Question about Team Wendy retrofit

[Magic]

I didn't knew that Diamond made titanium masks. That's a first one for me

Yeah, I think @Tksjewelry is mistaken, @gnhbua93. Only four companies make a Titanium mask — Wilson, Nike, All-Star and Rawlings — and Diamond isn't indicating that they are. The only other company doing an alternate -metal mask is +POS, and that's a Magnesium alloy.

Diamond's iX3 is _noticeably_ light, though, so it is often mistaken to be titanium. What doesn't help this misconception, too, is retailers advertising it as "titanium -colored" (the matte silver model). Why would the black one and the silver one be the same price point, at ~$75, if the silver one was actually titanium?

The other giveaway is TK's report that her mask dented... meaning it bent or deformed. Titanium doesn't bend, it shears or fractures. Steel's saving grace is that it does deform, thus absorbing that kinetic energy that's headed right for your face. This is why the pads on titanium masks are (or should be) _really_ good.

I have two sets of TW pads now, with one set on my FM4000 (I bought the other set off a fellow U-E umpire at a great deal, will probably resell them to a fellow local umpire who uses those crap Diamond stock pads). I have yet to try the brand newly-debuted Wilson synthetic pads, but guys on here are giving them rave reviews. Wilson debuted them on their new Aluminum DynaLite mask. I'll have to weigh my FM4000 w/ TW's sometime soon.

I'll bet you right on the one I have. It's very light. I was told it was titanium, you would think I would know metal better with a shed full of every kind imaginable. Don't tell my husband I got a metal wrong, lol, I'll never hear the end of it.

The pads on it are brutal. A few low level shots to rang my bell and is what started my hunt for a new mask. I knew there had to be better. I also borrowed one from the UIC when I left my mask at a field, it was an old old Wilson and weighted as much as my car, thank goodness mine showed up before the games. Props to the guys who worked multiple games a day with those and didn't break a neck.

I'm glad I found this board. Guys I've talked to around here had never heard of tw pads and only two I've seen have WV.

You umpire in Syberia?

Close, Omaha

Yep you are correct. Although you do get to see the College World Series.

[Tksjewelry]

I didn't knew that Diamond made titanium masks. That's a first one for me

Yeah, I think @Tksjewelry is mistaken, @gnhbua93. Only four companies make a Titanium mask — Wilson, Nike, All-Star and Rawlings — and Diamond isn't indicating that they are. The only other company doing an alternate -metal mask is +POS, and that's a Magnesium alloy.

Diamond's iX3 is _noticeably_ light, though, so it is often mistaken to be titanium. What doesn't help this misconception, too, is retailers advertising it as "titanium -colored" (the matte silver model). Why would the black one and the silver one be the same price point, at ~$75, if the silver one was actually titanium?

The other giveaway is TK's report that her mask dented... meaning it bent or deformed. Titanium doesn't bend, it shears or fractures. Steel's saving grace is that it does deform, thus absorbing that kinetic energy that's headed right for your face. This is why the pads on titanium masks are (or should be) _really_ good.

I have two sets of TW pads now, with one set on my FM4000 (I bought the other set off a fellow U-E umpire at a great deal, will probably resell them to a fellow local umpire who uses those crap Diamond stock pads). I have yet to try the brand newly-debuted Wilson synthetic pads, but guys on here are giving them rave reviews. Wilson debuted them on their new Aluminum DynaLite mask. I'll have to weigh my FM4000 w/ TW's sometime soon.

I'll bet you right on the one I have. It's very light. I was told it was titanium, you would think I would know metal better with a shed full of every kind imaginable. Don't tell my husband I got a metal wrong, lol, I'll never hear the end of it.

The pads on it are brutal. A few low level shots to rang my bell and is what started my hunt for a new mask. I knew there had to be better. I also borrowed one from the UIC when I left my mask at a field, it was an old old Wilson and weighted as much as my car, thank goodness mine showed up before the games. Props to the guys who worked multiple games a day with those and didn't break a neck.

I'm glad I found this board. Guys I've talked to around here had never heard of tw pads and only two I've seen have WV.

You umpire in Syberia?

Close, Omaha

Yep you are correct. Although you do get to see the College World Series.

Lifetime tickets to CWS on the fist base line! Hopefully they never figure out my grandmother would be 114 or well loose them. I didn't get to game this year, we were running 400+ games per day the whole series. Next year I'll know what's what and find a balance.

