Throwing hand placement with runner on first, catcher in throwing stance

[Eric F]

Even with the hand tucked into a shoe or shin guard strap, it's going to be exposed on nearly every swing, b/c human instinct is to bring the hands together. That hand is going to fly up and be hanging in mid-air, as much as she tries to keep it tucked away.

I don't agree with the "human instinct" part. Young players get taught to catch 2-handed right from the start. This is where the habit of bringing the hands together comes from (IMO). Just the same, catchers can be taught to catch one-handed and leave their hand protected by the ankle until the pitch is received. My DD has been doing it this way for years, in non-throwing/blocking situations.

I favor hand behind the mitt for throwing/blocking situations, and pulled back to the chest for receiving in those situations. Again, this has to be trained until it happens out of habit, every time.

We trained these areas relentlessly when my DD was beginning her journey as a catcher.

 

[Eric F]

My balance does definitely change when I try the hand behind the glove method. (Must be from those "protective layers" I've acquired over the years).

However, I would also suggest watching her arm closely during the next game, and see how many times it ends up "floating" up away from her ankle. Many of the "action shots" found online (~right at ball/glove impact) have even collegiate-level players ending up with their whole arm and hand exposed.

There are some catchers at the upper levels of the game who have been taught to bring their hand up to shoulder level when receiving. Gwen Svekis (Oregon, NPF Bandits) is a notable one who does this. It scares the hell out of me every time I see it.

 

[softgabby]

I really don't know what the best technique is for where to keep your throwing hand. When I was first learning the position, I kept my hand behind my ankle thinking it's the best place to have it. I had a travel coach and my next high school coach chew me out for having my hand there and telling me I should have my throwing hand behind my glove. I could never get comfortable with doing this and would go back to keeping my throwing hand behind my left ankle since I'm a lefty. My next coaches would allow me to keep doing this. Now, my college coaches are trying to get me to not put my throwing hand behind my ankle and put it behind my glove. I don't know what's better because I'm still able to block okay with my hand behind my ankle. The only balls I have a problem getting to are ones that take a strange bounce or a strange angle. I don't know what's best.

 

[Fury_Mike]

With a runner on and in her secondary stance my DD catcher keeps hers in the "shadow" of the mitt and then pulling her hand back to her chest protector just as Gags stated.

Otherwise she keeps her throwing hand out of the way with it resting to her side typically around her ankle.

Shadow if her mit then to chest protector, and/or resting behind the throwing hand ankle are correct. Make sure on with that you protect your thumb by loosely tucking it under your middle finger.

NEVER put your hand behind your back, it pushes you humorous head and acromion bones forward and exposes them to risk of impact via foul tip. NEVER put thumbs or fingers in shoe, shin guards or around your ankles. Let the hand relax and stay loose

 

[Fury_Mike]

I really don't know what the best technique is for where to keep your throwing hand. When I was first learning the position, I kept my hand behind my ankle thinking it's the best place to have it. I had a travel coach and my next high school coach chew me out for having my hand there and telling me I should have my throwing hand behind my glove. I could never get comfortable with doing this and would go back to keeping my throwing hand behind my left ankle since I'm a lefty. My next coaches would allow me to keep doing this. Now, my college coaches are trying to get me to not put my throwing hand behind my ankle and put it behind my glove. I don't know what's better because I'm still able to block okay with my hand behind my ankle. The only balls I have a problem getting to are ones that take a strange bounce or a strange angle. I don't know what's best.

Neither are wrong. It comes down to what your more comfortable with, and your catch to release execution. Get that to a 0.7 or 0.8 sec and no one will question it

 

[softgabby]

Neither are wrong. It comes down to what your more comfortable with, and your catch to release execution. Get that to a 0.7 or 0.8 sec and no one will question it

Thank you for this. I'll have to take it to my coaches and show them. I have a pretty quick catch to release. I'm right around a second from the time I catch the ball to getting it down to second which makes me like the second fastest on our team to throw out a runner and having the most accurate arm.

 

[GoRight]

The throw down to second pop time has been what my daughter has always battled with the most in her game. She is now at the point where she is deadly accurate in placement of the throw, but still needs to bring her speed up a bit. She’s hanging, but needs to get quicker. I know she’s more comfortable with that hand in the shadow behind her glove.


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[Fury_Mike]

What is her pop to release time? Overhand throwing velocity, spin direction on ball?

 

[GoRight]

2.2 was her most recent pop time. She’s not measured that often but that was from a camp in August. I think her overhand throw velocity is better when she’s not throwing down to second. I honestly don’t know what it is or last time it was measured. Sometimes I think she’s going to kill the pitcher just throwing the ball back. (That seems to be when runners are on and she’s daring them.)


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[Fury_Mike]

As a general rule, 2.2 is an average high school time.

2.0 and below is where you want to start setting your goals

1.8-1.9 is D1 range

1.7 is Olympian