The mask Mitch Canham is wearing in the CWS looks like it has some sort of shock absorbers on it. Anyone know anything about it? IS it some Wilson prototype?

I'm sure I can find out. I didn't see what you meant, though. What exactly are you referring to?Where were they?

Seriously, my husband said "are there springs or something on Mitch's mask?". So we paused the t.v. (gotta love that DVR!), and sure enough, it looks like there are "shocks" at the top and sides of the mask where it connects to the helmet! Very weird. But when I think about it, I guess that would definitely make taking a foul off the face a lot easier.

On a personal level I do not like that mask, I prefer the Rawlings or AllStar mask, that one seemed to small or something

while on the topic of masks,which one do you think is better?Hockey style or the facemask/helmet combo

quote:

Originally posted by emeraldvlly:
The mask Mitch Canham is wearing in the CWS looks like it has some sort of shock absorbers on it. Anyone know anything about it? IS it some Wilson prototype?

These are the new Shock FX masks. They can be seen on the www.wilson.com website.

Went to the website. Wilson has the word "Catcher" misspelled on their website. Someone will be in big trouble when that gets spotted.

Give me old school mask and helmet. Good enough for Berra and Bench, good enough for me.

Having shocks in the one-piece hockey style helmet is a good idea because the impact of a foul tip/etc. on the one-piece causes much more trauma and possible brain damage than the traditional two-piece helmet/mask combo. I always wore the hockey style until I transfered to the college I'm at now and the coach would not let me because he had done some researching, and had concluded (I now agree with him) that foul tips to the hockey style over years can cause permanent brain damage.

is it just me or does any one actually think those shock deals actually work that much

cneagles19,
I have a high school freshman, and he has always worn the hockey style. I have heard they are required in h.s. ball. Can you tell me any more about the research your coach has done?
Thanks

Here is a link to some of the research done on the hockey style mask compared to the traditional mask.

http://www.kettering.edu/visitors/storydetail.jsp?storynum=552

emeraldvlly: the link CatchingCoach05 provided is a very informative article. Yes, the hockey style masks are required in hs. Unless a hs pitcher is very good and throwing uppper 80s and beyond consistently, I am pretty confident that the hockey style masks are fairly safe for hs players when it comes to foul tip concussions.
I believe that they are required in hs play because in the years immediately preceding the requirement, there have been injuries to the throat and side of the head while wearing the two piece masks because catchers were scared to block correctly and turned their head or looked up, being afraid of the ball and in turn getting hit in the temple or throat. The hockey style masks prevent this for the most part. I think eventually either the two piece will be allowed back in or there will be some kind of additional ruling or compromise on the issue.

I think another reason for the goalie-style masks is that they are easier to keep on for plays at the plate and such. Even in HS with the "Avoid Contact" rules, catchers are still vulnerable in the head region from both the ball and from a runner at times.

Your vision in the hockey style mask is a little bit better than with the two-piece mask, but regardless of the type of mask you have on, you should always leave it on during plays at the plate.
I've heard the argument that with the two piece mask you can't see well enough to catch the ball for a play at the plate. That's ****. If your vision is good enough to catch a pitcher, don't try to say that you can't see the ball coming in from the outfield, lol.
Either mask should stay on for plays at the plate...

Yep cneagles, I agree with you. The Goalie-style is easier to keep on for that type of play.

I look forward to seeing more about this new mask and see what kinds of effects it has.

Thanks everyone, for your input. I will check out the research article.

The article concluded that the 2 piece was safer than the hockey mask for a foul tip type hit but then they said they used the professional model 2 piece but the little league model hockey mask. Pretty worthless test.

Walawala:
Even though the test may have been done with a youth hockey style mask, I can personally attest to the results they achieved, and I used the professional model hockey mask.

quote:

Originally posted by cneagles19:
Walawala:
Even though the test may have been done with a youth hockey style mask, I can personally attest to the results they achieved, and I used the professional model hockey mask.

Yea I had never really thought about this before but it does make sense that the 2 piece would be safer for foul tip type collisions. Not only does a catcher wear a skull cap that protects the front of the head but the mask has much more padding in that area than the hockey mask.

It is good that people are doing these test so that the manufacturers can continue to develop safer and better equipment.

quote:

Originally posted by ugcatcher2:
is it just me or does any one actually think those shock deals actually work that much

I have no idea but here is video from Wilson's site showing what it is supposed to do.

Click on the helmet once the helmet,chest protector and shinguards appear.

Shock FX video


Does anyone here own the Shock FX? If so, is it comfortable and is the padding soft?