Catcher's mask / Umpire mask

[fastfredyb]

I've been umpiring for only about 2-3 years.  I'm thinking about buying a full bucket mask but I notice that catcher's mask look exactly the same as the umpire's mask.

 

What are your thoughts on any difference?

[MadMax]

Gosh, I soooo want to fix that typo in the title... (trying to keep my OCD at bay. Trying.)

 

I'm thinking about buying a full bucket mask... [snip]

 

You're referring to a Hockey-Style Mask (HSM), yes?

 

If you scope out this article and many many other posts in these forums, you'll get numerous opinions and validations on HSMs. They have their advantages and disadvantages; they have their benefits and shortcomings. Amongst the various manufacturers, the difference between a catcher's HSM and an umpire's HSM varies as well. With Wilson, for example, in their Shock-FX 2.0 HSM, there is no difference whatsoever. With All-Star, who by and large makes one of the most popular HSMs on the market in the System 7 (MVP4000), the only difference becomes the paint job (two-tone with custom graphics isn't (shouldn't) be available to umpires). With Easton, their premier HSM for catchers – the Mako – is designed with catchers almost exclusively in mind, thus the better option for umpires from Easton is the M7. Diamond put out a brand-new HSM for catchers, dubbed the iX5, while relegating the previous iX3 to a value-price-point model, and labeled for umpires as the EDGE-UMP.

 

Is there a brand / manufacturer you're leaning towards?

[Majordave]

Fixed it for you Max.  

[BaltimoreUmpire]

As a longtime HSM user the MVP series is the best available, other than the paint job the Umpire version isn't any different than the catchers version. Depending on what level you work you'd want the 2500 or 4000, best HSM's on the market hands down, more comfort IMO than the Wilson Shock FX series.

[JaxRolo]

Don't do it! Get a traditional Mask!

[RingEmUp]

I want an HSM but I want to try one on first.  My extremely ultra light traditional mask works just fine for me though.

[kylejt]

In trying out a HSM, look for forehead protection. A ball slamming into that area, just above the cage, has always been a concern to me. Most helmets have just a thin layer of foam rubber there.

 

And don't just go by a simple weight comparison, The bucket sits on your head, and the mask rests on the brim of your hat. The buckets weight is more distributed.

 

I use a bucket on the rare occasions where I have to work an overhead backstop, where a foul can come down on you. I had that happen, where the ball crushed that little button on the top of my hat, and don't ever want that pain again.

[KenBAZ]

I have an All Star 2300 and found it more comfortable. However, I just feel safer in my Shock-FX 2.0s so I wear those most of the time.

[fastfredyb]

Any difference between umpire/ catchers masks?  I want to get a different mask and find that catcher's mask are less expensive. By looking at the mask I don't find any difference.

 

Any opinions??

 

I'm new to this community and had started the exact same thread a couple weeks ago but I couldn't find it.  Well sure enough , I did find it but only after I reposted this one. My bad

[Majordave]

Most catcher's masks have an elastic or more elastic strap than umpire masks. Catcher's need to wear their masks more tightly to their face/head due to moving and blocking balls with their face sometimes. I wear my mask and straps so loose that it will shift or fall off if I move suddenly.

There may be other differences but orobably not very many.

[MadMax]

@fastfredyb, which mask(s) are you looking at, in particular?

 

And are we talking TM's (traditional mask) or HSM's (hockey style mask)?

 

And yes, you'll find some retailers will price "for Umpire" masks more expensive than "for Catcher", because they have this delusion that we have more money to spend.   

[fastfredyb]

Thanks everybody for your opinions. I was thinking of getting the wilson shock fx.  It get's real hot in the inland empire most of the year. Every umpire I've talked to said that wearing a HSM is soooooo much cooler than a traditional mask. I was just wondering if there was a difference between the two.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Wilson-Baseball-Catchers-Helmet-Large-X-Large/dp/B005Y04LGK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426709119&sr=8-1&keywords=wilson+shock+fx+2.0

 

 

http://www.purchaseofficials.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=FM-SHOCK

[fastfredyb]

Thanks everybody for your input.  Thinking about the all star mvp and the wilson shock.  Been told by other umpires that the HSM is much much cooler during the summer months than the TM with the hat.

 

I will be doing all my games in the Inland Empire in southern california this year. Much hotter than I'm used to. 

[MadMax]

@fastfredyb, according to your choices...

