New at Catching

If you have a 2.0 pop from your knees I want to know what kind of drills you are doing. Especially for a kid your age playing Jr Legion. Most D-1 catchers would kill to be able to throw a 2.0 from the knees. 2.0 period is outstanding.

I was timed from my knees one time in between inning's not in the game situation. I don't do any drills since i just started back up catching again. Maybe just throwing from my knee's is the best to do instead of popping up and throwing. But any drills would be helpful.

DRILL:

Stand with shoulders in line to 2B. Get into athletic position. Knees bent, balanced. Similar to the "linebacker stance". Have coach toss you the ball. (he should be toward the first base dugout just out of the left handed batters box) Learn to throw hard and quick without moving your right foot. Catch and release. Catch and release. Quicker. Quicker. Quicker.

Learn to load the hip as ball is coming, not after the catch.

Learn to be rotating the lower body to throw as you catch.

Don't reach for the ball. Let it travel deep to your body.

When you get good it feels like you don't actually catch the ball but simply turn it around in another direction.

When you get this down, do the same thing from the catchers "down" stance. Shoulders still in line with 2B. Quick. Quicker. Explode out of the stance. Rotate the hips out of the stance not after you catch. Explode.

Again. Again. Again.

Thanks ozzir, I'll try that it seems great. The only question is how do u load ur hips in game situations before the ball comes since u don't catch the ball with ur shoulders already lined up towards second.

Your first question was for a drill to help you learn the catch and release.

If you can execute the drill, taking the technique to a game is pretty simple.

First of all, by the position of your right foot when in the "down" catchers stance, your hip is already somewhat loaded. At least in great position from which to throw if not truly loaded. Your foot is pointed toward the 2B (roughly) while in your stance. Leave it there. As you receive the ball deep against your body your shoulders will allign with 2B or thereabouts depending on the pitch location. If you've left your right foot alone you now are in a hips open, shoulders closed position. Or very near it. Again, related to pitch location. That is what you are looking for. Separation between upper and lower body. Explode out of that position and you'll be surprised how quick you release the ball and how much you'll get on the throw.

I sent you a PM.

quote:

Originally posted by Coach May:
If you have a 2.0 pop from your knees I want to know what kind of drills you are doing. Especially for a kid your age playing Jr Legion. Most D-1 catchers would kill to be able to throw a 2.0 from the knees. 2.0 period is outstanding.

A few years ago I witnessed a Korean high school catcher with a pop-time UNDER 2 from his knees. Darndest thing I've ever seen. I would guess his throw-downs were moving at least in the high 80s. He's now playing pro ball in the KBL - isn't big enough to jump to MLB, but, man, what a show the kid put on.

some good info at http://www.catchingcamp.com/

plus he has a nice video as well.