Playing without a mask

[RetroEclipseMan]

Yeah, I've seen refs with only goggles on but I don't think I'd play without one. I have my flex 7 flipped up with soft ear peices but that's as far as I'll go. I also don't see the advantage of removing all those pieces since you really won't gain all that much ventalation. If you're worried about fogging the lens then get a good a thermal lens and a vortex fan and you should be set.

[fyse0]

hm.

im sure anyone who's been gogged a good amount of times will tell you your insane hehe. I would never dare play without face part. Ever been shot in the back of the hand, oh the pain.. its so painful because of the lack of meat. Imagine being shot in the jaw, LIPS (which will be bitten and carved up by your mouth if they get shot), cheeck (NOT EVEN A BONE THERE).. temple (ha! look at him sleeping on the paintball feild ko'd).. yea ok just huff it out dude, and for my own personal opinion (not a fact) but the guys i play with and myself are synnical enough to teach you a lesson and AIM for ure face! haha oh the joy... .. naw maybe thats too mean... maybe..

[speedyejl]

You'll be a lot better off getting a new mask. I owned a Proteus, then got my proflex (Flex-7 w. lots of soft parts). The difference was amazing, the face part is further away from your mouth which makes breathing soo much easier. Honestly it makes a huge difference.

I had a X-wind on my Proteus, can't say it did much. The Vortex is two way, but its probably not worth $30.

[NJsyndicate]

Actually anyone remeber back in the day when the Ironmen (and a couple other big tourney teams of the time) used to play with just goggles or that 1/2 mask JT used to make (kinda like a spectra flex-7 with the soft part cut off)? Anyway, don't think I'm hardcore enough to try that. Like some of the other guys said been shot in some senstive areas (neck, hands, etc) and it hurt like a *****, not to mention the mark it left. Have a hard enough time explaining the welts on my body to my girlfriend , don't know what she'd think if I came home with a couple on the kisser .

[TheJester]

well seeing that about 80% of my hits are to hte mask, i don't get hit in the body anymore, it's either the shoulder, or mask (that's all that's showing) so i wouldn't recomend it...imagine if you were to catch 1 IN the mouth...it's possible, not probable, but it's possible, i know i've had a few that if i didn't have a mask i would gotten smacked in the mouth, not just get paint and a little bit of shell in my mouth

[minimag187]

Yes,with my spectra thermal I got years ago ,I still have got shot in the neck with it, but not the cheeks (ouch). I may get something new, because it seems its hard to breath sometimes.

[The Frymarker]

I don't know, I wouldn't do it. I went with a Scott mask just because it had hard plastic and not the JT Flexize I wanted more protection.

Even being a ref, if you are hard core and doing your job you do get hit, I got hit quite a few times in the face being a ref, I don't think I would ever just wear goggles.

Another point I see is okay the bottom of the mask is cut off, usually I know when I play if you are running or even in stand still play I find myself breathing with my mouth open, maybe it is some from running and some from adrenaline. But if your mouth is open and you happen to get shot there, I would think that would be rather dangerous.

Getting hit in the ear also I would think would do major damage, the inner ear is very fragile and can burst with sound, now imagine the pressure placed on it from a paintball, I would think there would be damage.

I thought that Tourneys had to have strict rules regarding equipment?

[lopxtc]

I use to play all the time back in the mid to late 90's with nothing more then my goggles and the old style ear protection that you could buy for the whipper snappers ...

I use to love how much better that felt, and the fact that my glasses no longer fogged up by my breath being deflected upwards into my goggles.

I did take several hits to my upper lip but nothing major ... and old trick (I believe the Ironmen did this) was to puff up your cheecks before you lean out to look/shoot ... one it softens the impact should you get hit, but believe it or not it can also cause a slowed down ball to bounce.

I believe to each their own, but unfortunately the legal system tends to award stupid people so I do side with fields makeing you wear full protection.

Aaron

[mykroft]

Try the Invisions, they're very minimal. The bottom of the maskwill not block your breathing if you open your mouth.

[NiteWolf1138]

Originally posted by The Frymarker
Getting hit in the ear also I would think would do major damage, the inner ear is very fragile and can burst with sound, now imagine the pressure placed on it from a paintball, I would think there would be damage.

I believe Fry is right, if you get hit in just the right spot, bye bye ear drum.

That and can you imagine neon pink or green ear wax.... EWWWWWWW.

[beam]

The first time I played was the fall of '92. All I had was goggles...no full face or ears protection.

I actally got hit on my left ear lobe. Did do anything other than knock the diamond out of the stud earing I was wearing!

I can't believe that is how we played.

[BTAutoMag]

i believe my dealer has an old moskito mask for slae thats like that

[hitech]

I've seen what a shot in the upper lip can do (shot a ref there, long story). It gives you a large fat lip. Looked really painfull. He talked kinda funny too. Nothing I'd want anything to do with.

[Phil]

I noticed a BIG difference in my V-Force mask vs my old JT Flex. The V is farther from your face and much cooler. Try one on and see if it works for you.

[Benfica4ever]

Thats not a good idea, but if your fat get some slim fast j/k