How to Choose a Batting Helmet

When you're shopping for a batting helmet, you want to consider several things before making a purchase. Baseball can be quite dangerous; if your head lacks proper protection, it can even be fatal. No matter what age you are, you need a batting helmet when you're at the plate and you need to be certain that you're choosing the right batting helmet.

A batting helmet should cover the back, top and sides of your head. They should also cover at least one ear. For right-handed batters, the left ear should be covered and vice versa for left-handed batters. This protects the ear that will have a ball coming towards it and allows the batter to hear the umpire with their other ear. There are also batting helmets that cover both ears available as well.

The batting helmet should fit securely on the head without squeezing the head. It should be easy to take on and off as well. Additionally, a secure batting helmet should not fall forward over the eyes. A secure fit is important in a batting helmet, as it could cause more damage to a player if it were to get hit by a ball.

All batters, base runners, bat-boys, bat-girls, and catchers are required to wear a batting helmet. Catchers and bat-boys and girls usually wear a flapless batting helmet with no ear protection. After the recent death of Tulsa Drillers first base coach Mike Coolbaugh, many base coaches are electing to wear batting helmets as well. Coolbaugh was hit in the head with a line drive. Batting helmets were not required in the MLB until 1971. Ron Santo of the Chicago Cubs was the first to wear an earflap helmet in the game.

You can find several affordable batting helmets online at HomeRunMonkey.com.