BT_Blue Posted March 9 Report Share Posted March 9 On 3/5/2024 at 8:59 AM, bluetick48 said: After several weeks of reading @Umpiresrock74 posts and looking at his photos, I reached out to him via text and communicated about possibly having my Power retrofitted. Being a little hesitant about shipping it off to a complete stranger, I picked up the phone (the old fashion way) and spoke with Michael for about 20 minutes about what I was wanting done. Immediately all my concerns were alleviated. He was completely understanding and also gave me a few references to confirm for myself. The references assured me that Michael will send daily updates on the process and they said they couldn’t be more satisfied with the outcome. As I type this I’m over the moon excited about getting this thing in the mail to him!!! Give this kid (my man Mike) a shot if you’re even on the fence about it!!! Looking forward to your reviews. Nothing against Mike. But you have been here a bit. So your thoughts as as a 3rd party will definitely help. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Umpiresrock74 Posted March 10 Author Report Share Posted March 10 22 hours ago, BT_Blue said: Looking forward to your reviews. Nothing against Mike. But you have been here a bit. So your thoughts as as a 3rd party will definitely help. No offense taken, I have decided to not try to promote it, but take your guises advice and let other umpires speak for it. I had to humble myself and realize that i cant go try to make everyone believe I have the potential to have a really good product, if I cant get it in the hands of actual umpires. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chartwig03 Posted March 11 Report Share Posted March 11 On 2/20/2024 at 9:53 PM, Umpiresrock74 said: Hello guys! So here is a Ridell is just did for someone on this forum. I’ve had my vest in hand for about a week or two now so I wanted to give a review to Mr. @Umpiresrock74. First off, this was my first time interacting with him and can tell he geeks out over everything umpiring. I saw that he was a special guest at one of my assigner’s camps. He texted me probably everyday he had my Power, if not almost everyday. He was very excited to work on it and I appreciated his enthusiasm. He sent me a bunch of progress pictures and I was able to talk with him about any tweeks I wanted or any improvements like the fidlocks, removing the excess wings, etc. The materials used were closed cell foam on the outer most layer, unequal Kevlar in the middle layer, and a thin layer of closed cell foam on the inner most part of the protector. It totals half an inch thick. To compare this, I have a number of chest protectors: Force 3, an original Douglas West Vest (1996), All Star Cobalt (Main vest for last year), and recently started using a Team Wendy West Vest. The feel and responsiveness of the materials reminds me very much of the team wendy. The appearance is also very similar. One of the most important things to me with this project is that the materials would contour to my body and form, Mike really did accomplish that. The profile when I tried it on, was very good and maybe even a little better than the other chest protectors I use. Mike did a good job of putting this all together for me. He used a professional seamstress and cut all the materials himself with love. I am super happy with how this turned out and he gave my Power a new life. Thanks a bunch, Mike! 5 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Umpiresrock74 Posted March 11 Author Report Share Posted March 11 11 hours ago, Chartwig03 said: I’ve had my vest in hand for about a week or two now so I wanted to give a review to Mr. @Umpiresrock74. First off, this was my first time interacting with him and can tell he geeks out over everything umpiring. I saw that he was a special guest at one of my assigner’s camps. He texted me probably everyday he had my Power, if not almost everyday. He was very excited to work on it and I appreciated his enthusiasm. He sent me a bunch of progress pictures and I was able to talk with him about any tweeks I wanted or any improvements like the fidlocks, removing the excess wings, etc. The materials used were closed cell foam on the outer most layer, unequal Kevlar in the middle layer, and a thin layer of closed cell foam on the inner most part of the protector. It totals half an inch thick. To compare this, I have a number of chest protectors: Force 3, an original Douglas West Vest (1996), All Star Cobalt (Main vest for last year), and recently started using a Team Wendy West Vest. The feel and responsiveness of the materials reminds me very much of the team wendy. The appearance is also very similar. One of the most important things to me with this project is that the materials would contour to my body and form, Mike really did