Catcher Myth #53 Catchers should set up in a low stance for drop or drop curve pitches.... Catchers that use a high-hip runners on stance are often coached or encouraged to change their stance when calling for a drop ball, drop curve or knuckle ball. The coachs thinking is logical enough, keep close to the ground to prevent pitches in the dirt from getting past you. The higher yo are, the longer it takes you to get to the ground to block. Its not that simple. The most effective blocking technique (IMO) is for the catcher to drop straight down from stance and use their chest protector to block pitches in the dirt. Catchers that fall forward to block push the ball away from them from the forward momentum they develop as they fall forward. This is why we teach our catchers to drop straight down. They drive the pitch into the ground in front of them so as to recover the ball and throw would-be base stealers out. We see this from 10U to college age catchers. As we look at video side by side clips of the same catcher, we see her blocking from a high hip runner-on pitcher on the right (made earlier this year) and a lower no-runner on stance to the left. (They have been using this stance for drop and drop curves) We timed knees to ground and glove to ground on both videos to compare the effectiveness of each blocking technique. The low-stance block took our catcher .40 seconds to get her knees planted and .53 seconds to get her glove to the ground to prevent a pitch in the dirt from getting past her. With the higher runner on stance, she took .36 seconds to plant her knees and .43 seconds to get her glove to the ground! She was faster to block yet further from the ground! Why? A catcher in a low hip stance has to push up to rotate her torso to the proper blocking position. The hips have to rise as the feet tuck in. As they raise their hips and rotate, the glove is briefly suspended in the air until they start their body motion to the ground. The catcher in the higher runner on stance already has her torso in position to block! The glove can drop immediately since the catcher doesnt have to push up first. Thus it is actually faster to block drop balls, drop curves and knuckle balls from a higher stance! We must also consider the safety risk of the catcher bringing their hand around their body to block these pitches. The hand is exposed to a bad hop or a foul tip that could result in broken fingers and torn ligaments. (We have seen it happen) Catchers who are in the process of learning and developing their blocking technique will miss some pitches in the dirt. Patience must be exercised by parents and coaches as it takes several months to recognize and block pitches in the dirt and have it become second nature. Once developed, let your catcher prove themselves before changing what has become second nature to them.
Posted on: Sun, 21 Sep 2014 00:41:42 +0000
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