 

• All-Star MVP4000 / 2500 : I'll anticipate and cede the floor to @BaltimoreUmpire, who is this forum's most prolific All-Star MVP user, but the only difference between a "catcher's" HSM and "umpire's" HSM, in this model, is the paint job. If you happen to find a catcher's MVP4000, at a really good price point, go for it, as long as it doesn't have a distracting / garish paint/graphics scheme. Try to stick to black. Navy will do if you get it at an exceptional price point, but I would advise against royal blue, red, etc. They do have it in Silver (Grey, not shiny), which IMO, wouldn't be a bad consideration – very similar to wearing a silver TM with tan pads. It may be less heat-capturing than straight black.

- http://www.baseballrampage.com/Baseball/Catchers-Gear/3452/MVP2500-Adult-Catchers-Helmet.html

- http://www.baseballrampage.com/Baseball/Catchers-Gear/5801/MVP2500M-Matte-Finish-Adult-Catchers-Helmet.html

- http://www.homerunmonkey.com/catalog/product/view/id/39798/category/1222/?green=E8303D8F-B915-5EBC-AD95-0DA0740C3B9B

 

• Wilson Shock FX 2.0 : @maven wears one, and as I think he'll attest, you'll want to get the FX 2.0 – it looks like the Purchase Officials model you linked to is the v1, and it's higher priced than the 2.0 you listed on Amazon! 

It's called the Silver series, and it has a Black-coated steel cage, but at an unbelievable cost! It is a standard, ho-hum liner:

- http://www.baseballrampage.com/Baseball/Catchers-Gear/3209/Sliver-Series-Hinge-FX2-0-Helmet.html

or here - http://www.baseballexpress.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=35545

Standard Matte finish (the one you should be most familiar with), this has the DriLex liner and premium leather chin cup:

- http://www.baseballrampage.com/Baseball/Catchers-Gear/6057/2012-Pro-Stock-Shock-FX-2.0-Matte-Catchers-Helmet.html

or here - http://www.baseballexpress.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=35544

or here - http://www.baseballexpress.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=35339

or here - http://www.homerunmonkey.com/catalog/product/view/id/52424/category/1225/?green=E8303D8F-B915-5EBC-AD95-0DA0740C3B9B

 

If you feel like pampering yourself, there is a Shock FX 2.0 Titanium. That means the cage is a titanium cage, and the price point is around $220 - $240. Otherwise, it's the same base unit.

 

Keep in mind, too, that UnderArmour formed a supply partnership with All-Star, and their Victory HSM is a MVP2500 (or is it a 2400, Baltimore?) with a different cage layout on it.

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=23176056&clickid=prod_cs&recid=Product_PageElement_product_rr_2_966

 

I keep tossing these other sellers at you because usually, they have a promotion going on to get even more savings.

[ElkOil]

I wear the Shock 2.0 and can tell you that when you take one to the face, you'll know it because you'll hear it, but as far as feeling it goes, there is very little sensation.  There is certainly not one iota of pain.  Some guys who take balls to the face wearing a TM get rocked back, have to take a minute and clear out the cobwebs.  This hasn't happened to me wearing the Shock 2.0 -- I just keep on going like nothing even happened.  Personally, I won't wear anything else unless you can prove it protects better.  And no, I didn't buy the one with the titanium mask because I couldn't see spending another hundred dollars to save a few ounces of weight.

[BaltimoreUmpire]

The MVP 2500 is very comfortable and breathes well, the pads soak up sweat very well and turn it into a cooling pad. I had a shock fx as well amd find the MVP 2500 is much more comfortable because the cheek pads in the shock fx 2.0 silver series were very firm and squeezed my face. I also had issue fitting my glasses inside the shock fx, I couldn't take it off without them going with it so thats something to think about, it also didn't breathe too well. Your expirence may differ but for me the MVP beat the Shock FX in comfort and temperature, my issues may have stemmed from the sizing on the FX or may come from bias(not a wilson fan). So in short I reccommend the MVP series over the FX but if you can try both on you might favor the FX its really personal preferance in the end.

[fastfredyb]

@fastfredyb, according to your choices...