[midtnump]

@Tksjewelry, the All Star FM4000 weighs in at about 16ozs. It is the lightest mask I have ever worn. The vision in it is great. The vertical eye opening height is 2". I think the aluminum frame Diamond you have is about 1 3/4". That's measuring between the two horizontal bars at the eye opening. The best price I 've found on this mask was at between the lines officials gear.

  I took my hardest shot this year in it from a 15 yr old at upper 70's. A foul tip that caught me on my left cheek bone. The mask spun off and I was just fine. That was with the stock LUC pads. It is a great mask.

[Tksjewelry]

@Tksjewelry, the All Star FM4000 weighs in at about 16ozs. It is the lightest mask I have ever worn. The vision in it is great. The vertical eye opening height is 2". I think the aluminum frame Diamond you have is about 1 3/4". That's measuring between the two horizontal bars at the eye opening. The best price I 've found on this mask was at between the lines officials gear.

I took my hardest shot this year in it from a 15 yr old at upper 70's. A foul tip that caught me on my left cheek bone. The mask spun off and I was just fine. That was with the stock LUC pads. It is a great mask.

Thanks! I'll be ordering one tonight after all the praise for it. Being my first year and with no experience in ball for 30+ years, I had no idea ordering a good mask and gear could take so much research/knowledge and be such a process.

I'm going to have to really look at the properly fitting gear link from an earlier post, too. You mentioned, and I've seen it mentioned before, about the mask spinning off. Mine has never done that and I've taken quite a few shots (some from setting up in the slot wrong early on).

[MadMax]

 

(snip) The mask spun off and I was just fine. That was with the stock LUC pads. It is a great mask.

Thanks! I'll be ordering one tonight after all the praise for it. Being my first year and with no experience in ball for 30+ years, I had no idea ordering a good mask and gear could take so much research/knowledge and be such a process.

I'm going to have to really look at the properly fitting gear link from an earlier post, too. You mentioned, and I've seen it mentioned before, about the mask spinning off. Mine has never done that and I've taken quite a few shots (some from setting up in the slot wrong early on).

 

 

It's not necessarily a long, laborious process as much as it is a personal process. Every person is different. You presented before us (the forum community) a different set of requirements (small stature, small(er) face, etc.) and all we're doing is responding with what we know and providing options. There's no one absolute right choice... except maybe not to use the stock Diamond pads.

If certain others would have their way, you'd be stuck with a beat-up Rawlings LWMX and a CP that has less protection than a pizza box. In fact, I think Domino's pizza boxes are pretty stout. But you know the kind of person I mean, you've probably met him! If you haven't, count your lucky stars. These are the same guys that, despite being veteran umpires, sit in on new umpire orientation classes and tell the rookies that the only shirt they need is Navy... and he just so happens to be selling them out of his station wagon.

 

To your point about properly fitting the mask, and how it's supposed to "spin off" – this is why we (as umpires) should be wearing a hat with the bill forward. The mask should "hang" on your face, with the bulk of it held up by the bill of the hat, and the jaw pad should rest on your chin, jaw and cheeks, not grip them. The harness top strap is a big part of this fit, too. The rest of the harness should be "fitting", but not under tension like a stretched rubber band. If the mask spins around and flies off when struck by a ball, then where is all that kinetic energy? Yup, in the mask... not transferring to your head to "set yer skull a-buzzin' ".

[Tksjewelry]

(snip) The mask spun off and I was just fine. That was with the stock LUC pads. It is a great mask.

Thanks! I'll be ordering one tonight after all the praise for it. Being my first year and with no experience in ball for 30+ years, I had no idea ordering a good mask and gear could take so much research/knowledge and be such a process.

I'm going to have to really look at the properly fitting gear link from an earlier post, too. You mentioned, and I've seen it mentioned before, about the mask spinning off. Mine has never done that and I've taken quite a few shots (some from setting up in the slot wrong early on).

It's not necessarily a long, laborious process as much as it is a personal process. Every person is different. You presented before us (the forum community) a different set of requirements (small stature, small(er) face, etc.) and all we're doing is responding with what we know and providing options. There's no one absolute right choice... except maybe not to use the stock Diamond pads.

If certain others would have their way, you'd be stuck with a beat-up Rawlings LWMX and a CP that has less protection than a pizza box. In fact, I think Domino's pizza boxes are pretty stout. But you know the kind of person I mean, you've probably met him! If you haven't, count your lucky stars. These are the same guys that, despite being veteran umpires, sit in on new umpire orientation classes and tell the rookies that the only shirt they need is Navy... and he just so happens to be selling them out of his station wagon.

