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[Ayrtek Cricket]

International players may find it important. However this is a forum full of clubbies.
As good as everyone likes to think they are, how many truthfully face bowlers sending it down at 79mph on a regular basis?

This was the debate that was had wit the BSI committee and the fact that the popularity of bowling machines has increased which means more people could be exposed to speeds in excess of what we would normally come up against during a match situation.

I know I've witnessed the youths at my club messing about seeing if they can face 80mph from the machine to see if they get anywhere near it!

[WalkingWicket37]

I decided to crudely test this out, not wanting to dismantle any helmets to weigh just the grille

Okay, so 2 and a bit months later my curiosity got the better of me and I decided to dismantle some helmets to weigh just the grilles...

My findings were:

Single bat steel grille - 423 grams
Single bar titanium grille - 252 grams
Double bar titanium grille - 245 grams

Please note these weights include the ear foams and any additional tape, so are not truly like for like. They do however give a good indication of the difference (or similarity) in weight between different models.

Single bar steel


Single bar titanium


Double bar titanium

[Mfarank]

Double bar titanium was lighter than single bar titanium... Interesting.

[WalkingWicket37]

Yeah, that surprised me a bit. As it's only 7 grams I'm thinking the tape may be a contributing factor, and obviously natural variation in manufacturing.

I've applied all the grilles back to the lids now, and I don't intend on removing them again and removing the ear pads etc. Haha

[AJ2014]

Last summer in the net a new bowler bowled to me, his first delivery jumped from so close to me that I couldn't react to it, and the ball hit me full on the grill! At that time I was wearing Albion classic steel grill helmet. Felt blow on the grill, that's it. Played next delivery as of nothing was happened! Wouldn't say that delivery was quick but it was definitely crisp
Checked later the grill, couldn't see even a scratch.
Since then I've bought Masuri Test Titanium Helmet, which is definitely lighter than Albion one.
You don't want to get hit on the grill, but if you do, then want to be safe and sound.
I think steel grill helmets are as good as titanium ones when come with higher range helmets.

[edge]

Yeah, that surprised me a bit. As it's only 7 grams I'm thinking the tape may be a contributing factor, and obviously natural variation in manufacturing.

I've applied all the grilles back to the lids now, and I don't intend on removing them again and removing the ear pads etc. Haha

There's other differences besides just the top bar that will make up some of the weight. Want to check something interesting? Get the verniers out and see how thick the two ti grilles are and if there's any difference.

[SurreySam]

Both titanium grilles use a mix of different gauge wire - 4mm & 5mm.

There will be natural variance in helmets due to amount of weld used in the grille and also hot glue used to fix the material cover.