Hockey style mask has come in handy - twice

[scrounge]

I know it's strictly a matter of personal choice, but I can attest that my hockey style mask has saved me a nasty headache on at least one occasion and probably two. And that's just in the thirteen games I've had this year with the oppressive rain we've had in Central OH.

I decided to go with the HSM this year due to what I felt was superior vision - I just felt that I could see so much clearer and better with it than any traditional style mask. But the all around protection has been key. The first was a foul ball that came in hard and fast around my lower rear chin. A traditional mask might have stopped it, but it was close to where I would have been nervous. The second was when a pitch hit a kid in the rear shoulder and ricocheted right off of him and into the rear side of my head. There's NO way a traditional mask would have stopped that one. But it was just a minor annoyance with the HSM.

I know it's only anecdotal with a small sample size, but these events can and do occur. Just thought I'd share. I don't think I'll be going back to a traditional mask.

[sdix00]

I bought mine because I started doing HS games this year. I figured higher velocity balls warrant better protection.

Well - All the big shots I have taken have been in LL JR/SR. Lazy catchers, bad pitchers.

HS has been no issue.

I got a couple bad headaches last year with my traditional mask (albeit cheap padding). My Wilson FX definitely has provided better protection. A couple shots drew "OH OUCH!!" from the crowd, but made a bigger sound than an impact.

I also like the HSM because I can put it on one-handed.

[Dragon29]

The first was a foul ball that came in hard and fast around my lower rear chin. . . .

You have a lower rear chin?

I'm not sure I have a 'lower' chin, but I sure as hell don't have a 'rear' one - ?

[scrounge]

The first was a foul ball that came in hard and fast around my lower rear chin. . . .

You have a lower rear chin?

I'm not sure I have a 'lower' chin, but I sure as hell don't have a 'rear' one - ?

Ok, not the best description perhaps, but I meant the area where the jaw bends right below the hinge, just below and in front of the earlobe. I may have two chins, but that's another story.

[dddunn3d]

That area is called the mandibular angle (the intersection of the ramus and the body of the mandible).

Or cheek, whichever.