Alright, so the other day I decided to give this basketball face guard thing a try. You know, I’ve seen a few NBA players rocking them, and I figured, why not? My nose isn’t exactly made of steel, and let’s be honest, nobody wants to take an elbow to the face.
So, I went ahead and ordered one of those Mueller Face Guards. Yeah, I heard that’s what some of the pros use. It arrived pretty quick, and I immediately tried to put it on. It’s adjustable, which is good because I’ve got a bit of a big head. I fiddled with the straps for a bit, and it actually fit pretty snugly. It felt a little weird at first, like having a second skin or something, but not uncomfortable.
- First thing I did was just walk around the house with it on, get a feel for it.
- Then I went outside and shot some hoops.
- Visibility was decent. It didn’t really block my view or anything.
The real test came during a pickup game with the guys. Let me tell you, basketball is physical. There’s a lot of pushing and shoving, and sometimes you just end up in the wrong place at the wrong time.
During the game, there were a couple of times I could feel the guard doing its job. Once, I went up for a rebound and got smacked right in the face. Normally, that would have hurt like crazy, but with the guard on, it was just a dull thud. Another time, someone’s elbow came flying, and again, the guard took the hit. It was such a relief, honestly.
After the game, I took it off and inspected it. No cracks or anything. It held up pretty well. I gotta say, I’m pretty impressed with this thing. It’s definitely going to be a regular part of my basketball gear from now on.
My Conclusion
If you’re serious about basketball, or even if you just play casually and want to protect your face, I’d say it’s worth giving one of these face guards a shot. They’re not too expensive, they’re adjustable, and they actually work. Plus, you’ll look like a pro, and who doesn’t want that?
