Balloons

[Tksjewelry]

That's all I know them as, sorry if that's wrong.

Do any of you still use them?

I worked with an very experienced traveling umpire for a few games who used one for all his lower level games and gave me a quick tutorial on how he used his. I also seen a few using them at some of the bigger tournaments around here, but I think most of them were from out of town as I've not seen it used outside of those.

I do mostly lower level ball. I may do some freshman Legion next year but that's really as high as I'll probably ever go, by choice. Are the balloons safe enough for rec little kids ball? I want a great vest for select ball and good tournaments but for the 8u rec walkfest ball when it's so hot, is the balloon good enough?

[JaxRolo]

If you even think about moving up do not use one.

[Rulekeep]

If you even think about moving up do not use one.

Whoop, there it is.

After using a hard shell CP once, I didn't understand how I ever thought that piece of equipment could protect me properly. Get a good quality CP and be safe from the terror of having your wind knocked out of you from a silly foul ball. They're unprofessional and unsafe.

[BaltimoreUmpire]

I used to have one, it was a "starter gift" when I began, I hated it they are unprofessional and awkward. Stick to hardshells, its the best mix of professionalism and saftey. Wanna know where my ballon cp is now? Its a dog bed now so yea DON'T BUY ONE!!!!

[LMSANS]

Used properly, there is no better protection. I haven't used one in 40 years. There must be a reason for that?<br /><br />Larry Sansevere<br />sent from my phone<br /><br />

[MadMax]

I used to have one, it was a "starter gift" when I began, I hated it they are unprofessional and awkward. Stick to hardshells, its the best. Wanna know where my ballon cp is now? Its a dog bed now so yea DON'T BUY ONE!!!!

 

@BaltimoreUmpire, if you've learned _anything_ on this forum... when you make outlandish statements... provide photos!!

 

@JaxRolo is right, @Tksjewelry, using a Balloon will actually hamper your progress rather than facilitate it. You're going to get a whole mess of posted responses regarding this.

 

I do understand, though, that you're going right for one of the best CP's on the market (A modified WV), and it would appear to be overkill for 10U and lower level ball. The thing would probably be a sauna-with-straps in those 2 hour long snoozers under a Great Plains roasting sun. I myself have considered getting a less complex CP on the cheap, such as a Schutt Scorpion, or a ProNine CP-P2, or a Champro AirTech CP8, or a Diamond DCP-U Lite. Heck, I might even get a Honig's FastPitch Elite! The one challenge with that, though, is I'm 6'2", and could perhaps use the abdomen protection. Maybe a welding or shop apron would be better.

 

Seriously, though, I worked 6 games behind the plate of high-school ball on a weekend, then worked a solo 9U game on that Monday evening. I got hit more times in that game than all 6 of the high school games _combined_. I'm pretty sure the catchers were hiding behind me.

[Tksjewelry]

I'm really glad I asked. It would seem as its a big fat NO to thinking about using one. I'm not willing to give coaches or parents an extra inch of ammunition, and it sounds like that would have been foots worth.

[Tksjewelry]

I used to have one, it was a "starter gift" when I began, I hated it they are unprofessional and awkward. Stick to hardshells, its the best. Wanna know where my ballon cp is now? Its a dog bed now so yea DON'T BUY ONE!!!!

@BaltimoreUmpire, if you've learned _anything_ on this forum... when you make outlandish statements... provide photos!!

@JaxRolo is right, @Tksjewelry, using a Balloon will actually hamper your progress rather than facilitate it. You're going to get a whole mess of posted responses regarding this.

I do understand, though, that you're going right for one of the best CP's on the market (A modified WV), and it would appear to be overkill for 10U and lower level ball. The thing would probably be a sauna-with-straps in those 2 hour long snoozers under a Great Plains roasting sun. I myself have considered getting a less complex CP on the cheap, such as a Schutt Scorpion, or a ProNine CP-P2, or a Champro AirTech CP8, or a Diamond DCP-U Lite. Heck, I might even get a Honig's FastPitch Elite! The one challenge with that, though, is I'm 6'2", and could perhaps use the abdomen protection. Maybe a welding or shop apron would be better.

Seriously, though, I worked 6 games behind the plate of high-school ball on a weekend, then worked a solo 9U game on that Monday evening. I got hit more times in that game than all 6 of the high school games _combined_. I'm pretty sure the catchers were hiding behind me.

Yeah, I've had 8u rec Catholic league games that were walk fests. I've learned to go ump those from the mound after taking about 20 shots cause they want every kid to pitch and catch every game. Kids, coaches, and parents are great but I'm not willing to be a "hit the umpire" carnival game back there for them.

[gnhbua93]

 

If you even think about moving up do not use one.

Whoop, there it is.

