A simple but effective tip for those arm pad wearers out there, who use the removable Obo pads (which also give you more set-up options, if you think about it versus attached ones sewn into the body armour!), more specifically, is to tape them! With the design of the elbow pad that goes around the bone, rather than a hard shell fixed in place, you will see a lot of Obo arm pad users taping their pads to ensure the pad stays fixed in place and gives more flexibility when bending at the joint for those glove saves nearer the body. The tape helps hold the inner bicep protection in place for the newer range of Obo pads, whilst at the same time also helping keeping that bend at the joint for all important flexibility for those instantaneous reflex saves. Some electrical tape taped around the arm pad in this way, will help to keep the pad together and give important movement as stated. With taping, it essentially forces the foam into the bend that you need for that bending motion for save making whilst wearing the arm pads.
Otherwise eventually the padding can come loose or just become a nuisance! Like Filip Neusser’s (Czech international and great at indoor!) whose arm pads demonstrate. It’s not the greatest example, but you will be able to notice the effect and get the idea! So with taping, it’s simple but useful when keeping the arm pad together, also helping the pad bend at the joint, for when you turn and bend your arm for glove saves.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12608538@N03/8431574403/
One I did earlier like the Blue Peter saying is a poor attempt by myself to illustrate using some old Obo arm pads I have knocking around, to illustrate how it’s done. A quick bodge job but you get the idea and basics of it! Notice the taping centrally to keep that bend and movement, whilst also helping to keep the padding at the elbow in place and central, over the elbow, to provide all important coverage:
Here you can see Germany’s international second choice Reuss who uses Obo body armour and arm protection, with taping to hold the circular pad at the elbow in place and also to help keep the padding above the elbow (on the forearm) firmly in place:
And here is retired international Ali McGregor in his playing days with Loughborough Students with taped arm pads:
