- Apr 14, 2022
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The part for a lefty catcher that seems to be a disadvantage is the tag at home. With current obstruction rules it maybe difficult to backhand.
Which way do you teach a fielder to catch the ball and turn on relays? On the glove side? Would you say it does matter which way they turn?
A lefty infielder is equivalent to turning a relay backwards. Not saying it cannot be done just saying it is less efficient.
The part for a lefty catcher that seems to be a disadvantage is the tag at home. With current obstruction rules it maybe difficult to backhand.
Hooray for thisIf there's one thing I've learned in my short coaching career, it's that softball and baseball are a game a game of milliseconds. Every inefficiency you can find and eliminate can be the difference between winning and losing.
It is not irrelevant, much faster on glove side.Why would it matter which way the fielder turns? It's irrelevant to a relay.
Right handed shoulders are hardly ever180 degrees off line, and with footwork can be aligned most of the time. Even going the the left a righty can field a large % with shoulders in line with left foot going toward first.As an infielder, balls are hit to both sides of you. The only difference is it's a longer throw if you have to go to your right, but I bet that's made up for the increased range in that direction from having that be your glove side.
You cannot do that left handed. Catchers head, foot etc has to be in the basepath, or blind tag.On the flip side, the runner isn't getting in the way of your catch, because you're catching inside the runner. Hell, just stick the glove in-between the ball and the catcher and the tag makes itself.
You're right. This is an easy one. Keep the left-handers off 2nd, 3rd and SS. This has been pretty well proven (at upper levels) for over a century.It is not irrelevant, much faster on glove side.
Right handed shoulders are hardly ever180 degrees off line, and with footwork can be aligned most of the time. Even going the the left a righty can field a large % with shoulders in line with left foot going toward first.
Most plays to the left the righty has the advantage to field it in front in good throwing position with momentum toward first.
The lefty has to backhand the ball, catch it behind their body, stop momentum, no weight on back leg, etc.
It is geometry.
You cannot do that left handed. Catchers head, foot etc has to be in the basepath, or blind tag.
In fastpitch softball there are left-handed catchers, yes left handed catchers absolutely exist!Thanks everyone for the responses. She had been practicing with both a right-handed glove and a left-handed glove for some time. We have decided that she will throw with her left hand, and she is happy with that decision. She has made beautiful left-handed throws and while her right hand is her dominant hand for everything else in life, it isn't as strong as her left for throwing. Looks like she will be L/L.
I understand that she may not play 2B, SS, 3B, and C when she's older, but I still think that throwing left-handed in softball is unique in its own ways. She wants to try her hand at pitching eventually. I definitely agree that lefty pitchers are highly valued in the collegiate level, since it brings a different look to the opposing hitters.