i keep spraining my thumb

A very common fix for this problem is the "hard thumb". Hard thumb is a name given to a thermal plastic splinting material that is heated in hot water and then formed around your thumb. You can either leave this "hard thumb" in your catcher's mitt or remove it whenever you remove your mitt. Check with your local medical supplier or an sports medicine facility to get more information.
Fungo

yeah, i had that same problem. i found that after i got used to catching with that glove ( a mizuno as well) it got better. i hear that the hard thumb does help a lot tho

Youngsters can consider a palm protector cathcers glove and then tape up the thumb. When you begin catching the real heat, then you'll need the hard thumb for sure.

Get a good underglove. I like the STASH brand
or Palmguard. Make sure the mitt you use fits your hand properly, especially the thumb area.
Don't buy a mitt because a certain pro uses it.
Buy one that works for you and since your a catcher strengthen your hands and fingers. Its as important to you as the other strength training.

Son had the same problem. He got a hard thumb like Fungo is referring to made at a local rehab center. We were able to get some of the material and I made one. Get the pliable material, drop it into boiling water. Form around the thumb. It will harden, then you put a small layer of foam around it. No more problems with the thumb.

Try the Akadema Praying Mantis glove. It has a "break" in the thumb pad that helps prevent jamming the thumb.

I feel ya buddy

One day before our season opener,I dislocated my throwing thumb.Returned one week later only to reagrivate the injury.What a wasted year,but I look forward to the summer ahead.

One thing Ill always do from now on is wear a padded batting glove under my mitt,to tkae away some pressure

I hurt my thumb twice when I was playing in college - late moving fastball just caught me right both times. It actually kept hurting for a couple years AFTER I stopped playing.

What I found helped since it was an injury that wouldn't just go away was to not put my glove on all the way. I would put about about 2 - 3 inches of my palm outside of the glove meaning my fingers were barely inside the finger holes.

If a curve or change or something like that was coming I would put my hand deeper in to make sure I had better control of my hand catching the ball. Now I know what you are thinking I would be giving away pitches by moving my glove. What I did was after giving the sign I would put my throwing hand over the top edge and make it look like I was folding it over - I actually was sliding the glove up and down my hand.

I had pretty strong hands and forearms back in the day so that is how I didn't lose anything when it came to framing.

quote:

Try the Akadema Praying Mantis glove. It has a "break" in the thumb pad that helps prevent jamming the thumb.

I agree with you. My son switched to this glove and had no more problems with his thumb getting jammed or injured.