kaerey
Addicted to Softballfans
Intro
I'm going to try and keep this updated with all the goodies people post below and in other threads so that there is one uniform resource for pitchers and the people who stand on the rubber and throw balls at batters.
The First Item
To beat the trolls to it.
You have a glove, know how to use it when you're 50' away from a batted ball. To put things in perspective, a ball can travel 50' in half a second at only 68mph. At 100mph, you have just 1/3 of a second. Once you pitch the ball, expect it to come back at you. When you expect everything to come your way you'll be ready when it does.
Fielding
Some common suggestions are that after you pitch the ball, you should be taking a few steps back and getting set. Don't just keep running back to second base, as fielding while retreating is not exactly easy. Take just a few steps back while the ball is in the air and get set like an infielder. Another good idea is to take a side step as well. Many of us play on multi-purpose fields and may have a fast pitch rubber in front of us which is a great object to cause bad hops to your face. A side step can help you avoid that danger.
Why wear protection
You should read this: http://www.telegram.com/article/20120422/NEWS/104229778/1101/local
This may have been someone playing 3rd.. but same thing can happen.
Compartment Syndrome: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002204/
Toe Damage through a leather cleat from a line drive
Other Player Posts:
http://forums.softballfans.com/showpost.php?p=15435310&postcount=7
Gearing up to Pitch
There are a few simple an inexpensive items to make pitching a little safer, and there are items that can save you from major surgery and even your life.
Cup: duhh... Price: $14.99+
Mouth Guard: a simple piece with lots of options. Be sure to follow the directions for properly fitting your new mouth guard. An improperly molded mouth guard won't do much good. They can be found at most all sporting goods stores. Price: $9.99+
Beyond these two items, you'll get a lot of different thoughts and opinions. Some will tell you that if you need this much gear, you shouldn't be pitching, and "you've got a glove... use it" but the reality is, accidents happen. Fields have poor lighting, you may play at sunset, field conditions can be bad or you may blink (average human blink is between .05 and .4 seconds long, and we know a 100mph line drive can travel 50' in .33 seconds). Some may say that a geared up, protected pitcher, welcomes others to hit middle, others will tell you "fine, it can bounce off the mask and then I'll throw you out at first." The only opinion that really matters is your own. Read through some of the links above and you can see read lots of different opinions and perspective on the topic of gearing up while pitching.
I'm going to try and keep this updated with all the goodies people post below and in other threads so that there is one uniform resource for pitchers and the people who stand on the rubber and throw balls at batters.
The First Item
To beat the trolls to it.
You have a glove, know how to use it when you're 50' away from a batted ball. To put things in perspective, a ball can travel 50' in half a second at only 68mph. At 100mph, you have just 1/3 of a second. Once you pitch the ball, expect it to come back at you. When you expect everything to come your way you'll be ready when it does.
Fielding
Some common suggestions are that after you pitch the ball, you should be taking a few steps back and getting set. Don't just keep running back to second base, as fielding while retreating is not exactly easy. Take just a few steps back while the ball is in the air and get set like an infielder. Another good idea is to take a side step as well. Many of us play on multi-purpose fields and may have a fast pitch rubber in front of us which is a great object to cause bad hops to your face. A side step can help you avoid that danger.
Why wear protection
You should read this: http://www.telegram.com/article/20120422/NEWS/104229778/1101/local
This may have been someone playing 3rd.. but same thing can happen.
Compartment Syndrome: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002204/
Toe Damage through a leather cleat from a line drive
Other Player Posts:
http://forums.softballfans.com/showpost.php?p=15435310&postcount=7
Gearing up to Pitch
There are a few simple an inexpensive items to make pitching a little safer, and there are items that can save you from major surgery and even your life.
Cup: duhh... Price: $14.99+
Mouth Guard: a simple piece with lots of options. Be sure to follow the directions for properly fitting your new mouth guard. An improperly molded mouth guard won't do much good. They can be found at most all sporting goods stores. Price: $9.99+
Beyond these two items, you'll get a lot of different thoughts and opinions. Some will tell you that if you need this much gear, you shouldn't be pitching, and "you've got a glove... use it" but the reality is, accidents happen. Fields have poor lighting, you may play at sunset, field conditions can be bad or you may blink (average human blink is between .05 and .4 seconds long, and we know a 100mph line drive can travel 50' in .33 seconds). Some may say that a geared up, protected pitcher, welcomes others to hit middle, others will tell you "fine, it can bounce off the mask and then I'll throw you out at first." The only opinion that really matters is your own. Read through some of the links above and you can see read lots of different opinions and perspective on the topic of gearing up while pitching.
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