Thanks for clearing that up.....
I do see your point, however, didn't a lot of people raise this type of protest when DYE released their playing jerseys with the built in padding a couple of years back??
Obviously, the forearm protection is approved so long as you do not wear an additional set of pads underneath (unless I'm still reading it wrong).
Taken from the DYE website "Contoured shoulder protection is also critical in helping to reduce the sting of close range bunker shots..."
Therefore, if you wear a DYE playing jersey, are you saying that you are not allowed to wear an under layer because of the shoulder padding....
or...
Do you have to cut away the area of t-shirt directly under the padding??
As stupid as that sounds it did get to that point because you will find the "allowed" limits seem to be changing every year.
You really don't think companies manufacturer that sort of detailing for real protection do you..... if you wanted protection you can and always have been allowed to use hard protection it's the foam type that we all know are designed to assist in gaining bouncers.
I remember a few years ago National brought out a shirt with built in "arm protection" and those were an absolute joke in the normal gun holding position it was like having a bounce shield in front of you, I made them change shirts or remove the padding because taking the pi** is not something that should happen and it only does if we let it.
So at what point do we say this is the line and no more..... who is playing the game, is anyone really saying they are unable to compete at tourney level with out wearing a bounce mat (and that is all it is lets be honest)
For years they was not in the game and it was fine, I do remember getting lit up a few times and having some real ugly bruises but guns have now been capped at 12bps they can shoot much more fragile paint than ever before which in itself hurts a dam sight less and if you are playing at the so called highest lever in Europe perhaps thats the paint that you should be using.
As for the Dye products you are referring to, I checked them out and to be completely honest with you I had no problem with them, it did as I am sure was their intention highlight the shirt in such a way that it looked better than others in the market place.
And as for reducing the sting or close range bunker shots ........ Well maybe it did ........ but marketing hype is also a possibility
The truth is some criteria must be laid down worldwide for the manufacturers to work to and we have to also realise it will be at least two years for it to implemented, the designs that are on the racks now was on the design board two years ago.
Russ