Most relaxing plate stance?

[JHSump]

I have experimented with many stances..  I find a hands-on-knees stance is very relaxing.*  Pros: I can do multiple plate games without tiring (I often do multiple plate games).  I am very relaxed when calling balls and strikes (which makes the decisions easier).  I have a very repeatable stance --- same throughout the game, game after game, day after day.

 

But, it has it's cons.  I can be too upright, especially for younger players.  My arms are more exposed (but my fingers are pretty well protected, curled around side of knee, thumb inside knee cap of shin guard).  Spreading my feet very wide, to lower my head, has its problems also --- it's not as comfortable, and its harder to spring up from that spread-eagle stance to take care of my other duties.  I am athletic, but not a gymnast.

 

How do others get a relaxed, repeatable stance?  Or, is relaxation not so easily accomplished with other plate stances, and you just sacrifice relaxation for other gains?

 

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* Not a Gerry Davis stance/system.  My feet are spread less, and I am not that far back from the catcher.  I am in the slot.

[mstaylor]

I scissor and can repeat it easily. My knees will not allow me to box,heel/toe, GD or anything of such. I actually can repeat my plate stance over my base stance. 

[umpcoachfather]

I;m too short to scissor.  I guess it would have to do with your body type.  I was a power lifter and still do lunges prio to the start of the season, so working the slot is easy for me. 

[KLAH316]

I prefer the lawn chair behind the backstop.... Obviously those umpires have it down to a science and NEVER miss a call!!!

[JHSump]

I prefer the lawn chair behind the backstop.... Obviously those umpires have it down to a science and NEVER miss a call!!!

Clearly, they are soooooo relaxed they can also set the lawn chair up anywhere --- not just directly behind the backstop --- and never miss a call.

[JHSump]

I scissor and can repeat it easily. My knees will not allow me to box,heel/toe, GD or anything of such. I actually can repeat my plate stance over my base stance. 

I have tried the scissors, after asking you details of how you set up (another thread).  I did find it fairly repeatable, but it would clearly take more practice than I gave it to get completely used to it.  Compared to what I am doing now, I don't think I could as easily manage multiple games (up to 3 or so) in one day, doing the scissors.

 

But clearly you have found what works best for you given your knee problems, and you must have perfected it. 

 

Do you feel relaxed in your stance?  (I'm guessing the answer is you must be less relaxed in anything else, since you knees complain in other stances.)

 

I do get hit in the Nutty Buddy once in a while --- I read that you never get hit!  That must add a bit to your relaxation --- you never have to worry about that, in the slightest!

[mstaylor]

My record holds, and yes I am very comfortable in many stance. Younger guys, sometimes I will go to a knee. I finally have done pictures,I will get my son to post them, they are on his camera.

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[JHSump]

My record holds, and yes I am very comfortable in many stance. Younger guys, sometimes I will go to a knee. I finally have done pictures,I will get my son to post them, they are on his camera.

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Looking forward to the pictures!

 

Maybe I'll consider the knee for younger guys.  If you have pictures of that too, I would be interested.

[mstaylor]

That I don't but just drop the back leg. The two stances are the same except one has a straight back leg, the other you are kneeling on your back leg.

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[umpcoachfather]

I think sitting on a bucket in the 3rd or 1st base dugout gives you the best position to call balls and strikes. 

[Dmanage]

JHSump,

  I thought your most relaxing stance was sitting in the press box eating on a big sub sandwich and not sharing with any of your fellow partners.

[MT_Blue]

Of the stances i have tried, i would have to say the box works best for me, was never a fan of the scissors or GD.

[Minnz]

I prefer the lawn chair behind the backstop.... Obviously those umpires have it down to a science and NEVER miss a call!!!

I put my chair right behind the catcher.  Behind the backstop is too far for my liking.  Plus then the catcher really has to move on a wild pitch.

[JHSump]

JHSump,

  I thought your most relaxing stance was sitting in the press box eating on a big sub sandwich and not sharing with any of your fellow partners.

LMAO!

 

Well, for the next tournament I'll clearly have to bring one or the other of the following

[mstaylor]

 

My record holds, and yes I am very comfortable in many stance. Younger guys, sometimes I will go to a knee. I finally have done pictures,I will get my son to post them, they are on his camera.

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Looking forward to the pictures!

 

Maybe I'll consider the knee for younger guys.  If you have pictures of that too, I would be interested.

 

OK, I finally posted a few pictures. http://umpire-empire.com/index.php/gallery/album/42-mstaylor/

[JHSump]

 

 

My record holds, and yes I am very comfortable in many stance. Younger guys, sometimes I will go to a knee. I finally have done pictures,I will get my son to post them, they are on his camera.

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2

Looking forward to the pictures!

 

Maybe I'll consider the knee for younger guys.  If you have pictures of that too, I would be interested.

 

OK, I finally posted a few pictures. http://umpire-empire.com/index.php/gallery/album/42-mstaylor/

 

Thanks!  They make your descriptions of your stance more concrete.

 

You certainly do look relaxed.  I can't detect any appearance of stress.

[JaxRolo]

 

 

My record holds, and yes I am very comfortable in many stance. Younger guys, sometimes I will go to a knee. I finally have done pictures,I will get my son to post them, they are on his camera.

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2

Looking forward to the pictures!

 

Maybe I'll consider the knee for younger guys.  If you have pictures of that too, I would be interested.

 

OK, I finally posted a few pictures. http://umpire-empire.com/index.php/gallery/album/42-mstaylor/

 

Sorry Mike I do not mean to be insulting or negative at all but that stance to me looks very uncomfortable. But if it works for you that is all that counts!!!  

[mstaylor]

Years ago my back leg was much straighter, I bend it slightly to help absorb shots. It is straighter than in most of the pictures because in most I am reacting to the pitch or play. When I show my strike I spring ff my front leg and point to the right. The one where I am calling foul, must have been off the batter because I still have my mask on.

[umpcoachfather]

I'd never be able to do this for fear of destroying the shine on my rear shoe. 

[mstaylor]

It's not a real problem but I never bought patent leather for that reason. 

[umpcoachfather]

MST  - Mine are spit shined also, so good in fact that they could pass a basic training inspection.  I enjoy nothing more than working a fully artificial field. 

[Mike Prince]

MST  - Mine are spit shined also, so good in fact that they could pass a basic training inspection.  I enjoy nothing more than working a fully artificial field. 

 

More than observing the artificially enhanced GLM's in the stands?

[catsbackr]

HOK.

[blue23ll]

To me, and this is JUST me, the GD system provided the most comfortable stance. I'm not sure relaxing is the best way to describe it though. MSTAYLOR, thanks for posting your scissor pictures. I am not a fan of the scissors, but if it works for you, that's all that matters. It seems to me that you are setting up further away from the catcher than I am used to seeing a scissor guy work. You are back where us Davis guys set up.

[mstaylor]

Agreed,I am deeper than many but you that deep on a knee, there really is no difference in the mechanics between the two except you are more mobile.

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