Gear review of sorts

[ArchAngel72]

So  last nights game 12U  playoffs

VT had a lefty who threw real good heat but he was inconsistent with his control not horrible but usually within a foot off the plate type of thing.

1st piece of equipment took a good fastball I am thinking prolly low 60's  Inside plunked off my F3 shin guards I "felt" some pressure like I knew I got whacked but other than that, loud "clack" and everyone "goes OOOOOHHHH you ok blue?"

"ME oh yeah I am fine the wife hits me harder"

To me these F3 shin guards are Very comfortable fairly light I barely notice them on, and they protect like nothing else I have tried. Bonus I got the tall ones and they stick up about 2 inches above my knee caps.  I use that area to tuck my hands in behind and in the last 2 weeks that top portion that sticks up has taken 2 hits and protected my hands each time ( 2nd was last night )

Next piece is the ASFM4Kmag and AS Skully

Same pitcher 2 pitches later frustrated with him self wound up and threw it as hard as he could and it sailed high and inside , Catcher never even got close to it. I rate that pitch at close to 65.    It cracked me at the top part of the mask right over the visor of the skully.  Deflection of the pitch worked well. I felt it but it was considerably lighter of a felt impact than I felt it should have been based on location and etc.  Again big crowd and team reactions. I was fine no issue no bell ring nothing. Just lets get back into the game..  Both the skully and mask have fit well and work great together. There is some noticeable heat build up but I do not know if it is much worse than a normal hat.  It was only about 82 at the start of the game last night and dropped to 70 during it so that was not horrible.  Time will tell me more with regard to that.

Next piece is to me probably ever mans most important piece of equipment. 

The shock Doctor Ultra Carbon Flex Cup.

the next inning said Pitcher over thru and spiked a  overthrown fastball inside right in front of the inside portion of the batters box.  Well it hopped once and went straight to my cup.  Catcher wiffed on it. Nothing but cup.  Well despite my shock and fear, nothing was wrong.  The Ultra carbon flex cup by shock Dr.  did a wonderful job mitigating any and all perceived impact.  It dispersed it all around said unit and absorbed probably a felt 40% of the pressure from the hit.  I mean I felt it. But it did not get thru to the tender protected parts. 

So yeah 5 stars to all that stuff.

 

[ArchAngel72]

Forgot will add

 

New Balance MUL460B3's  got them earlier in the season just broke them out last night 1st playoff game behind the plate. So I was like yeah why not.  They felt wonderful and honestly I do not feel they actually need a break in period. The cushioning and protection on them is great. I do wish the tread was a little more aggressive.

4.5 stars out of 5

 

[Mussgrass]

Doesn't 12U suck! I am so jumpy with a pitcher throwing hard with no control and a catcher that can't. And here comes one up and in!

[ArchAngel72]

21 hours ago, Mussgrass said:

Doesn't 12U suck! I am so jumpy with a pitcher throwing hard with no control and a catcher that can't. And here comes one up and in!

Well this was the next two nights  

small catchers 12U  next night P throws a decent curve ball catcher drops down to try and scoop it and the batter actually fouled it back to where it caught my forearm which WAS behind the catchers head.

Last night

Small catcher who was on his %#$^@!! knees.  P throws a high curve ball which the little guy could not reach due to being on his knees and the SAME damn arm behind the catchers head  takes another one.

That one caught a lil more meat and caused an immediate hematoma that was about 4/5ths the diameter of the ball and raised up about 3/4 of an inch.  1st night stung.  This one made me lose feeling in that hand and made giving strike, out and counts really damn hard.

Picture is about 30 min after the game probably 1.5 hours after it happened. 

What I want to know is WHY if a baseball has 2 rows of stiches do I always get 3 rows of stiches?