Before the Defense from Rip-It, players were forced to use fielding masks that limited their vision, were bulky, and were uncomfortable. With the Rip-It Defense the field of view opens up and comfort is possible thanks to a simplified design that eliminates any unnecessary bulk, while maximizing protection. Players wearing the Defense can actually see their feet when they look down--allowing them an unobstructed view of grounders, pop-ups, and fly balls. With steel safety cell design, ball impacts are repelled and the force is absorbed and transferred away from the point of impacts for maximum protection. Offered with Blackout Technology, the Defense cuts back on glare, delivering an even better view of the ball. Go out to the field with confidence and comfort--with the Defense Fielder's Mask from Rip-It.
The Rip-It Defense offers an exceptionally wide field of view, designed not to interfere with your ability to see the ball. |
The Steel Safety Cell: - Variable Flex Design: Providing the same impact protection known in the car industry as a crumple zone, the Defense's steel safety cell is designed to be either stiff or flexible depending on the force of impact. This feature allows the Defense to stay rigid for a majority of the impacts a player may receive while playing. However, in that rare instance when the ball is traveling at an excessive speed, the steel safety cell will flex to transfer energy away from the point of contact offering the best possible protection in extreme circumstances. No matter how great the impact, when a ball strikes the Defense the energy and force of the impact is instantly spread over the entire surface area of the padding. With nearly two feet of padded surface area, the Defense is able to absorb more impact, transfer more energy, and reduce impact related injury.
- Severity Index of 56 MPH Softball Impact: without Rip-It Defense--1200 SI; with Rip-It Defense--330 SI
Superior Wide Angle Viewing: The Defense creates such a wide angle of view that players are able to forget they are wearing a facemask. With a simplified design that eliminates any unnecessary bulk, while maximizing protection, the Defense offers the best vision possible in a fielder’s facemask. Players wearing the Defense can actually see their feet when they look down--allowing them an unobstructed view when fielding grounders or pop-ups. The Defense's clutter free design makes seeing the ball to your glove easy and flawless.
Blackout Technology: Players have been wearing eye-black since baseball great Babe Ruth first smeared grease under his eyes. Since then, players from baseball to football have looked for an edge when fighting glare. Blackout Technology finally makes playing glare free a reality. With special matte coated bars, Blackout Technology works the minute you put on the Rip-It Defense, eliminating 100 percent of glare that can reflect into your eyes. And recognizing that some players like to use a visor, and some don’t, the Defense comes with a visor that can be attached when wanted and pulled off when not wanted.
Superior Comfort: - Ponytails Strap: Ponytails are part of the game. If you wear a ponytail while playing you know the issues it can cause. The Defense solves this problem with its ponytail strap. The ponytail strap allows you to pull your ponytail through the opening so everything fits perfectly.
- Chin Cups: With a back made of one continuous piece of Velcro, the Defense chin cup is infinitely adjustable--enabling it to fit exactly how you want it to. This means more comfort, better positioning, and the ability to talk easily while wearing a fielder’s mask.
Owner Reviews, Ratings, Comments and Criticism
I have been coaching my daughter and her softball teams for 8 years, and in all my years of coaching, this has to be one of the most important pieces of equipment that every parent SHOULD buy if they want their daughter to be a great defensive infielder, or MUST buy if they want their daughter to play on the infield as one of the front three players (pitcher, third base or first base). Once the girls move up to the hard ball (11" hard ball for 10u, 12" hard ball for 12u and up), then you have to expect the worst waiting to happen when one of the front line players takes to the infield.
Recently (May 15, 2011) at a 12u tournament at College Station, TX (gig'em Aggies), our pitcher took to the field like she normally does, and began the game like she normally does, striking out batters and getting them to hit ground balls for our defense to mop up and put the opposing batters/runners out. Well, one batter hit a line drive straight back to our pitcher. Now let's talk about bats and ball exit speed for a moment. Actually, bats are easier to talk about than ball exit speed, because ball exit speed is a complicated mess full of different variables including swing speed and ball construction. Bats have come a long way, and until recently, had a ball exit speed rating of 105+ mph. In 2004, the ball exit speed rating was dropped by the ASA to 98 mph maximum, which is still plenty fast. In 2007, they told the bat manufacturers for the new ASA Rules that all new bats made for the 2008 season and beyond must NEVER exceed the 98 mph exit speed, because the ASA knew that composite bats could 'warm up' over time as the hitters broke in their bats. When you hear of a 'hot' bat, you know the ball jumps off faster than usual, hence the ruling to lower the exit speed. Look up 'Pre-ABI' and 'Post-ABI' (ABI = After Break-In), and you'll see that the standard for the 2008 bats' ball exit speed for 'fresh out of the wrapper' performance is about 92 or 94 mph. The bat manufacturers have been told by the ASA that 2012 bats should have their starting point even lower, to about 85 or 88 mph. USSSA and the other softball governing bodies do not have a set standard when it comes to bat performance / limits, so expect those ball exit speeds from those non-ASA bats to come off FASTER. It's a good thing most community fastpitch associations follow ASA Rules and Regulations. Travel and Select teams just have to rely on tournament rules and hope the directors are looking out for player safety.
Where does this information take us? Back to our team's fastpitch pitcher, with a line drive coming right back at her at a projected speed of over 80 mph (there are some formulas online, but too complicated to show you here). UNFORTUNATELY, she was not wearing her fielder's mask (not made by Rip-It, but of similar design and material) and was hit in the FACE with the ball. FORTUNATELY, she had just turned her head to the side and the softball only hit her in the lower right side of her face, over the mouth and cut her upper lip inside and out. The ball had 'glanced' off of her face, and had she not flinched to her right, the ball would have caused much more damage than what was done. After being advised by her dad to wear the mask every time when she pitches, she now realizes after a trip to the ER, three stitches and plenty of pain and painkillers, the importance of wearing that mask, even if it's slightly uncomfortable to wear.
With the advent of composite bats, stronger batters and faster pitchers, only a foolish parent would allow their daughter to play up close without this kind of protection. My daughter plays 3rd base for this team, and she's very aggressive in defending her position with some very collegiate-level reflexes (so I've been told). Nonetheless, she knew that her opponents were getting bigger, stronger and quicker with their bats and swings, so she WANTED to wear the mask for her protection. I bought her this same mask in white last year and she hasn't played without it since. Please don't make the mistake of not buying this mask, or any other defensive mask, for your player(s), even if the 'chin cup is always falling off'. Go to the local store, spend about $1.50 on some black electrical tape, and tape the chin cup to the bottom bar and over the velcro. I did this very same thing to three of our players' masks on our team. A $2.00 solution to avoid a $2,000.00 potential nightmare.
Penny wise or pound foolish.
BTW, you ask about the visor? Here's a hint: sunglasses. Get the polarized ones made for fishing. Cheap, do a great job reducing glare and really bright sunlight, plus look cool and intimidating (what the girls say) if you get the mirror finish ones (orange or blue).