To your point about properly fitting the mask, and how it's supposed to "spin off" – this is why we (as umpires) should be wearing a hat with the bill forward. The mask should "hang" on your face, with the bulk of it held up by the bill of the hat, and the jaw pad should rest on your chin, jaw and cheeks, not grip them. The harness top strap is a big part of this fit, too. The rest of the harness should be "fitting", but not under tension like a stretched rubber band. If the mask spins around and flies off when struck by a ball, then where is all that kinetic energy? Yup, in the mask... not transferring to your head to "set yer skull a-buzzin' ".

I think I'm wearing mine too tight and I'm pretty sure it's too big to sit where it's supposed to. Our UIC would pitch a fit if he caught me wearing a hat backwards, that's one of his pet peeves so I've never done that (besides it looks ridiculous imo). I'm going to check out the fit when I get home. I've never been told any of that before and I'm sure it's a big reason why I received some good bell ringers.

[Rennolds]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wilson-West-Vest-Pro-Umpire-Chest-Protector-Size-S-M-Originally-220-/171440801227?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27eaab05cb

 

S/M WV Gold Pro $100 New

[kylejt]

Let's not forget the Champro magnesium frame, which, IMO, gives the best bang for the $.

 

Back on track. I've got a small WV Gold kicking around my garage, with the pec pads removed. Let me know if you're still looking for one.

[BaltimoreUmpire]

Let's not forget the Champro magnesium frame, which, IMO, gives the best bang for the $.

Back on track. I've got a small WV Gold kicking around my garage, with the pec pads removed. Let me know if you're still looking for one.

I've heard that magnesium masks chip and ware out faster, is that true?

[kylejt]

Mine is still in mint condition. I've taken a few good shots on the chin, without any damage.

 

I do keep mine in a bag within my gear bag, in between games, and it's not subject to any abuse aside from flying baseballs. So far (3 years), so good.

[gnhbua93]

Do you have stocks in your portfolio in Champro?

[JaxRolo]

Let's not forget the Champro magnesium frame, which, IMO, gives the best bang for the $.

Back on track. I've got a small WV Gold kicking around my garage, with the pec pads removed. Let me know if you're still looking for one.

I've heard that magnesium masks chip and ware out faster, is that true?

They don't wear any quicker than other masks. That being said I did have mine powder coated a couple years ago.

[kylejt]

No Champro stock, as most of their stuff is not up to par. It's odd that the mask it unique, and overlooked.

[dl1340]

Only note on the All star fm4000 mask, it will loose it color quick and will turn a dark grey. Unless they changed something in mask. Mine did this after about 30games or so. I now have the Rawlings titanium mask and love it.

[zm1283]

 

The other giveaway is TK's report that her mask dented... meaning it bent or deformed. Titanium doesn't bend, it shears or fractures. Steel's saving grace is that it does deform, thus absorbing that kinetic energy that's headed right for your face. This is why the pads on titanium masks are (or should be) _really_ good.

 

 

Speaking from experience, this is most definitely not true. I've had multiple Titanium masks that have dented, some from very little force. 

[MadMax]

 

 

Let's not forget the Champro magnesium frame, which, IMO, gives the best bang for the $.

Back on track. I've got a small WV Gold kicking around my garage, with the pec pads removed. Let me know if you're still looking for one.

I've heard that magnesium masks chip and ware out faster, is that true?

 

They don't wear any quicker than other masks. That being said I did have mine powder coated a couple years ago.

 

 

No Champro stock, as most of their stuff is not up to par. It's odd that the mask it unique, and overlooked.

 

Looking at the Champro CM57-8 Pro Plus magnesium alloy mask side by side with the +POS MAG-T magnesium alloy mask, and recalling an extensive conversation I had with Dan of +POS ( @Dan dada ), I culture a guess that the Champro is a copy or emulation of the +POS MAG-T, or the planform was obtained / acquired by / shared to Champro by Dan. They're probably made in the same factory. Besides that, the two companies are located in the Greater Chicago area. I find it extremely unlikely that two separate designers arrived at the same style when given the challenge – "Design the ideal magnesium alloy mask". There's a connection between these two.

