Replacement cycles ... how often do you replace your gear?

[The Man in Blue]

Run through it ... how often do you replace things ... or have you?

From the ground up ... I'm on season 12 or 13 (I forget)

Plate shoes -- first pair (3N2s) lasted 10 seasons

Shin guards -- Original pair (Davishins -- I like the two-strap approach)

Chest protector -- Switched to a new Schutt HDX this year; had the original one (Davishield, yeah, laugh, but I like the low-profile and fit) since I started and tried a few others but never liked them

Mask -- cheap Champro mask, replaced it two years ago with another (but upgraded to Team Wendy pads -- they are 3 years old)

Ballbags -- replace as needed, have been through three or four sets

Hats/Shirts -- It took me a long time, but now I replace as needed (I order a few new ones every season or two)

Pants -- replace as needed, every two or three seasons (early on I did cheap pairs and they lasted a season or less)

Indicators -- usually last me about a season and a half before the dials wear down

Plate brush -- I was going through 2 a season up north, but almost everything is turf here

What am I missing?

[Rock Bottom]

The hard part about this is what's a "season."  For some it could be 20 plates and zero bases, for others it could be 150 plates with 50 bases, etc.  I'm at just under 600 games from 2019 to date.  For some that's 10 seasons, for others it might be 2-3.  My plate shoes (NB 460V3) are on their last legs - about 2/3 of those 600 games are plates.  No way could I get close to 10 seasons out of them at this rate.  

[The Man in Blue]

Good point @Rock Bottom ... my first few seasons were very light, but I had built up to a good run of 200s in there.

I hate to say it (because I know it can be true), but you're doing something wrong (likely by doing it right) if you are coming up with a 20:0 or even a 150:50 ratio of plates to bases!  I know this was brought up in another thread, but sometimes I think we need to go back to the days of paying the PU more than the BU.  If you have an even split it works itself out.  If you are one of "those guys", well, then, thanks for the extra cash.

[umpstu]

29 minutes ago, The Man in Blue said:

Good point @Rock Bottom ... my first few seasons were very light, but I had built up to a good run of 200s in there.

I hate to say it (because I know it can be true), but you're doing something wrong (likely by doing it right) if you are coming up with a 20:0 or even a 150:50 ratio of plates to bases!  I know this was brought up in another thread, but sometimes I think we need to go back to the days of paying the PU more than the BU.  If you have an even split it works itself out.  If you are one of "those guys", well, then, thanks for the extra cash.

Well, I imagine there are a lot of us who enjoy working the plate much more than the bases, myself included.  I like that something happens every pitch. I don't fall asleep.

[ErichKeane]

11 hours ago, umpstu said:

Well, I imagine there are a lot of us who enjoy working the plate much more than the bases, myself included.  I like that something happens every pitch. I don't fall asleep.

Yeah, I often prefer working the plate, though the relaxed/easier nature of working the bases is really nice.  That said, my ratio is VERY much in favor of PU vs BU because I end up doing a ton of 1 man.

[ArchAngel72]

On 6/3/2022 at 3:53 PM, The Man in Blue said:

Run through it ... how often do you replace things ... or have you?

From the ground up ... I'm on season 12 or 13 (I forget)

Plate shoes -- first pair (3N2s) lasted 10 seasons

Shin guards -- Original pair (Davishins -- I like the two-strap approach)

Chest protector -- Switched to a new Schutt HDX this year; had the original one (Davishield, yeah, laugh, but I like the low-profile and fit) since I started and tried a few others but never liked them

Mask -- cheap Champro mask, replaced it two years ago with another (but upgraded to Team Wendy pads -- they are 3 years old)

Ballbags -- replace as needed, have been through three or four sets

Hats/Shirts -- It took me a long time, but now I replace as needed (I order a few new ones every season or two)

Pants -- replace as needed, every two or three seasons (early on I did cheap pairs and they lasted a season or less)

Indicators -- usually last me about a season and a half before the dials wear down

Plate brush -- I was going through 2 a season up north, but almost everything is turf here

What am I missing?

Im only on year 6 so... there is that

Plate shoes - Still have my 1st pair of 3n2's they are 4 years old now and last year I thru a gel insert into them to help with support and padding.  I did however buy some shiny new balances for tourney time.  Speaking of which I need to break them in a bit.

Shin guards- 1st had a cheap starter set from champro-  Got nailed bad once my 3rd year bought a pair of F3's  had the champros as back up, gave them away last month and bought a back up pair of F3's

CP- started with the champro cheapo padded one its got no armor.  It did me well no complaints but after 2 years I stepped up to a AS system 7 rig in the off season. ( wouldn't you know they would release the Cobalt 1 month later ) Well early this season I bought a AS Cobalt CP and gave my CP to the same kid that got the shinguards I then also bought a champro Air Management plated CP. I wanted to check that out.  Personally did not care for the T buckles as I could not get them to stay put, think it was just me but I also did not care for the way it fit me.  Yeah I could have molded it better but anyway I gave that to my local league for any young up coming Umps.

Mask-  I started with the cheap hollow steel champro mask used it for 2 years got my bell rung and then bought a AS FMG4K  have used it for 4 years now and bought a silver one to back it up this year. I did put TW pads on the Champro 2 years ago but I use it for softball only now shrug

ball bags- the champro bag that came with the kit fell apart I got some smitty bags the next year and then replaced them the next season with the Smitty XL bags.  well I just this season got 1 set blue 1 set black of the umplife bags and have been wearing them  I do like them 

Hats I go with what LL.org sells on there website bought 6 or so my 1st year and then this year I bought 3 of the new style

Jerseys I have /smacks forehead..  30 or so shirts  Navy, light blue, the other light blue, white, black, pink?  most are Smitty's, some are Honigs, The new LL style I got 8 of this year they are Davis shirts.  I honestly still like the Honigs personally. Shrug No wear outs yet but some are starting to see a little bit. nothing to toss yet but maybe another 2 years?

Pants I bought some champro plate pants off Amazon I think they have worked great for me. This year I bought 2 pair of smity's and have not had a chance to get them hemmed yet. Also no wear out yet.

Indicators I have ordered probably 20 over my 6 years I have handed probably 10 of them away and lost 3 or 4 of them.  I actually love the champro metal ones Except this year I tried the plastic one with the reversed balls and strikes. It has taken me 5 or 6 games to really get used to it but I do find it better as the balls are on the left and strikes on the right  just as I would signal and or read it 

plate brush I have 3 wooden ones and just bought a plastic one with the bat ring in it.  It fits in the bags well and actually gives a nice grip. 

Equip bag  I bought a Wilson and still have it but after a season the bottom two zipper pulls had broken off it so I used it like that with some cheap zipper pulls I got. but this year I replace it with the 36 inch Champro bag and it seems much the same but so far so good

 

 

 

[ArchAngel72]

15 hours ago, umpstu said:

Well, I imagine there are a lot of us who enjoy working the plate much more than the bases, myself included.  I like that something happens every pitch. I don't fall asleep.

fall asleep?  I use that time to critique my partner. Could I hear his call, was that pitch actually in the zone.  How is his form and uniform? Does he appear the part.  etc etc.

Stuff I can postgame with them to make sure I know I have something for them to work on.

I know I want to hear where I can improve upon.  If someone tells me I did a great job and there was nothing I missed or did wrong I am disappointed.  I know at least a handful of times a game I can pick something out on myself where I may have moved off the baseline on a ball down the line or runners lane stuff. Or put myself too far forward with someone on 2nd and I am standing too close to the runners path coming form 3rd  or Jeesum crow that ball was sniffing clay how the heck did I call strike on that one?  etc etc..