It's a matter of finding a chin rest that works for you. I'm not sure what you are asking them to be rated on. You find one that's comfortable for you and works with your shoulder rest, etc. If you have a preferance you get a wooden one, or not.

I have two kinda' funny thoughts:

1. It is a relatively "modern' innovation - don't think they were used on violins prior to the 19th century.

2. They are misnamed - no one puts their chin on these things. It should be called a jaw rest.

A few additional thoughts and I'm sure not saying everyone would feel the same.  When I first started playing the fiddle I spent a lot of time worrying about having the chin rest fit right. I tried several kinds and finally found one that sorta' felt OK, but then maybe I was just getting used to playing and was more relaxed. As time went on, 5 years, now 10 years, I find I use the chin rest less and less. I still have chin rests on all my fiddles, but think i could do just as well with them off most of the time. Well maybe that depends on the tune I'm playing and wether it requires a position shift. A chin rest is pretty necessary if you do a lot of shifts. 

I love my chin rests. Without them, I wouldn't be able to play my fiddles for more than a few minutes without neck/face cramps rearing their ugly heads. I have three different brands on my three different fiddles, each of them a separate shape, but I was able to try each one at a fiddle shop before I bought them, and all of them work fine. Each rest allows a certain range of movement for my fiddles so I can easily adjust when my body wants a slightly different position. I have separate shoulder rests for my three fiddles, as well, each one fine-tuned to the fiddle it attaches to. It doesn't matter to me that shoulder rests and chin rests are rather recent innovations. It's okay that things evolve.

Your Chin Rest Is Actually a Jaw Rest... Caution Graphic content.

http://www.musicianshealthcollective.com/blog/2015/2/3/violinists-and-violists-your-chin-rest-is-actually-a-jaw-rest

Not saying I believe any of it. lol

I just took a look at that 'graphic content' - now, I don't want to hear any of you senior citizens whining that you're too old to play the fiddle!

I tried a Flesch (centered) chin rest recently but went back to the Guarneri style. I would rate it as 'OK', probably it could be better but I don't think it's holding me back or causing detriment, so likely I'll stick with it.

Not sure where the chin ends and the jaw begins but I think my chin is largely involved in contacting the rest, contrary to what was stated above.

My main thing about chin rests is that I'm allergic to the metal brackets. Most metal brackets in chin rests have loads of nickel in them, and it makes my neck break out. I used Wittner plastic "composite" chin rests (on my 2 fiddles) for a while. I'm now using wood chin rests with titanium brackets that I bought as replacement components, and that works fine too. I only switched styles because, I don't know, I thought it would be fun to try something different. I try not to rely on my chin rest, but it's nice to have a little something there since I don't use a shoulder rest.

Hey, Meade, are you shopping for a chin rest? It's pretty hard to tell what you're trying to learn from your OP. I guarantee that everyone here has different opinions on the subject.

Chinrest on center is for folks with short arms; to the left (assuming right-handed) is for longer arms. This is to make the arm angles correct. All assuming classical violin and bow-hold.

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Originally posted by Earworm

Hey, Meade, are you shopping for a chin rest? It's pretty hard to tell what you're trying to learn from your OP. I guarantee that everyone here has different opinions on the subject.

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Good to see you posting--so I assume you didn't get tornadoed.

Flat_the_3rd_n7th Well, no, but some areas around did get hit pretty hard, I hear. There, but for the grace of God ... as they say. It's nice of you to ask.

I'd wager that most of the folks on the FHO have spare shoulder and chin rests in a box somewhere around the house.   I have a few "spares" of each item, as well.

The best advice is to go to a shop where they will allow you to try different chin rests. 

I've been playing for a few months with no chin rest on both of my fiddles.  Just shoulder rests.   I like that method the best but I was getting some wear on the fiddle top.  So, I cut some 1/16" foam for my jaw to rest on and it works pretty well.   No "class", I know, but there's no one here to judge me.

A week or so ago, I ordered a Wittner side mount chin rest just for the heck of it and put it on and liked it once I got my shoulder rest placed in the best position.   I liked it for a few days but then swapped shoulder rests and things were different and I couldn't get "dialed in" again, even with the original shoulder rest.   I'm sending it back and will go back to the thin pad.   If the Wittner had been just a little lower in height, I think it might have worked better for me.   I really liked the way it clamps to the fiddle.  No metal allergy problems with this rest and it's a breeze to put on, move and take off.  If I could have figured out how to lower it, I might have kept it.

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Originally posted by Flat_the_3rd_n7th

Chinrest on center is for folks with short arms; to the left (assuming right-handed) is for longer arms. This is to make the arm angles correct. All assuming classical violin and bow-hold.

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Don't you mean the other way around? Moving the chin rest from left to center puts the fiddle further away, so a longer reach. 

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Originally posted by JonD

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Originally posted by Flat_the_3rd_n7th

Chinrest on center is for folks with short arms; to the left (assuming right-handed) is for longer arms. This is to make the arm angles correct. All assuming classical violin and bow-hold.

