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knee savers were originally designed for older catchers who had been catching for 20+ years. i see so many young catchers wearing them to protect their knees. when i see a young kid wearing them i always ask which type of surgery they had on their knees. my point is that if they are worried about their knees at that age, they are at the wrong position. catching at a young age will help to develop and strengthen their legs. wearing the knee savers makes the kids too comfortable back their and that causes laziness. unless they rise off of them with guys on base or with 2 strikes, it limits their blocking and overall pop times. kids wear them due to the fact that they see big leaguers wearing them.. nothing more... they look cool and everyone wants them. kids dont need them, and if they want to protect their knees, then dont allow them to set up sitting on the insides of their feet with their knees collapsed in.
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quote:
if they want to protect their knees, then dont allow them to set up sitting on the insides of their feet with their knees collapsed in.


CatchaProspect,

Well said, this is so common in the young players I see, ages 8-12. I cringe when I see them rolled over onto the insides of their feet with their knees pinched in (I like your term collapsed as well).

Besides being just tough to move around in that position, the stress it puts on the knees is significantly more then if the youngster is in a correct position with the entire bottom of his foot in contact with the ground. Then the knees bend the way they're built to bend.
I understand what you are saying about little league players wearing them(because quite honestly the games are light and not terribly challenging)

With that said,I have no problem with the High school or college/pro catcher wearing them.I personally wear them.
-When you are working bullpens,its a great thing to have.
-It doesnt slow a pop time if you throw and use proper footwork
-It doesnt make you lazy,chances are you were already lazy and have poor work habits if you are "lazy" behind the plate.

For little league players,I agree 100% they shouldnt use them,but at the upper levels,its helpful in not relying 100% on your knees.
I agree that they don't "make" someone lazy. That is the makeup of the individual. To offer an opposing viewpoint about kneesavers being for older guys to save their knees, how about using them when you're a little younger to "SAVE" your knees? They are called kneesavers, probably for a reason.

Could it be that catchers who've used them from maybe 15 or 16 years old and onward will have better knees in their 20's and 30's than the guys who don't? I know where I'd bet ont that one.
who started wearing them... sandy alomar jr, because of the abuse his knees took over his career... saving their knees now so they'll have them in their 20's? if they set up correctly, they dont need them. plus, by the time they are in their 20s, about 95% of them will be reduced to some summer league a couple times a week.. i don't mind them for bullpens, however this is a tough position both mentally and physically... i just cant seem to comprehend how all of a sudden high school and middle school kids must save their bodies due to the work load they have behind the plate.... guys are doing it every day from the middle of february to the end of september without them. technique saves your knees, not cushions. and if you are too comfortable with them, you will sit back which can affect blocking and throwing... that being said, if you are off of them with guys on base or with 2 strikes -- then they dont become an issue....its the kids sitting all the way down on them who wonder why they arent blocking well or throwing people out that this post applies too.

tip of the day: to decrease your time to second, keep your hands close to your body on your transfer (like an infielder turning 2). this will allow your arm to get into its proper slot and to be in sinc with the rest of your body. by reaching out you have to catch the ball, open the glove, reach inside, grab the ball, grip the ball, bring your arm back, step and throw... when this happens you'll tend to see the arm drag and cause the ball to tail
I have worn them for about ummm, probably 6 years or so. I have been playing for about 10 though. WHen I started, I never wore them, because I was a kid, and didn't feel the difference. Then, I went to a tryout, and left my shin guards at home, and borrowed another kids. He had kneesavers, and I was like "wow, these really do relieve the pressure on my knees" I went out and bought some. I will say, they do help improve endurance, especially during those long innings and games. Last year I started using them only in bullpen, and some in practice, but then I injured my knee and had to have surgery, so I'm back on them. Haven't gotten to use them much, its only been a month, but I will have to use them. I have never noticed them to be obstructive in anyway.

I used to have trouble blocking, partly because I sat all the way back on the knee savers, and partly because I'd never really known how to do it. I learned last year (yeah, kinda late, but better late than never), and I am getting better at it.

