By Rick Grantham

Once upon a time baseball was a game of wooden bats and grass stained jeans on a carefree summer afternoon. However, today the bats are high-tech, almost like metal weapons and the players seem to be ready for battle instead of a game. Of course safety is the number one concern for all sports and baseball is no different.

First and foremost you should be aware of the NOCSAE (National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment) as they have been a driving force in an effort to improve athletic equipment and reduce injuries. How to choose batting helmets is only a small portion of their guidelines. When you learn how to choose batting helmets you will realize that paying for top of the line baseball helmets are worth every single cent that is spent on them. This is an even more important when you are talking about regular baseball (fast pitch).

Keep in mind that polyethylene type shells (as well as a strong polycarbonate) are guaranteed to resist an impact even from a line drive or even fastballs. However, baseball helmet manufacturers do deny responsibility for an injury that was caused by using the equipment improperly, which is something that happens all too frequently. The reason that these injuries occur, most often with youngsters it is because they feel their helmets are uncomfortable or clumsy.

Knowing how to choose batting helmets is vital to the player's safety. When a helmet does not fit well there is a chance that the players view may become obstructed and this may result in a player not being able to see quickly enough and is not able to get out of the way if, for example, the ball gets away from the pitcher or even the catcher. This is something that can happen in any league all the way from little league up to the pros, there is no boundary when talking about wild pitches or throws. How to choose batting helmets is a top priority for everyone's safety.

There are some areas of well-built batting helmets that you should always be aware of and one of those must-haves is a padded (with foam) interior that acts like a shield of the head, keeping it away from the outer shell. Another important feature is to be sure there is some type of rear adjustable strap that will help the helmet fit looser or tighter (whichever is needed). They are not on the older model helmets much but they have been known to crop among the newer ones.

Knowing how to choose batting helmets involves another important feature which is to make sure that the helmet has some type of ventilation at the ear holes or on the top, actually having it in both places works best. This actually helps get kids used to keeping their helmets on. Not just when they are batting but also if they are on deck or even on a base.

And finally, when learning how to choose batting helmets it is advisable to get one that also has a chinstrap. Obviously this is to help keep the helmet on the head instead of flying off after some type of impact, which of course then lessens the chance of an injury.

Rick Grantham is the owner of BooYahVillage.com, an online sports retailer. He has written numerous articles on sporting goods, sporting tips, and fan gear.
Source:www.isnare.com