Catching and Catchers discussion Do Your Pitchers Out-Pitch Your Catchers?

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We did some hi-speed filming at my catching camp last week I thought I'd share.

This is the best way I can present the idea that what catchers do with a pitch can give the pitch a look to the umpire we do not want.

The clip below shows such a pitch from the umpires view. The pitch was only 42MPH but thrown from 30ft away. That gives the catcher the same amount of reaction time as a 56MPH thrown from 40' or 60mph from 43'. The catcher was a 16U high school catcher.



Watch what occurs when the catcher gets to the ball late and catches the back of the ball.

Coach Weaver

 

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Catching coach,

I just received one of your clinic videos and was very impressed. I am buying what ever you are selling.

 

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I agree with this too. Knee Savers are lazy creators... and passed balls or not blocking balls will increase as catcher comfort set's in during a long weekend. I was a catcher since about 9 yrs old and had a good instructor (finally) once in high school and he too taught repetition and muscle toning as mentioned. Caught lots of doubleheaders and played till I was 22 and to this day no knee issues and I also skateboarded competitively for about 8 years. Should have been a double whammy on my knees... core strength is where it's at.

My DD became a better catcher once we took her Knee savers away and she had to work a little behind the plate. We have had more than one instructor say the same about them. They look good but let the girls get complacent, and this is trouble on a passed ball or wild pitch.

 

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A lot of good points on this thread. Learned a few things. Thanks.

 

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i have never once in my life used knee savers.... i really do think they make you lazy. my dad never used knee savers and he caught for 12 years and he has no knee problems at all.

 

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My DD became a better catcher once we took her Knee savers away and she had to work a little behind the plate. We have had more than one instructor say the same about them. They look good but let the girls get complacent, and this is trouble on a passed ball or wild pitch.

My feeling is if catchers use correct runners-on stances the knee saver can never be blamed for making a girl complacent.

Watch the 2 clips in the video of these 2 girls in their runners-on stance. They are no where near the knee savers and are in a very athletic position ready to execute the blocks in the drills. Click on the pic below and it will launch the first clip. You can select the 2nd clip in the preview box to the upper left.

If their stances are correct they will only be on their knee savers in their sign giving stance.

 

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My feeling is if catchers use correct runners-on stances the knee saver can never be blamed for making a girl complacent.

Watch the 2 clips in the video of these 2 girls in their runners-on stance. They are no where near the knee savers and are in a very athletic position ready to execute the blocks in the drills. Click on the pic below and it will launch the first clip. You can select the 2nd clip in the preview box to the upper left.

If their stances are correct they will only be on their knee savers in their sign giving stance.

Exactly. We use knee savers but also use different stances when runners are on so there is no problem with them relaxing.

 

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i have never once in my life used knee savers.... i really do think they make you lazy. my dad never used knee savers and he caught for 12 years and he has no knee problems at all.

Would your dad be the famous Lenski?;&

 

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great wisdom here..occaisionaly i actually seek the coache's forum for advice.. DD is a backup catcher (more of a utility now) but these little things go along way in terms of performance

 

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i am a catcher and i wear knee savers so i can relax when receiving and giving signs. whether a runner is on or not when my pitcher is ready i'm off of them ready to field a bunt, block a ball, throw someone out, or catch a pop up. i don't think knee savers make catchers lazy, players that aren't willing to put in 100% all the time make themselves lazy.

 

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i am a catcher and i wear knee savers so i can relax when receiving and giving signs. whether a runner is on or not when my pitcher is ready i'm off of them ready to field a bunt, block a ball, throw someone out, or catch a pop up. i don't think knee savers make catchers lazy, players that aren't willing to put in 100% all the time make themselves lazy.

crzy4sftball23, based upon your last response...I'll adopt that mentality and phrase if you don't mind.... :cap: Thanks for the feedback.