SST Technology

SST Head Guards are constructed of Carbon Fiber; a material highly regarded for superior strength and lightweight properties.

The guards utilize the inner lining of most all baseball hats and provide coverage from the logo in the front to just behind the ear; the area most prone to impacts from a line drive.

With Carbon Fiber, not only do you get superior impact dispersion, you also get head protection that avoids being cumbersome. The Prospect Set for Youth pitchers weighs only 2.5 ounces while the Pro X Set weighs between 3 and 4 ounces depending on size.

A traumatic brain injury or TBI is a blow or jolt to the head that can cause pain, motor dysfunction, sensory or cognitive changes, and speech impairment.  The skull acts like a helmet protecting brain tissues from the impact of outside objects.  But the skull can be cracked, dented, and even penetrated with enough force.  Studies indicate that a skull fracture can occur when a batted ball is hit back at a pitcher traveling only a mere 58 mph.  In the 2012 major league baseball season, home runs averaged a ball exit velocity of 89 to 122 mph off the bat.

Though no helmet can guarantee an injury-free impact, our patented design can significantly reduce the risk of severe consequences (like a TBI or skull fracture).  SST Head guards are made of carbon fiber composites making them stiff, strong, and lightweight.  High density polyurethane padding on the inside of the guards adds comfort and protection.

A pitcher’s follow through can leave him a mere 55 feet from home plate on a standard 60 foot mound.  The impact of a line drive usually occurs to the side of the head due to a pitcher’s momentum.  SST head guards are designed to protect this exposed area for both right and left handed pitchers.  Available in individual right and left side pieces or together as a set, pitchers can choose to wear one piece or a set together in order to achieve maximum comfort based on their pitching style and preference.

Testing:

Using a premium data acquisition system, all SST products were put through a highly rigorous testing regimen. After hundreds of tests, we were able to determine that SST products yield an approximate 50% impact force reduction; a big deal when skull fracture can occur from an impact as little as 58 MPH. Data sheets for this testing can be provided upon request.

While we stand behind these results, it should be made clear that SST products do not guarantee that a pitcher /  player will remain injury free in such an incident. SST is not a helmet. No helmet or protective device currently in existence can make such a guarantee. Any product claiming to provide an injury-free level of protection should be avoided. Through testing, SST products have shown to greatly reduce the risk of high-level traumatic injury and should only be used as intended: protection for baseball pitchers and position players against line drives or deflections from a line drive.