accomplish that. The profile when I tried it on, was very good and maybe even a little better than the other chest protectors I use. Mike did a good job of putting this all together for me. He used a professional seamstress and cut all the materials himself with love. I am super happy with how this turned out and he gave my Power a new life. Thanks a bunch, Mike! Glad I was able to give your power a new life! It was definitely fun working on it!! How are those rivets looking for you? Do they look okay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chartwig03 Posted March 11 Report Share Posted March 11 5 hours ago, Umpiresrock74 said: Glad I was able to give your power a new life! It was definitely fun working on it!! How are those rivets looking for you? Do they look okay? Yup! Look great! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chartwig03 Posted March 27 Report Share Posted March 27 Decided to don the new rig last weekend. Felt great. Looks good. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Umpiresrock74 Posted March 30 Author Report Share Posted March 30 On 3/26/2024 at 11:06 PM, Chartwig03 said: Decided to don the new rig last weekend. Felt great. Looks good. Hey! I know that guy! I wonder who retrofitted his protector. mmmmmmmm...... Cyle, I want your Team Wendy, will you sell it? LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluetick48 Posted April 2 Report Share Posted April 2 My man @Umpiresrock74 doing his thang! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Umpiresrock74 Posted April 2 Author Report Share Posted April 2 1 hour ago, bluetick48 said: My man @Umpiresrock74 doing his thang! I want to clarify, those are not my feet in the background, with the purple slippers, that picture was taken by my upholster. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Umpiresrock74 Posted April 3 Author Report Share Posted April 3 Just Got done with John Libkas CP pad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluetick48 Posted April 3 Report Share Posted April 3 RPReplay_Final1712149328.mov 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadMax Posted April 3 Report Share Posted April 3 3 hours ago, bluetick48 said: RPReplay_Final1712149328.mov 18.6 MB · 1 download 2 things to point out about this Riddell Power… and, in no way am I pooh-poohing UMP-Retrofit’s work: I’m not at all convinced, nor mildly persuaded, that the structured stitch between the main torso vest pad and the pauldron pad is the “way to do it”. I will eternally stump for the pads being separate, and there being a connecting spline from the pauldron plate to the shoulder arch plate. The pec-wings, too, should be reposition-able and/or removable. Riddell Powers, Wilson Golds… I’m sure a few others… all do this cheat, and the unit just doesn’t fit right, because of it. This Riddell Power does (vertical) sizing dead right. Instead of offering 2-3 different sizes, with ever-so-slightly larger carapace plates (ahem, Wilson, you 🤬), you make all the (main) carapace plates the same size… and then add a plate to extend the height at the bottom. And @bluetick48, FYI… we consolidated our umpire roster numbering system in all 4 leagues under our umbrella… each umpire has a unique number… and we’re never issuing #51 again. Retired and laid-to-rest. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderheads Posted April 3 Report Share Posted April 3 1 hour ago, MadMax said: This Riddell Power does (vertical) sizing dead right. Instead of offering 2-3 different sizes, with ever-so-slightly larger carapace plates (ahem, Wilson, you 🤬), you make all the (main) carapace plates the same size… and then add a plate to extend the height at the bottom. That's what Douglas does too (the way Power does it) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluetick48 Posted April 3 Report Share Posted April 3 1 hour ago, MadMax said: 2 things to point out about this Riddell Power… and, in no way am I pooh-poohing UMP-Retrofit’s work: I’m not at all convinced, nor mildly persuaded, that the structured stitch between the main torso vest pad and the pauldron pad is the “way to do it”. I will eternally stump for the pads being separate, and there being a connecting spline from the pauldron plate to the shoulder arch plate. The pec-wings, too, should be reposition-able and/or removable. Riddell Powers, Wilson Golds… I’m sure a few others… all do this cheat, and the unit just doesn’t fit right, because of it. This Riddell Power does (vertical) sizing dead right. Instead of offering 2-3 different sizes, with ever-so-slightly larger carapace plates (ahem, Wilson, you 🤬), you make all the (main) carapace plates the same size… and then add a plate to extend the height at the bottom. And @bluetick48, FYI… we consolidated our umpire roster numbering system in all 4 leagues under our umbrella… each umpire has a unique number… and we’re never issuing #51 again. Retired and laid-to-rest. Thank you for the kind words and gesture @MadMax. I’ll pass that along to the family. Worked many a game with Conor and he lived about five minutes down the road from me. