Batting Helmets - How to choose the right one

One of the most overlooked pieces of equipment on the diamond seems to always be batting helmets. Many people do not know how to find the right batting helmet. Often people put themselves at risk by wearing helmets that don't fit correctly. If you are one of those people looking for new batting helmets this guide will walk you through what to look for to make sure you stay comfortable and safe on the diamond. The key to searching for batting helmets is finding the right combination of safety and comfort. Batting helmets are by no means the most stylish or comfortable piece of equipment you will wear but the difference between a helmet that fits and one that doesn't can be life and death. To make sure you are getting the right size helmet you should use measuring tape to get an accurate measurement of your head. This will make it easier to connect it with the sizes used by most manufacturers like Easton and Rawlings. How Should It Fit? Batting helmets should fit snugly over the head without being too tight. Newer batting helmets usually has thicker padding than older models and may feel tight at first. The helmet should be somewhat tight without constricting the head too much or causing pain. The most important part of the batting helmet fit is that it does not move around when the head moves. If the helmet shifts or moves around the head in anyway it can be extremely dangerous. A batting helmet like the Easton Z5 or the Demarini Protégé uses special designs modeled around the shape of the head and face. If the helmet moves at all, the padding and impact absorbers will not be able to function properly.   The brim of batting helmets should sit around 1 inch above the eyebrows. The brim of the batting helmet should not be pointing up, down, or side to side. Leaving the brim of the batting helmet too high on your head leaves your forehead exposed to potential impact. If the brim is pushed down to low, the back of your head may be also be dangerously exposed. It is important to remember that a batting helmet does not just protect you at the plate. A batting helmet also keeps you safe on the base paths and in the on-deck circle. Head protection on the base paths is often overlooked. The danger of running the bases is that most of the time you are not watching the ball. We rely heavily on our base coaches for when to run and when to stop so it is harder to anticipate the ball than it is at the plate. This is especially true when diving back into 1st base on a pickoff attempt when the head is almost always facing away from the ball. Batting helmets that do not fit correctly put players at a particularly high risk during this play. Batting helmets tend to fall into two categories: Adult and Youth. Some manufacturers, like Easton, make the distinction using Junior and Senior. Another option is "one-size-fits-all," which uses flexible padding and popular designs to create a helmet that fits most heads. Batting Helmets like the Under Armour Carbon Tech is designed to fit comfortably over hat sizes ranging from 6 1/2 – 7 3/4. For those looking for a little bit of style, most batting helmets come in a multitude of colors that are sure to match most school and travel teams' uniforms. Rawlings and All-Star is are two of a handful of manufacturers that produces some of the most color batting helmets on the market.