With safety becoming more of a concern in baseball and softball, many leagues are requiring the use of protective masks or face guards for defensive players. If your league is one requiring defense masks for any position, the RIP-IT Defense Faceguard is definitely our top pick for faceguards to consider.
Comfort and Fit
Although it’s never quite comfortable wearing something up against your face, the RIP-IT Defense Faceguard isn’t bad compared to others masks I’ve tried. It’s still a slight annoyance, but I quickly became used to the feel of it as I continued wearing it.
The RIP-IT comes in an adult and youth size. This is a light weight mask, so no worries about it weighing down a player’s head. Thick foam padding on the forehead, temple, and chin, along with the adjustable harness, makes for a comfortable fit. The chin cup is also adjustable, so you can customize the fit to your face. The faceguard felt secure, like it would stay put even during an intense play. I was also pleased to find it fit well even with my hair in a pony tail.
Visibility
This mask, by far, has the best visibility for any defense faceguard on the market. The thin wire bars provides maximum protection with a minimal effect on range of vision. I was able to field ground balls, pop flies, and regular throws without a problem.
Protection
Don’t let the RIP-IT’s minimalist look fool you. The foam padding is soft and shock absorbing which provides optimal protection against strikes to the face and can help prevent serious injuries such as broken eye sockets or cheek bones and dental damage. Keep in mind, though, this mask does not have a full shell protecting the top or back of the skull. If you need full head protection, the Worth Softball Pitchers Helmet is your best choice.
Rating 4.5 of 5
This product would be good for you if: If you are looking for a light weight, comfortable mask that allows the best possible visibility, the RIP-IT Defense Faceguard is the one for you.
This product isn’t for you if: Some leagues require full head protection for pitchers and other infield positions. If this is true for your position, the RIP-IT isn’t for you, but the Worth Softball Pitchers Helmet would be perfect.
If you’d like to see what other protective masks are available, check out more defense faceguards at www.hitrunscore.com.
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Excellent review!
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Thanks, boballende! We have new reviews coming out all the time, so check back soon for more.
We are interested in this face mask but was told that my 17 year old daughter should order youth size not adult as the adult size will be too big. Anyone have a experience with sizes.
Hi Janet. I’m sorry for the late reply! For an average sized 17 year old girl, the youth size would probably be a bit too small. I would recommend going with the adult size.
Also, Schutt has a new defense face guard out that is one size for both adult and youth. It’s very similar to the Rip-It and is a good choice for players who are unsure what size they need. You can see this defense face guard online at http://www.hitrunscore.com/122100-schutt-fielders-guard.html.