After using a hard shell CP once, I didn't understand how I ever thought that piece of equipment could protect me properly. Get a good quality CP and be safe from the terror of having your wind knocked out of you from a silly foul ball. They're unprofessional and unsafe.

 

 

 

I used to have one, it was a "starter gift" when I began, I hated it they are unprofessional and awkward. Stick to hardshells, its the best mix of professionalism and saftey. Wanna know where my ballon cp is now? Its a dog bed now so yea DON'T BUY ONE!!!!

Way before both of you were ordered from the Sears catalog they were used and they were not considered unprofessional.  They were used on the higher level of baseball that you, or even me, might not ever reach.

[BaltimoreUmpire]

If you even think about moving up do not use one.

Whoop, there it is.

After using a hard shell CP once, I didn't understand how I ever thought that piece of equipment could protect me properly. Get a good quality CP and be safe from the terror of having your wind knocked out of you from a silly foul ball. They're unprofessional and unsafe.

I used to have one, it was a "starter gift" when I began, I hated it they are unprofessional and awkward. Stick to hardshells, its the best mix of professionalism and saftey. Wanna know where my ballon cp is now? Its a dog bed now so yea DON'T BUY ONE!!!!

Way before both of you were ordered from the Sears catalog they were used and they were not considered unprofessional. They were used on the higher level of baseball that you, or even me, might not ever reach. I understand that but she wanted advice for now, and get your facts straight I was ordered from skymall.

[Rulekeep]

 

 

If you even think about moving up do not use one.

Whoop, there it is.

After using a hard shell CP once, I didn't understand how I ever thought that piece of equipment could protect me properly. Get a good quality CP and be safe from the terror of having your wind knocked out of you from a silly foul ball. They're unprofessional and unsafe.

 

 

 

I used to have one, it was a "starter gift" when I began, I hated it they are unprofessional and awkward. Stick to hardshells, its the best mix of professionalism and saftey. Wanna know where my ballon cp is now? Its a dog bed now so yea DON'T BUY ONE!!!!

Way before both of you were ordered from the Sears catalog they were used and they were not considered unprofessional.  They were used on the higher level of baseball that you, or even me, might not ever reach.

 

Sears catalog? You flatter me. Everybody knows I was a Kmart special that came with a few missing pieces.

[JaxRolo]

If you even think about moving up do not use one.

Whoop, there it is.

After using a hard shell CP once, I didn't understand how I ever thought that piece of equipment could protect me properly. Get a good quality CP and be safe from the terror of having your wind knocked out of you from a silly foul ball. They're unprofessional and unsafe.

I used to have one, it was a "starter gift" when I began, I hated it they are unprofessional and awkward. Stick to hardshells, its the best mix of professionalism and saftey. Wanna know where my ballon cp is now? Its a dog bed now so yea DON'T BUY ONE!!!!

Way before both of you were ordered from the Sears catalog they were used and they were not considered unprofessional. They were used on the higher level of baseball that you, or even me, might not ever reach.

I don't live in the past!

[T-Rav]

I love my balloon CP, it offers superior protection and on those really hot days you can just wear an undershirt or go sans shirt if you want to work on your tan and in between pitches you can prop it over your head and use it for shade for F2 and you, it will do away with that silly sunshade in your mask, your partner may even want to confer with you just to hide from the burning sun. 

 

Seriously there are times when I really want a balloon like when I get coerced into becoming the backstop for any under 12U game but I quickly quash those perverse thoughts when I imagine myself on Youtube rocking a balloon and being the subject of a UE thread.  

 

Big fat, no to the balloon unless of course its throwback Wednesday and you sport the matching tux to go along with it. 

[Tksjewelry]

I love my balloon CP, it offers superior protection and on those really hot days you can just wear an undershirt or go sans shirt if you want to work on your tan and in between pitches you can prop it over your head and use it for shade for F2 and you, it will do away with that silly sunshade in your mask, your partner may even want to confer with you just to hide from the burning sun.

Seriously there are times when I really want a balloon like when I get coerced into becoming the backstop for any under 12U game but I quickly quash those perverse thoughts when I imagine myself on Youtube rocking a balloon and being the subject of a UE thread.

Big fat, no to the balloon unless of course its throwback Wednesday and you sport the matching tux to go along with it.

Wait, there's a throw back Wednesday!? I feel left out! I knew I saved my husband's powder blue prom tux with fluffy shirt for some reason and this is it! Can I rock the mullet too? Or huge bangs? I'm sure I could still make my hair the same size as the balloon cp. I'll start stocking up on aquanet.

[BigUmpire]

I used to have one, it was a "starter gift" when I began, I hated it they are unprofessional and awkward. Stick to hardshells, its the best. Wanna know where my ballon cp is now? Its a dog bed now so yea DON'T BUY ONE!!!!

@BaltimoreUmpire, if you've learned _anything_ on this forum... when you make outlandish statements... provide photos!!