Knee savers must be used as knee savers, not as knee rests. They can't be used all the time, because you're being lazy, but if you never use them, why have them at all. There is a fine line between genius and insanity, the same goes for using knee savers.
Let your legs develop. Young catchers are doing themselves such an injustice by wearing them, they arent letting their legs develop. If in your mind your asking yourself whether to wear knee savers or not... consider this, when knee savers first came out it was because Javy Lopez started wearing them. Why? because he just had knee SURGERY! if you have had knee surgery or any knee damage then yes, knee savers are fine and basically necessary, but if you havent had knee surgery or no knee problems, please don't dare pick up a pair of them things. And I highly doubt any of you current catchers in here have had knee surgery yet, so keep them off and let your legs develop and create the proper muscle memory to catch at higher levels of the game, and if you absolutly need them things, and you havent had knee surgery, you need to find another position.
I have worn knee savers for about 4 seasons now. I personally do not think it's bad to wear knee savers. Since most knee problems are hereditary and my family does not have a good history with knees. I think it would be smart to cut the risk of injuring my knees by wearing them. In fact my brother has had his second knee surgery today with in a two-year period. My assistant coach last year told me knee savers are for lazy catchers. I was amazed he said that because at a UT game last year both the catchers suited out were wearing knee savers. I thought to myself if the catchers that play for one of the best baseball programs in the nation are wearing them, than it's not a bad thing. Personally I believe we should use the new innovative tools that come out for catching so we can avoid future knee problems.
If knee savers are used post surgery that is one thing, but you can't overlook the importance of off-season and in-season training and conditioning. Many catchers will run into problems throughout the course of the season because the rest of their body is breaking down. A well maintain off-season program is vital to in-season health. A catcher will break down during the season, the amount of wear and tear on the body and knees can depend on how well he prepares his legs for the long year and how well that strength is maintain during the season. (Just another way to look at why and how knees get worn down)

www.poweralleyonline.com
I'm a sophmore in highschool and I've been wearing them since I was about 13 with point being one of my friends (catcher) never wore knee savers and got water on the knee so its almost preventive mantince. Plus when your in a squat for a little bit it just relives so much stress off your joints I really dont see the point in not wearing them
In my son's case, he was a heavier set guy when he started catching. I understand the point that you want to let the knees/legs develop however, I wanted to get him through that stage. He's still big (11YO and 5'2 1/2", 140 pounds) but I feel that they saved a lot of wear and tear over the prior two seasons.

Also, although the little guys are playing less frequently, the developing pitchers are giving the catchers a lot of up and downs.

Cheers
Last edited by Notlongtilicantcatchim
I've finally recovered from my knee surgery, after physical therapy and what not, its been about 6 months, but I'm about 95% now. I've been moved mostly to 1st base now, because I'm much better at it than catcher, although I enjoy catcher much more, but I use kneesavers now. I don't want to overwork my knee because it still bother me occasionally, but the only time I use them, is with no runners on, or when I'm relaxed and giving signals. When I need to up and ready, its like they're not even there. When I can relax, I'm glad they there.

I switch names though, eaglebaseball was my old one.
im a shorter catcher and the knee savers not only add a great deal of comfort to a generally uncomfortable position, but they give me some height. i personally thought at first that they were all negative, but then i tried them and instantly my opinions were reversed. if you feel at all that there is something wrong with them, just try them...
I think its ridiculous to wait until you need surgery to pick up a pair of knee savers. Why would you do that to yourself?

I use them, but when there is a runner on, my butt is not touching my knee savers. I am in perfect "runners on" stance.

There is nothing wrong with using knee savers, as long as your pop time and blocking arent affected by it. Nobody is lazy BECAUSE they wear knee savers.
As an umpire (and a catcher with many games behing the dish) I can tell you catchers, especially you inexperienced ones, if you're sitting up on knee savers you're making it hard to see the low strikes. Receiving the ball close to your body doesn't help either, even if the runner is stealing. Proper footwork is more important here. By catching the ball close to your body you tend to pop up faster. Again blocking the strike zone. Do not pull your glove back into the strike zone when you catch a pich, that just tells me ever you thought it wasn't a strike. Catch the ball with arm extended and palm turned down to the ground and pop it down. It gives such a better look to the umpire.

REMEMBER THE LOWER YOU CAN STAY AS A CATCHER, THE BETTER A UMPIRE CAN SEE THE STRIKE ZONE. THE MORE STRIKES ARE GOING TO GET CALLED.

ALWAYS TALK TO YOUR UMPIRE AND LEARN IF YOU NEED TO. AS YOU THE CATCHER MIGHT BE THE CAUSE OF MISSED STRIKES. BUT, DON'T ASK, "WHERE WAS THAT PITCH AT?"

TAKE CHARGE AND BE A GOOD CATCHER!
Last edited by Jimi Hendrix

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