Game Face Masks

[itcouldbemybusinnes]

I checked out the BangerZ vision mask http://www.safetyglassesusa.com/hs6500.html it should be great at protecting the Nose, Cheek Bone & Eye area - just ordered it for my 9 year old to start getting use to wearing some type of mask.

Features as stated by company:
Eyes, nose and cheek protection engineered around the true conditions of women's Fast Pitch and Slow Pitch Softball
Wire cage design eliminates fogging, rain beading and scratching
Stretched "cat eye" wire configuration gives players an unobstructed view, maximum field of vision and helps improve game concentration
Sleek profile with excellent ground ball vision for those "bad hops"
Form fitting hypo-allergenic padding system provides secure adhesion to the face at all times
Adjustable, washable and replaceable double headstrap holds eyeguards in place

[MTR]

Form fitting hypo-allergenic padding system provides secure adhesion to the face at all times

This is one of the reasons I would prefer a helmet with mask. Anything which must be held snug to the face will help prevent a catastrophic injury, but will still put the full impact of the ball on the player as opposed to absorbing it as a helmet would.

[GIMNEPIWO]

With the game-face on, or a like model ... has anyone seen a player take a shot to the mask? ...

[BigDaddy77]

With the game-face on, or a like model ... has anyone seen a player take a shot to the mask? ...

Saw one on another field, so I didn't know any of the girls. A hard line drive smacked 3B in the face so hard the mask moved all the way to the side of her head. The impact still rang her bell a bit, but she straightened out the mask and didn't even miss a play. Without the mask she would have been on her way to the ER that day for sure.

[MTR]

With the game-face on, or a like model ... has anyone seen a player take a shot to the mask? ...

Saw one on another field, so I didn't know any of the girls. A hard line drive smacked 3B in the face so hard the mask moved all the way to the side of her head. The impact still rang her bell a bit, but she straightened out the mask and didn't even miss a play. Without the mask she would have been on her way to the ER that day for sure.

That's good. While it will not absorb as much as a helmet-mounted mask, it is good to know that these do not have to be worn so snug as to not move on impact.

[GIMNEPIWO]

With the game-face on, or a like model ... has anyone seen a player take a shot to the mask? ...

Saw one on another field, so I didn't know any of the girls. A hard line drive smacked 3B in the face so hard the mask moved all the way to the side of her head. The impact still rang her bell a bit, but she straightened out the mask and didn't even miss a play. Without the mask she would have been on her way to the ER that day for sure.

That's good. While it will not absorb as much as a helmet-mounted mask, it is good to know that these do not have to be worn so snug as to not move on impact.

I'm sort of wondering ... with the limited visibility that some claim that there is ... and the possibility of the mask providing a false sense of security ... if it is possible that we will actually see more shots to the chops ?... any thoughts?

[Tucson]

There are so many masks out there right now, that I think that there must be one that would work for everyone. I wear the Gameface every day or every game that I am at 1st. I am using it on the bucket. There are no dead zones for me.

In Flagstaff, I had better luck getting girls to wear a mask. Here in Tucson, they all want to look alike. Some have tried them, but not often enough to really get used to it. I tried to get a dad to make his less than athletic DD wear one at 3rd, the other night, and he said he doesn't want her to look different. I told him the argument against that is how different she will look with stitches in her face.

I carry a child's size D Mask with me to lessons, but there has been almost no takers - and these girls are little bitty.

Is this topic ever covered at a national coaches convention?

Link to infielder's mask with helmet http://www.hitrunscore.com/sbph-worth-p ... elmet.html

[bucketdad96]

With the game-face on, or a like model ... has anyone seen a player take a shot to the mask? ...

I posted the following last Spring after my DD took a line drive to her "Defender" mask while pitching.
http://www.heybucket.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1162
All the infielders on her current team now wear a mask. She feels good about being a role model for the younger players that have been watching her play and later come up to her and ask where they can get a mask like hers. That makes up for a lot of the teasing she took a couple years ago when she was the only one around here wearing a mask. Well, that and striking out the ones doing the teasing.

[diamondmom]

With the game-face on, or a like model ... has anyone seen a player take a shot to the mask? ...

My daughter took one on the chin in practice one day with her mask on-she shook her head straightened out her mask and got right back in there. That mask is the best $40 I've spent-she pitches and plays infield & wears it everytime she is on the dirt.

[NewCoach]

I tried to get a dad to make his less than athletic DD wear one at 3rd, the other night, and he said he doesn't want her to look different. I told him the argument against that is how different she will look with stitches in her face.

As an EMT I have taken 3 girls to the ER that have been hit by batted balls. I can promise you that any of those 3 would gladly trade a few stitches for the years of rehab, and probably permanent disfigurement, they went through. Mandated or not, mine will never play in the dirt with out something to protect that angelic face.