Sight or Stop Watch

You can visually tell the difference between a 2.5 and 2.0 to second but if you want accuracy then pull out the stopwatch. The flip side is that it's still not 100% accurate becuase if you get two or three guys timing it's almost a sure bet they all will be slightly different. One guy may have a 2.1, the other guy a 2.2 and the last guy a 2.3 but at least you have an idea of the neighborhood the catcher's pop time is.

Coach 2079 hit the nail on the head so there is not much more to add except that another reason why I use a stop watch is deception. I have had kids who take longer to get rid of the ball, but have stronger arms, and kids with quick releases and less stronger arms. This can be deceptive to some as to actual pop times.

quote:

Originally posted by NIC15:
Coach 2079 hit the nail on the head so there is not much more to add except that another reason why I use a stop watch is deception. I have had kids who take longer to get rid of the ball, but have stronger arms, and kids with quick releases and less stronger arms. This can be deceptive to some as to actual pop times.

This is the truth.

strong arm, long release, 2.5
quick release, less arm, 2.1

Lot of folks don't know this and you can't tell them.

The proof of the pudding comes in the games because great pop times do not always translate into throwing out the basestealer-- there are a lot of elements in this process

To add to what TR said...pop times in games are much more useful than ones in workouts. Catcher's always cheat and jump way out in front of the plate in workouts.

-------------

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
The proof of the pudding comes in the games because great pop times do not always translate into throwing out the basestealer-- there are a lot of elements in this process

I agree with this 100%.

Pop times are only half the battle. You can have a catcher with a 1.80 pop, but if the pitcher is 1.8 to the plate it will be tough to throw out runners.

For our HS team, we shoot for a combined time of 3.5-3.6. We have found if we can be somewhere near that, it gives us a solid chance.

quote:

Originally posted by CatchingCoach05:

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
The proof of the pudding comes in the games because great pop times do not always translate into throwing out the basestealer-- there are a lot of elements in this process

I agree with this 100%.

Pop times are only half the battle. You can have a catcher with a 1.80 pop, but if the pitcher is 2.0 to the plate it will be tough to throw out runners.

For our HS team, we shoot for a combined time of 3.4-3.5. We have found if we can be somewhere near that, it gives us a solid chance.

quote:

Originally posted by CatchingCoach05:

quote:

Originally posted by CatchingCoach05:

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
The proof of the pudding comes in the games because great pop times do not always translate into throwing out the basestealer-- there are a lot of elements in this process

I agree with this 100%.

Pop times are only half the battle. You can have a catcher with a 1.80 pop, but if the pitcher is 2.0 to the plate it will be tough to throw out runners.

For our HS team, we shoot for a combined time of 3.4. We have found if we can be somewhere near that, it gives us a solid chance.

quote:

Originally posted by CatchingCoach05:

quote:

Originally posted by CatchingCoach05:

quote:

Originally posted by CatchingCoach05:

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
The proof of the pudding comes in the games because great pop times do not always translate into throwing out the basestealer-- there are a lot of elements in this process

I agree with this 100%.

Pop times are only half the battle. You can have a catcher with a 1.80 pop, but if the pitcher is 2.0 to the plate it will be tough to throw out runners.

For our HS team, we shoot for a combined time of 3.5. We have found if we can be somewhere near that, it gives us a solid chance.