Suggestions for foot protection during pitching practice

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May 15, 2016
926
18
My DD is now wanting to practice pitching 45 minutes a day, which is great. While I can catch for her, my problem is because of a disability I cannot squat, and I cannot reach down quickly enough to stop pitches heading toward my feet. It is also difficult to move my feet quickly, and one of her pitches nailed me in the toe this morning. I looked into getting umpire plate shoes, but at $100+ for a pair, I need to find another solution. I am wondering if steel toed shoes and shin guards might be a reasonable substitute.

Open to any suggestions.
 
May 5, 2014
93
0
Pacific Northwest
I invested in a pair of shin guards about a year ago when DD #2 started pushing over 50+ MPH and it was the best softball investment I ever made. I'm not the worlds best catcher and have a hard time fielding the drop balls that hit the plate. The shin guards I got have a toe protector so I just wear my regular shoes. Good Luck.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
I would take a small 2 by 4 or bigger if you think, add add couple connectors to spike it in the ground behind the plate and in frount of you.

Small piece of plywood would be better, less Chace of ball bouncing off top, but will require a llittle more sawimg.
 
Last edited:
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
You do not run after anything, another choice would a cheap pair of work boots. I would quess better protection and cheap.
 
Nov 26, 2010
4,784
113
Michigan
My DD is now wanting to practice pitching 45 minutes a day, which is great. While I can catch for her, my problem is because of a disability I cannot squat, and I cannot reach down quickly enough to stop pitches heading toward my feet. It is also difficult to move my feet quickly, and one of her pitches nailed me in the toe this morning. I looked into getting umpire plate shoes, but at $100+ for a pair, I need to find another solution. I am wondering if steel toed shoes and shin guards might be a reasonable substitute.

Open to any suggestions.

How about a net and a bucket of balls, she pitches the whole bucket and then she collects them, rinse repeat...
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
A couple of recommendations:
1) Get 6-gallon bucket instead of a 5-gallon to sit on. The extra height is like sitting on an ADA toilet vs. a regular toilet.
2) Get a swivel top for the bucket. This will aide your mobility.
3) Wear catcher shin guards. I bought a used set of baseball catchers gear for @ $50 on Craigslist.
4) Wear steel toe or hard toe shoes.
5) Do not try to scoop balls in the dirt, swivel your legs out of the way and let them hit the bucket.
6) Remove items like raised home plates that balls can ricochet off.
 
Nov 29, 2016
33
6
Try these toe guards http://a.co/6NY0pGk I just keep them in the bag along with some leg protection. I had to lose a toenail to learn this lesson and I was trying to be careful but the bottom just fell out of one pitch and got me in just the right spot. I did get some spray paint made for plastic and painted them black to match the leg guards.
 
May 15, 2016
926
18
Try these toe guards http://a.co/6NY0pGk I just keep them in the bag along with some leg protection. I had to lose a toenail to learn this lesson and I was trying to be careful but the bottom just fell out of one pitch and got me in just the right spot. I did get some spray paint made for plastic and painted them black to match the leg guards.

The link failed to open. Could you send the link again? Thanks.
 
May 15, 2016
926
18
I invested in a pair of shin guards about a year ago when DD #2 started pushing over 50+ MPH and it was the best softball investment I ever made. I'm not the worlds best catcher and have a hard time fielding the drop balls that hit the plate. The shin guards I got have a toe protector so I just wear my regular shoes. Good Luck.


I found a pair of shin guards, with a toe protector, at a local used equipment store. Hopefully they will work for me.
 

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