@JaxRolo is right, @Tksjewelry, using a Balloon will actually hamper your progress rather than facilitate it. You're going to get a whole mess of posted responses regarding this.

I do understand, though, that you're going right for one of the best CP's on the market (A modified WV), and it would appear to be overkill for 10U and lower level ball. The thing would probably be a sauna-with-straps in those 2 hour long snoozers under a Great Plains roasting sun. I myself have considered getting a less complex CP on the cheap, such as a Schutt Scorpion, or a ProNine CP-P2, or a Champro AirTech CP8, or a Diamond DCP-U Lite. Heck, I might even get a Honig's FastPitch Elite! The one challenge with that, though, is I'm 6'2", and could perhaps use the abdomen protection. Maybe a welding or shop apron would be better.

Seriously, though, I worked 6 games behind the plate of high-school ball on a weekend, then worked a solo 9U game on that Monday evening. I got hit more times in that game than all 6 of the high school games _combined_. I'm pretty sure the catchers were hiding behind me.

Yeah, I've had 8u rec Catholic league games that were walk fests. I've learned to go ump those from the mound after taking about 20 shots cause they want every kid to pitch and catch every game. Kids, coaches, and parents are great but I'm not willing to be a "hit the umpire" carnival game back there for them.[/

"hit the umpire" carnival game"

So true!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MB_Ump]

Listen to these babies! I worked with a bunch of HS FP softball umps this summer doing tournament ball and many of them didn't use anything but shin guards for 10u and below. I did a 10u club baseball double header 2 weeks ago and took 22 hits. I know exactly how many because one of my buddies was calling them out while he laughed his ass off at me.

[Tksjewelry]

Listen to these babies! I worked with a bunch of HS FP softball umps this summer doing tournament ball and many of them didn't use anything but shin guards for 10u and below. I did a 10u club baseball double header 2 weeks ago and took 22 hits. I know exactly how many because one of my buddies was calling them out while he laughed his ass off at me.

I don't wear anything but chin guards for 10u FP, although I think it should be called underhand, FP it's not. Most I didn't even wear a mask and some I wore a field players mask. I started the year with one of these in full gear. By the end of the first inning, I was taking that stuff off. I'd be more likely to wear full gear on power league slow pitch than 10u FP. Shoot, I wish I could wear full gear doing bases in power league, which I did the bases once and that will never happen again. Ever. I'm still nursing a bruise from a line drive, over a month later, on my chin.

[blue23ll]

Never wore a 'chin' guard before, where do you get those?  I used to wear Elbelco shirts too, anyone have any of those left?

[Magic]

Listen to these babies! I worked with a bunch of HS FP softball umps this summer doing tournament ball and many of them didn't use anything but shin guards for 10u and below. I did a 10u club baseball double header 2 weeks ago and took 22 hits. I know exactly how many because one of my buddies was calling them out while he laughed his ass off at me.

When I used to do fast pitch softball, I never wore a CP for 10u or below.

[Stan W.]

balloons belong in museums......not on ball fields....I know they are cooler, I know they are great protection in kiddie ball, I know MLB used them in the maroon blazer days, I used one in my starting out days too......BUT>>>

 

I believe @Tksjewelry hit the nail on the head, when she said that she didn't want to give coaches and fans any extra ammo to use against her......when the coaches of today see an umpire walking to their game carrying his balloon, you can bet they aren't thinking good thoughts..

.

Why do we do all the things we talk about here?...proper dress, uniforms, shined shoes, etc??......its perception plain and simple.....If you look like a professional umpire you get treated like one (until you prove otherwise)......I know someone will say there is a GREAT umpire out there who looks like a hobo and still uses the balloon........and maybe that's correct...........but I say that is the exception, not the rule....

 

If its a heat issue, there are a number of lighter CP's that can adequately protect for the kid level...... I have a Honigs K1 that fits that bill perfectly....

 

Disclaimer:

 

My disdain for the balloon has nothing to do with the fact, that in one of my first years as an umpire, I was working a one man kid game using the balloon and I tripped over one of the straps and face planted myself in the red Georgia dirt, came up looking like a powdered doughnut and missed the play entirely...........

[JaxRolo]

If you can't take the heat maybe this is not for you.

[zm1283]

If I worked games with kids younger than about 12 and didn't have anyone to impress on a regular basis, I would be behind a balloon.

[Tksjewelry]

Never wore a 'chin' guard before, where do you get those? I used to wear Elbelco shirts too, anyone have any of those left?

I'm gonna blame that on the hair dye that seeps into my brain. It must have kill some of the spelling cells this time.

[jrewell1978]

Once you graduate high school it's time to ditch the balloon.

A few years ago I worked a tournament with an older guy who still carried one, which was his decision, but the balloon/hockey helmet combination left me perplexed.

[johnnyg08]

More protective than the West Vest Gold!