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General Cricket => Cricket Training, Fitness and Injuries => Topic started by: play-yourself-in on February 22, 2016, 04:45:48 PM

Title: Wearing a helmet
Post by: play-yourself-in on February 22, 2016, 04:45:48 PM
The new league I'm about to start playing in stipulate that you must wear a helmet whilst batting.  This is something I have never done before (I'm quite old so played youth cricket way before the rule was bought in).

I've got a helmet but it feels so strange wearing it and God only knows how I'll get on batting with it.  At the moment to help me get used to it I'm wearing it around the house...God knows what the neighbours must think.

Any other pearls of wisdom on this subject, apart from net or practice in it?

Cheers
Title: Re: Wearing a helmet
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on February 22, 2016, 04:49:22 PM
If you find the grill obstructs your vision, simply put it on back to front like a 90s rapper wearing a baseball cap!

I say that in jest but I'd there any stipulation it has to be a cricket helmet? If you can't get on with it maybe a baseball stole helmet would be an alternative.
Title: Re: Wearing a helmet
Post by: trypewriter on February 22, 2016, 04:57:02 PM
I was in the same boat, but you just get used to them.
Title: Re: Wearing a helmet
Post by: Ayrtek Cricket on February 22, 2016, 04:58:23 PM
Takes a while before you start looking past the grille, bit like when you 1st start wearing glasses and notice them but after a while they become 2nd nature.
Title: Re: Wearing a helmet
Post by: smilley792 on February 22, 2016, 05:00:55 PM
Your doing the right thing. Wearing it around the house.

Just make sure it's doing some thing, make the tea do the garden. But of decorating.


Once your mind is on other things the grill will disappear and help you focus elsewhere.
Title: Re: Wearing a helmet
Post by: mcgill123 on February 22, 2016, 05:05:16 PM
I'm going to wear one for the first time this season, when I did my first net with it on I thought I was going to have to bin the idea, couldn't see past the grill, second net I wore it I forgot I had it on and didn't notice the grill or the extra weight.
Try a few nets and hopefully you will be good to go by the start of the season.
Title: Re: Wearing a helmet
Post by: Buzz on February 22, 2016, 05:51:33 PM
It took me about 5 years to find a lid I liked and 2 or 3 seasons of wearing it before I scored a ton wearing a lid. I then broke the lid in the next game.
Argh.
Good luck!
Title: Re: Wearing a helmet
Post by: brokenbat on February 22, 2016, 11:05:04 PM
The new league I'm about to start playing in stipulate that you must wear a helmet whilst batting.  This is something I have never done before (I'm quite old so played youth cricket way before the rule was bought in).

I've got a helmet but it feels so strange wearing it and God only knows how I'll get on batting with it.  At the moment to help me get used to it I'm wearing it around the house...God knows what the neighbours must think.

Any other pearls of wisdom on this subject, apart from net or practice in it?

Cheers

I would watch TV with my Masuri VS. Great way to get used to it, and its fun to wear new kit around the house! Also goes without saying....wear it all the time in the nets, even for throw downs etc.
Title: Re: Wearing a helmet
Post by: InternalTraining on February 23, 2016, 01:52:53 AM
Which helmet has the best vision? When I lower my head to play shots under my nose, the grill hits my chest ALL THE FLIPPIN' TIME!!! This leads to helmet bouncing all over my head. This protection comes at a steep cost to your ability to keep your head still and gaze focused on the point of contact. Cricket gear lacks technological innovations and progress! Everything is decades old.
Title: Re: Wearing a helmet
Post by: Ayrtek Cricket on February 23, 2016, 03:15:38 AM
Which helmet has the best vision? When I lower my head to play shots under my nose, the grill hits my chest ALL THE FLIPPIN' TIME!!! This leads to helmet bouncing all over my head. This protection comes at a steep cost to your ability to keep your head still and gaze focused on the point of contact. Cricket gear lacks technological innovations and progress! Everything is decades old.

Not strictly true, the compromise between passing the new test and the designs required restrict helmet manufacturers. Whilst our original design grille passed the penetration testing section at the peak/grille it sat too close to the chin of the headforms no-contact zone so we had to move it further away from the chin to pass in this area.

It's v frustrating as everyone's head shape and size differ, with the old design the bottom bar was nowhere near my chin personally ( I could for 3 fingers between the gap) you are obliged to confirm to what in the lab as that's where they set the standard to test too.

Mahela for example used to wear a youth size lid where the grille practically sat on his face, with new procedures this would fail testing as the grille would hit the face when having a ball fired at it.

Title: Re: Wearing a helmet
Post by: thegowerwaft on February 23, 2016, 04:41:20 AM
I would watch TV with my Masuri VS. Great way to get used to it, and its fun to wear new kit around the house! Also goes without saying....wear it all the time in the nets, even for throw downs etc.