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Don't you mean the other way around? Moving the chin rest from left to center puts the fiddle further away, so a longer reach. 

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No.  The idea is for a player to be able to use the bow all the way out to the tip without running out of arm, so moving the fiddle a little higher up the shoulder is effectively an 'arm extension'

Neither. The instrument goes in the same spot on the collarbone regardless of the chinrest. Even though the clamps are over the tailpiece, the cup falls to the left on most center mounted rests. The Flesch is more central, but it’s the only design that places the cup right over the middle, and even then, the jaw lies mostly to the left of center. Using a side mount vs. center mount has no bearing on the bow arm. It’s more to do with accommodating the jawbone.

I would give mine a 10. A year or two ago I was suffering from some shoulder pain and finally had to accept that it could have something to do with my fiddle posture. After ~15 years of fiddling, I went back to experimenting with shoulder rests, but I found that I still could not find a comfortable shoulder rest option that didn't put my fiddle at an odd angle. I finally stumbled across the Kreddle chin rest - it is so adjustable, I was able to get it to a comfortable height and angle that allowed me to improve my posture. I also use their Kreddle cushion that gives me a better anchor on the bottom of the fiddle without adding much height. Here's a link if you want to check it out: https://www.kreddle.com/

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Originally posted by The Violin Beautiful

Neither. The instrument goes in the same spot on the collarbone regardless of the chinrest. Even though the clamps are over the tailpiece, the cup falls to the left on most center mounted rests. The Flesch is more central, but it’s the only design that places the cup right over the middle, and even then, the jaw lies mostly to the left of center. Using a side mount vs. center mount has no bearing on the bow arm. It’s more to do with accommodating the jawbone.

I am curious, when one raises the fiddle and looks at the scroll with the left eye closed (with head straight, not leaning in), which string points directly in a line to the right eye? For me it's either the D string or a line directly between the G and D strings. Small shifts in the collarbone/fiddle contact point change this vector, and somehow I always come back to this position as optimal.  I imagine different players have a different 'optimal' alignment, within a small range. Does this make sense?

I cannot find an image online of anyone using the Flesch mount, so I am not sure of its usefulness.

Anne-Sophie Mutter, one of the current top violinists in the world, is the most famous user of the Flesch. Many players have chosen it after watching her. It’s not nearly as popular as the Guarneri or Kaufman models, but it’s one people ask for often enough. Wittner makes a center mounted chinrest that is similar.

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Originally posted by The Violin Beautiful

Anne-Sophie Mutter, one of the current top violinists in the world, is the most famous user of the Flesch. Many players have chosen it after watching her. It’s not nearly as popular as the Guarneri or Kaufman models, but it’s one people ask for often enough. Wittner makes a center mounted chinrest that is similar.

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Yes, she tucks in the fiddle quite high compared to, for example,  Hilary Hahn (see below).  Obviously it works for her!

Rich, I'm really interested in this aspect of the fiddle position as it's been a real struggle for me to get right and not knowing all the parameters! Thanks for your comments.

And robinja, thanks for the tip on the Kreddle chin rest and cushion... I will check them out.  

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Originally posted by JonD

I am curious, when one raises the fiddle and looks at the scroll with the left eye closed (with head straight, not leaning in), which string points directly in a line to the right eye? For me it's either the D string or a line directly between the G and D strings. Small shifts in the collarbone/fiddle contact point change this vector, and somehow I always come back to this position as optimal.  I imagine different players have a different 'optimal' alignment, within a small range. Does this make sense?

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I'm looking between the G & D string. 

The Kreddle is an interesting product. I’ve put some on for customers and found them easy to adjust, if a wide range of positions is what you seek. They look a little weird when they’re high, but so do all tall chinrests.

I thought I'd post an update.  I didn't send my Wittner side mount, composite, back.  I really like the method of attachment of the Wittner when compared to the conventional mounting method.    After adjusting the chin rest and shoulder rest over a period of time, I got everything "dialed in" and I really like the Wittner. 

Just moving the Wittner side mount a bit finally gave me results that I liked.   And, it's really easy to switch the chin rest over to another fiddle that is not equipped with one.  I really like the mounting and clamping arrangement on the Wittner and am even contemplating buying one for the fiddle that I don't play much that doesn't have a chin rest on it.

WyoBob -- you got me to put the fiddle on my shoulder to test my position. In any event, I see that my position/fiddle angle is pretty much exactly like yours. My line of sight is just a hair to the left of the D string.

Never even thought about it before but it looks like mine is a "Teka"? it fits my jawbone and i use it with no shoulder rest, with no problems. The fiddle just sticks out at about 80 or 90 deg and i could walk about with it for hours there with no other support.

i have not been using one fro a year or two , I like it with none it seems to fit flatter on my jaw, I have to use a higher shoulder rest though , still doing minor adjustments to find the perfect spot though,