sure how much risk I would be avoiding by changing.

[BaltimoreUmpire]

I answered that I use a traditional mask, but would like more head protection. However, if you were to ask me to rank the importance of more head protection on a scale of 1-10, I would say it's about a 4 or 5. Yes, I would like to be better protected from getting hit in the head with a backswing or errant bat, as well as a ball that rebounds from the backstop, but not as the cost of looking like a douche (difficult for me in any case).

I have umpired hundreds of games without ever getting hit in the head, so I'm not sure how much risk I would be avoiding by changing.

So your saying HSM users look like douches? Ridiculous

[grayhawk]

 

I answered that I use a traditional mask, but would like more head protection. However, if you were to ask me to rank the importance of more head protection on a scale of 1-10, I would say it's about a 4 or 5. Yes, I would like to be better protected from getting hit in the head with a backswing or errant bat, as well as a ball that rebounds from the backstop, but not as the cost of looking like a douche (difficult for me in any case).

I have umpired hundreds of games without ever getting hit in the head, so I'm not sure how much risk I would be avoiding by changing.

So your saying HSM users look like douches? Ridiculous

 

 

No, that's not what I meant.  I meant that if a new "TM" came out that added head protection that makes me look like a douche, I wouldn't wear it.  HSM is fine, but I think it's less protective on a straight shot which is the most common.  That's why I don't use one.

[MadMax]

No, not at all, @BaltimoreUmpire. Have you seen the new anti-concussion hats debuting in MLB, especially for pitchers? A pitcher for the Padres has one.

It looks... odd.

And looking douche-y would be to, as an umpire, wear a catcher's helmet / skullcap backwards with a TM. There has to be a better solution... and I think I may have it.

[BaltimoreUmpire]

I answered that I use a traditional mask, but would like more head protection. However, if you were to ask me to rank the importance of more head protection on a scale of 1-10, I would say it's about a 4 or 5. Yes, I would like to be better protected from getting hit in the head with a backswing or errant bat, as well as a ball that rebounds from the backstop, but not as the cost of looking like a douche (difficult for me in any case).

I have umpired hundreds of games without ever getting hit in the head, so I'm not sure how much risk I would be avoiding by changing.

So your saying HSM users look like douches? Ridiculous

No, that's not what I meant. I meant that if a new "TM" came out that added head protection that makes me look like a douche, I wouldn't wear it. HSM is fine, but I think it's less protective on a straight shot which is the most common. That's why I don't use one.Ok my bad, I couldn't understand. Honestly the best of both worlds would be those little league helmets like the all star 1000, those look awful.

[BaltimoreUmpire]

No, not at all, @BaltimoreUmpire. Have you seen the new anti-concussion hats debuting in MLB, especially for pitchers? A pitcher for the Padres has one.

It looks... odd.

And looking douche-y would be to, as an umpire, wear a catcher's helmet / skullcap backwards with a TM. There has to be a better solution... and I think I may have it.

Yea misunderstanding thats all, the pitcher was Alex Torres. Personally I won't switch out my HSM I've been fine but I wish you luck in this(I'm currently building a cp, with no success the impact test caused the cp to impale my dummy). I wore a skull cap my first year, when I caught I did and didn't know umpires didn't, found out they didn't after I jumped to the HSM boat.

[grayhawk]

 

 

 

I answered that I use a traditional mask, but would like more head protection. However, if you were to ask me to rank the importance of more head protection on a scale of 1-10, I would say it's about a 4 or 5. Yes, I would like to be better protected from getting hit in the head with a backswing or errant bat, as well as a ball that rebounds from the backstop, but not as the cost of looking like a douche (difficult for me in any case).

I have umpired hundreds of games without ever getting hit in the head, so I'm not sure how much risk I would be avoiding by changing.

So your saying HSM users look like douches? Ridiculous

No, that's not what I meant. I meant that if a new "TM" came out that added head protection that makes me look like a douche, I wouldn't wear it. HSM is fine, but I think it's less protective on a straight shot which is the most common. That's why I don't use one. Ok my bad, I couldn't understand. Honestly the best of both worlds would be those little league helmets like the all star 1000, those look awful.

 

 

No worries.  What I wrote wasn't clear.  Now, if the HSM user is wearing a navy shirt, then it's likely that he will look like a douche.    

[BaltimoreUmpire]

I answered that I use a traditional mask, but would like more head protection. However, if you were to ask me to rank the importance of more head protection on a scale of 1-10, I would say it's about a 4 or 5. Yes, I would like to be better protected from getting hit in the head with a backswing or errant bat, as well as a ball that rebounds from the backstop, but not as the cost of looking like a douche (difficult for me in any case).

I have umpired hundreds of games without ever getting hit in the head, so I'm not sure how much risk I would be avoiding by changing.

So your saying HSM users look like douches? RidiculousNo, that's not what I meant. I meant that if a new "TM" came out that added head protection that makes me look like a douche, I wouldn't wear it. HSM is fine, but I think it's less protective on a straight shot which is the most common. That's why I don't use one.Ok my bad, I couldn't understand. Honestly the best of both worlds would be those little league helmets like the all star 1000, those look awful.

No worries. What I wrote wasn't clear. Now, if the HSM user is wearing a navy shirt, then it's likely that he will look like a douche. Funny, sadly here I have to wear navy its our associations only color, when I work alone I use other colors but here to match a partner its navy only.

[blue23ll]

Buckets are for umpires with no garbanzos!

Garbanzos, or, chi chi's as my gramma called them!!

[Richvee]

Not sure you get get a harness around this. 

 

 300 Ã— 300 - thecount.com 

[Rulekeep]

Not sure you get get a harness around this.

300 × 300 - thecount.com

They should make harnesses for the umpire's who's heads have inflated that will fit that.

[MadMax]

Not sure you get get a harness around this. 

 

 300 Ã— 300 - thecount.com 

@grayhawk – that's the hat I was mentioning. That is probably over-sized and under-engineered IMPO. That's analogous to Mark Kelso's specially-made and padded football helmet.