Agree with this. When I first started using one, I even wore it when throwing a tennis ball against a wall. Make this harder by using a middling bat/ stump instead of your bat or use a smaller ball. Next to no time, I forgot I had a lid on. Good luck, it is a sensible move!
Title: Re: Wearing a helmet
Post by: Slogger on February 23, 2016, 05:10:50 AM
I once played in a competition with the same rule. I'm only 26 so played ALL my junior seasons in a helmet and never seemed to get past the grill. I stopped wearing a helmet halfway through my second year as a senior and never looked back.
In the lead up to the competition I tried training in one but really struggled. A team mate gave me an idea as the rule didn't stipulate that the helmet had to have a grill. I tracked down some of those rigid plastic ear guards and replaced a helmet grill with them. I wore that helmet all season (including finals) and it never became an issue. Maybe an option?
Title: Re: Wearing a helmet
Post by: 19reading87 on February 23, 2016, 07:21:35 AM
When I played junior cricket you had to wear a helmet ( I was playing against a lot of lads who were in the county set up ) so I've always just carried that into adult cricket. Personally I love wearing one as I tend to think it puts you into your own little bubble
Title: Re: Wearing a helmet
Post by: hilly_2015 on February 23, 2016, 08:09:35 AM
I only tend to wear a helmet when we end up playing a team with a nippy bowler. Otherwise I do without. Needless to say, I've never had a high score wearing one.
Title: Re: Wearing a helmet
Post by: Seniorplayer on February 23, 2016, 09:08:08 AM
I have 6 helmets  all different makes and couldnt   get used to any of them because I lost the ball in the grill in particular when looking downwards so I've lowered the grilles slightly to improve  my vision which has made a big difference but the ball can just about get through what tends to happen though is when the ball hits the top bar of the grill  rather than go through the gap the  ball is deflected  upwards into the peak of the helmet not an ideal solution but for me the slight risk of the ball getting through  the grill is worth it for  the extra visability gained.
Title: Re: Wearing a helmet
Post by: cricketbadger on February 23, 2016, 02:40:04 PM
Does the league also insist you wear a box and cricket spikes? seems ridiculous for a league to enforce the use of helmets
Title: Re: Wearing a helmet
Post by: Seniorplayer on February 23, 2016, 02:59:25 PM
Does the league also insist you wear a box and cricket spikes? seems ridiculous for a league to enforce the use of helmets

Maybe  it's to prevent failure duty  of care
Title: Re: Wearing a helmet
Post by: roco on February 23, 2016, 03:05:08 PM
What league is this in?
Title: Re: Wearing a helmet
Post by: play-yourself-in on February 23, 2016, 03:38:26 PM
It's in the U.S., all played on astro wickets which can have some crazy bounce on them.  I can see the thinking behind it but to be honest my batting is bad enough without adding more issues to it!
Title: Re: Wearing a helmet
Post by: roco on February 23, 2016, 03:43:03 PM
If league is enforcing it the only reason I can see is they have been advised legally to do it

I had this discussion with our board not long back and helmets are being strongly encouraged but there are no plans to make them mandatory as I think it will put too many off the game.

only thing to do is keep wearing it as much as you can till you get used to it. even watching from sidelines etc
Title: Re: Wearing a helmet
Post by: brokenbat on February 23, 2016, 05:42:51 PM
It's in the U.S., all played on astro wickets which can have some crazy bounce on them.  I can see the thinking behind it but to be honest my batting is bad enough without adding more issues to it!

your batting will NOT be negatively affected. Its all in the head. just religiously wear your helmet for throw downs, net practice etc etc. you just have to make sure you get the right size - the rest will be easy. just stick with it.

and if all else fails...just keep reminding yourself to..WATCH THE BALL. you'll be surprised how clearly you can still see it.
Title: Re: Wearing a helmet
Post by: Roaster323 on February 23, 2016, 07:18:51 PM
I decided to get a helmet for the new season but was worried about distraction and visibility but deciding it's better that than a busted eye socket busted teeth or worse the smart choice was a helmet. I decided to go for an Ayrtek Premiertek which I'm chuffed to bits with and can only echo the comments about keep wearing it, been wearing it for nets and coaching session I'm taking and I wouldn't do without it now
Title: Re: Wearing a helmet
Post by: sanredrose on February 23, 2016, 08:33:58 PM
Certain leagues in the USA have helmet restrictions. This is primarily for leagues which rent the ground from county or state. County baseball fields are the closest ones to cricket and these grounds have insurance requirements. I have heard of one such case in Carlsbad county - u can't bat in a softball game without a helmet ! The team will be issued a penalty (fine of some $$$) by the ground staff and the organizer of the league will be penalized for not enforcing the regulations. Pretty ridiculous, but sometimes leagues have to agree to certain stupid state regulations so that we can continue playing cricket.

I play my T20 games there and have worn my helmet always. For 40 over games, i have played near Los Angeles, they have proper grounds with proper wickets. No rule is enforced on wearing helmets though.
Title: Re: Wearing a helmet
Post by: kaartman on February 23, 2016, 09:37:53 PM
The new league I'm about to start playing in stipulate that you must wear a helmet whilst batting.  This is something I have never done before (I'm quite old so played youth cricket way before the rule was bought in).

I've got a helmet but it feels so strange wearing it and God only knows how I'll get on batting with it.  At the moment to help me get used to it I'm wearing it around the house...God knows what the neighbours must think.

Any other pearls of wisdom on this subject, apart from net or practice in it?

Cheers

Wear your helmet and watch T.V or play video games for few days.