 

 

Only note on the All star fm4000 mask, it will loose it color quick and will turn a dark grey. Unless they changed something in mask. Mine did this after about 30games or so. I now have the Rawlings titanium mask and love it.

 

@dl1340 – Same experience here. As outstanding as the mask itself is, physically, All-Star may as well used silver Sharpie markers to color (that's not even paint!) the bars. The color wears off in a good breeze! My FM4000 is headed to MaskIt as soon as the first snowflake falls... which, again, being Wisconsin may be tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

The other giveaway is TK's report that her mask dented... meaning it bent or deformed. Titanium doesn't bend, it shears or fractures. Steel's saving grace is that it does deform, thus absorbing that kinetic energy that's headed right for your face. This is why the pads on titanium masks are (or should be) _really_ good.

 

 

Speaking from experience, this is most definitely not true. I've had multiple Titanium masks that have dented, some from very little force. 

 

 

After reading, and re-reading, and re-reading my postings... it didn't sit right with me either, so I fished out my materials science books, and went looking.

 

I am mistaken... a bit.

 

Titanium does deform (the engineering term for "bend"), but it's at a noteworthy different set of conditions (temperature, pressure, force, etc.) than â€‹equitable steel. The reason it is favored in aircraft engine parts, for example, is that to withstand the forces and temperatures in the engine, you'd need two-to-three times the mass of steel. Just can't happen in an aircraft. It is 56% the density of steel. It's this density, and the behavior of these two metals when a shockwave travels through them that I had remembered and misappropriated. Because it's more dense, steel, even in hollow-form tube, is going to absorb the resonant energy of that shockwave (in this case, impact) more so than titanium.

 

But against a severe enough impact, they'll still both deform. Titanium is more temperature-stable, meaning that the likelihood of steel deforming increases as the temperature goes up, and shattering or shearing when it goes down – titanium is not affected by temperature to the same degree. Titanium's greatest appeal is strength-to-weight ratio, but it's most glaring weakness is frequency / cyclic fatigue (repeated stress at the same point). Lastly, it's typically to be found in its bare metallic "color" because it doesn't corrode. It rapidly oxidizes and forms an oxidation layer, or skin, upon it. It's this layer that doesn't allow conventional paint to adhere or bond, and even powder coating or anodizing involves a degree of additional process that becomes very cost-heavy.

 

Thank you for pointing out my error, @zm1283.

[JaxRolo]

My strike zone changes depending on the mask I use.

The temperature in the Sun's photosphere is about 10,000 degrees F (5,500 degrees C) impacts the coefficient of the different metals the masks are made of. Which causes a different type of photosynthetic radiations that stimulate my brain cells to interact with the hypothesis of home plates white surface causing a majestic rainbow of colors systematically changing the size of the strike zone.

[Rulekeep]

My strike zone changes depending on the mask I use.

The temperature in the Sun's photosphere is about 10,000 degrees F (5,500 degrees C) impacts the coefficient of the different metals the masks are made of. Which causes a different type of photosynthetic radiations that stimulate my brain cells to interact with the hypothesis of home plates white surface causing a majestic rainbow of colors systematically changing the size of the strike zone.

You just keep thinking of better and better excuses for your bad performance. :wave:

[KenBAZ]

My strike zone changes depending on the mask I use.

The temperature in the Sun's photosphere is about 10,000 degrees F (5,500 degrees C) impacts the coefficient of the different metals the masks are made of. Which causes a different type of photosynthetic radiations that stimulate my brain cells to interact with the hypothesis of home plates white surface causing a majestic rainbow of colors systematically changing the size of the strike zone.

It's been so hot calling games here in Phoenix the last few weeks that I've taking to saying that the strike zone is like all other matter in the universe; it expands with enough heat.

[midtnump]

My strike zone changes depending on the mask I use.

The temperature in the Sun's photosphere is about 10,000 degrees F (5,500 degrees C) impacts the coefficient of the different metals the masks are made of. Which causes a different type of photosynthetic radiations that stimulate my brain cells to interact with the hypothesis of home plates white surface causing a majestic rainbow of colors systematically changing the size of the strike zone.

WOW ! Jax, after reading that all I can say is: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCkQtwIwAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DsoXMCkoWfQo&ei=3BcJVNCYB-bGsQT884KwBQ&usg=AFQjCNG0q9pO84_Aenu_r_wN6TW_J7VKNA&sig2=HH1Mhg85p1Kbkam3HiAn9w&bvm=bv.74649129,d.cWc