 

• All-Star MVP4000 / 2500 : I'll anticipate and cede the floor to @BaltimoreUmpire, who is this forum's most prolific All-Star MVP user, but the only difference between a "catcher's" HSM and "umpire's" HSM, in this model, is the paint job. If you happen to find a catcher's MVP4000, at a really good price point, go for it, as long as it doesn't have a distracting / garish paint/graphics scheme. Try to stick to black. Navy will do if you get it at an exceptional price point, but I would advise against royal blue, red, etc. They do have it in Silver (Grey, not shiny), which IMO, wouldn't be a bad consideration – very similar to wearing a silver TM with tan pads. It may be less heat-capturing than straight black.

- http://www.baseballrampage.com/Baseball/Catchers-Gear/3452/MVP2500-Adult-Catchers-Helmet.html

- http://www.baseballrampage.com/Baseball/Catchers-Gear/5801/MVP2500M-Matte-Finish-Adult-Catchers-Helmet.html

- http://www.homerunmonkey.com/catalog/product/view/id/39798/category/1222/?green=E8303D8F-B915-5EBC-AD95-0DA0740C3B9B

 

• Wilson Shock FX 2.0 : @maven wears one, and as I think he'll attest, you'll want to get the FX 2.0 – it looks like the Purchase Officials model you linked to is the v1, and it's higher priced than the 2.0 you listed on Amazon! 

It's called the Silver series, and it has a Black-coated steel cage, but at an unbelievable cost! It is a standard, ho-hum liner:

- http://www.baseballrampage.com/Baseball/Catchers-Gear/3209/Sliver-Series-Hinge-FX2-0-Helmet.html

or here - http://www.baseballexpress.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=35545

Standard Matte finish (the one you should be most familiar with), this has the DriLex liner and premium leather chin cup:

- http://www.baseballrampage.com/Baseball/Catchers-Gear/6057/2012-Pro-Stock-Shock-FX-2.0-Matte-Catchers-Helmet.html

or here - http://www.baseballexpress.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=35544

or here - http://www.baseballexpress.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=35339

or here - http://www.homerunmonkey.com/catalog/product/view/id/52424/category/1225/?green=E8303D8F-B915-5EBC-AD95-0DA0740C3B9B

 

If you feel like pampering yourself, there is a Shock FX 2.0 Titanium. That means the cage is a titanium cage, and the price point is around $220 - $240. Otherwise, it's the same base unit.

 

Keep in mind, too, that UnderArmour formed a supply partnership with All-Star, and their Victory HSM is a MVP2500 (or is it a 2400, Baltimore?) with a different cage layout on it.

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=23176056&clickid=prod_cs&recid=Product_PageElement_product_rr_2_966

 

I keep tossing these other sellers at you because usually, they have a promotion going on to get even more savings.

 

Mad Max that is the best response have seen in any forum period!!!!!! Golly that was good.  I like all the options that are avaiable out there.  I will order sometime today.  Still not sure on whether Shock 2.0 and the mvp 2500.  I might just flip a coing hahahaha. Thanks agaoin all!!

[fastfredyb]

I wear the Shock 2.0 and can tell you that when you take one to the face, you'll know it because you'll hear it, but as far as feeling it goes, there is very little sensation.  There is certainly not one iota of pain.  Some guys who take balls to the face wearing a TM get rocked back, have to take a minute and clear out the cobwebs.  This hasn't happened to me wearing the Shock 2.0 -- I just keep on going like nothing even happened.  Personally, I won't wear anything else unless you can prove it protects better.  And no, I didn't buy the one with the titanium mask because I couldn't see spending another hundred dollars to save a few ounces of weight.

 

Thanks for your input ElkOil. Do you have the Shock 2.0 Pro series or the Silver series?   Thanks again

[alan2703]

I have allstar hockey style mask that I use for some fields that backstop is real close and I have been hit in the back of head and in winter time on the cold brisk days in jersey I can get my watch cap under it which is real nice .

[ElkOil]

 

I wear the Shock 2.0 and can tell you that when you take one to the face, you'll know it because you'll hear it, but as far as feeling it goes, there is very little sensation.  There is certainly not one iota of pain.  Some guys who take balls to the face wearing a TM get rocked back, have to take a minute and clear out the cobwebs.  This hasn't happened to me wearing the Shock 2.0 -- I just keep on going like nothing even happened.  Personally, I won't wear anything else unless you can prove it protects better.  And no, I didn't buy the one with the titanium mask because I couldn't see spending another hundred dollars to save a few ounces of weight.

 

Thanks for your input ElkOil. Do you have the Shock 2.0 Pro series or the Silver series?   Thanks again

 

 

Hmm.  I don't know.  Here's a link to the one I bought:

 

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=28528326