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Umpiresrock74 Posted April 15 Author Report Share Posted April 15 On 4/3/2024 at 1:01 PM, MadMax said: 2 things to point out about this Riddell Power… and, in no way am I pooh-poohing UMP-Retrofit’s work: I’m not at all convinced, nor mildly persuaded, that the structured stitch between the main torso vest pad and the pauldron pad is the “way to do it”. I will eternally stump for the pads being separate, and there being a connecting spline from the pauldron plate to the shoulder arch plate. The pec-wings, too, should be reposition-able and/or removable. Riddell Powers, Wilson Golds… I’m sure a few others… all do this cheat, and the unit just doesn’t fit right, because of it. This Riddell Power does (vertical) sizing dead right. Instead of offering 2-3 different sizes, with ever-so-slightly larger carapace plates (ahem, Wilson, you 🤬), you make all the (main) carapace plates the same size… and then add a plate to extend the height at the bottom. And @bluetick48, FYI… we consolidated our umpire roster numbering system in all 4 leagues under our umbrella… each umpire has a unique number… and we’re never issuing #51 again. Retired and laid-to-rest. Thanks @MadMax, I will take note of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly McNary Posted April 17 Report Share Posted April 17 I had Michael and his partners retrofit my Wilson CP, and I love it. The materials used are superb compared to the original Wilson padding and protection offered is awesome! I’ve taken hits in upper level HS games and College games and have felt nothing except a very weak sounding thud. I’m thrilled with my “new” protector. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Ripper Posted April 18 Report Share Posted April 18 On 3/11/2024 at 9:36 AM, Umpiresrock74 said: Glad I was able to give your power a new life! It was definitely fun working on it!! How are those rivets looking for you? Do they look okay? Wow!!! I just got had my gold retrofitted by Mike with Umpguard… just wow! I can’t believe how great it is, light, professional and protective. It was way worth the money, this product is almost identical to Team Wendy. As a guy who knows tons of umpires with TW retrofits, let me say this is just like it and for a much, much cheaper price. Almost forgot, the low profile on this thing is amazing, it is a night and day difference between the original Gold padding and the Umpguard! Love it so much, Mike is a great customer service guy, listened to all my recommendations and delivered! I have no doubt that this product is going to be the next big thing in the umpire gear/product world! Unbelievable and highly recommend! ~The Ripper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Umpiresrock74 Posted August 10 Author Report Share Posted August 10 Another CP done, all my photos are on instagram at umpguardretrofitllc 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Umpiresrock74 Posted August 18 Author Report Share Posted August 18 Been keeping busy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadMax Posted August 18 Report Share Posted August 18 11 minutes ago, Umpiresrock74 said: Been keeping busy. Smart to silo them like that, keep all parts & components together of each CP. Now take this into a corporate-manufacturer environment, that otherwise has an entire product catalog to produce, and offers these retrofits and customizations as a side service on products that they themselves didn’t originally produce, and have only general knowledge of, and the owners/users of those products have extremely variable and unreliable knowledge of. Do we now see why Team Wendy’s was so valued, and why they had to eventually and reluctantly cease this service? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Umpiresrock74 Posted August 19 Author Report Share Posted August 19 22 hours ago, MadMax said: Smart to silo them like that, keep all parts & components together of each CP. Now take this into a corporate-manufacturer environment, that otherwise has an entire product catalog to produce, and offers these retrofits and customizations as a side service on products that they themselves didn’t originally produce, and have only general knowledge of, and the owners/users of those products have extremely variable and unreliable knowledge of. Do we now see why Team Wendy’s was so valued, and why they had to eventually and reluctantly cease this service? Yes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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