I use the smaller bucket found at Home Depot or Lowes which are not as high as the standard ball bucket. I always use my right throwing hand, thumb in fist between my legs as extra protection, especially when I occasionally ditch the bucket to get lower and become a better target.
With that said, I'm not sure that it really matters too much because the vast majority of pitches caught will be with her team catchers not on buckets at practice, pregame warmups, and during games and in between innings. The ratio of no bucket to bucket is probably 4-1
Ah yes, the old thumb in fist between legs to protect the nuts trick. Know it well.