default
Member
Concerning gamefaces/facemasks:
I'm not gonna get into the creepy thing or someone's knowlege or lack of knowlege concerning the game......but here's my take on the Gameface.
Do Gamefaces impair a players vision? You bet they do. Do I blame a player for wearing one? Not at all. Why? Bat technology. The bats are way too hot. Sure, the softballs have been dumbed down a bit but not enough to compensate for the advancement of bat technology. These new bats can literally turn an anemic hitter with poor mechanics into a hitter that on occasion absolutely crushes the ball. When you put one in the hands of a strong hitter with very good mechanics they become an absolute hitting monster capable of causing severe damage to anything that's close to them.
I've been around this game for quite a while. My aunt played softball at a high level on the east coast. Back then the pitching distance was closer, the bases were the same, the ball was hard as a rock, and the bats were wood. Also, the players on average were not near as big nor as strong as they are today. Not once in all the games I watched her play did I ever see a hitter crush the ball like I have seen at your typical 18u travel tournament.
The combination of bigger and stronger athletes coupled with the hot bats of today does equal a concern for safety. That is why it does not bother me if a player wears a Gamface or a Heartguard for that matter. These items would not be around in the game today if it was not for the bats.
Len
I'm not gonna get into the creepy thing or someone's knowlege or lack of knowlege concerning the game......but here's my take on the Gameface.
Do Gamefaces impair a players vision? You bet they do. Do I blame a player for wearing one? Not at all. Why? Bat technology. The bats are way too hot. Sure, the softballs have been dumbed down a bit but not enough to compensate for the advancement of bat technology. These new bats can literally turn an anemic hitter with poor mechanics into a hitter that on occasion absolutely crushes the ball. When you put one in the hands of a strong hitter with very good mechanics they become an absolute hitting monster capable of causing severe damage to anything that's close to them.
I've been around this game for quite a while. My aunt played softball at a high level on the east coast. Back then the pitching distance was closer, the bases were the same, the ball was hard as a rock, and the bats were wood. Also, the players on average were not near as big nor as strong as they are today. Not once in all the games I watched her play did I ever see a hitter crush the ball like I have seen at your typical 18u travel tournament.
The combination of bigger and stronger athletes coupled with the hot bats of today does equal a concern for safety. That is why it does not bother me if a player wears a Gamface or a Heartguard for that matter. These items would not be around in the game today if it was not for the bats.
Len