The SUPER Slot

[ricka56]

With this "new" way, you don't square up to the pitcher. Your shoulders are squared toward the second baseman with a right-handed batter. (Toward the shortstop with a left-handed batter) That's the whole idea. It gets your head/shoulders already angled toward the outside corner and you only move your eyes to track. I've tried this way of angling my head and shoulders and don't like it. It works for some but it isn't comfortable for me. I stay pretty square to the pitcher.

This is more of my understanding of the super-slot. Most times you don't track the pitch, you just see it's conclusion. But if your head is angled towards F4/F6 and you're not tracking the pitch, how do you protect your ear/back of your head from the wild pitch. You better be wearing an HSM. I don't get it.

[Magic]

Well this much I can tell you for sure, this stance is new to me. It might not be new to zm1283, but us lowly peeps it is new to. I worked a very High Level High School game tonight, and I think I might have missed one pitch. And it wasn't a gross miss. It might have caught the outside edge of the plate, and I balled it. This was in the 6th inning. After the game, the Head Coach of the losing team came up to me and said great job back there tonight. You were as good as we have seen all year. I love it and I am not changing. My NEW Stance is the Super Slot.

Games Worked Too Damn Many

[Mr Ump]

ricka56, If you do the Super Slot properly (at least as I was taught) your shoulders should not be 'angled' toward F4/F6. Basically step 'forward' with your inside foot. I work hard to stay square to the pitcher because that is where my CP protection is so I want that maximum protection. Once feet are set, use a slight rotation of your hips / shoulders (whichever us more comfortable) towards the pitcher.

I also track the pitch, not just it's conclusion. As umpstu said, always track with your eyes, not your head. It seems the being 'forward' is the big advantage over the Box, Scissors or Gerry Davis. I really see every pitch better, especially outside corner pitches.

[Mr Ump]

Tksjewelry....are you getting hit in the thigh of the leg behind the catcher? That sounds like they need to block better. Now it it is the other leg, your 'outside' leg that is exposed, I point that toe at the pitcher. This allows my UE shins to be square to the pitcher and reduces any chance of thigh hits.

[Mr Ump]

Never too proud. Don't want to give that impression as I always try to stay humble and speak facts only. Not looking for a big debate or Internet fight on my skill level either. I was asked about the Super Slot so I wrote on it. Otherwise this would still be a thread on UE CP's vs WVG TW-right?

Just saying zm1283 that I didn't miss many pitches with the Super Slot as taught at different college clinics. I missed more pitches in the Gerry Davis and Box stances. Just trying to offer it to those that may not be taught it. I would be lying if I said I used it and missed 10 pitches. The truth is you miss a lot less pitches with it. Not sure about adjusting to catcher as I never got in the slot using any stance until the catcher set up.

Anyway if someone wants to try it be my guest. Feel free to inbox me if you have more questions on how I use it.

[KenBAZ]

At the clinic I attended this winter Ted Barrett was encouraging us all to get up there into what you are calling the "Super Slot". Right foot behind the catcher's spine left foot forward and just behind the catcher's left heel. I have to be careful not to overlap. They encouraged us to look across the plate almost at a diagonal from back left corner to front outside corner. With the heel to toe set up that far forward you just keep your upper body in line with your shoulders and it puts you in the correct position. I'm still less comfortable with lefthanded batters but the set up of course is the same just reversed with your feet. You can see me working this style in the recent string, Caught On Video.

[Thunderheads]

I am going to bring the posts about this slot over from the UE vs WV Gold thread ......

 

OK ......

 

All the post re: the Super Slot are over here now ....however ......they'll be in chronological order, ....so Mr Ump's initial post won't show up first ......

 

POST #20 is Mr Ump's first post to start this topic under a new thread ....

[Majordave]

I don't square my shoulders to F4/F6 as the case may be. Still squared towards F1. I was at first and the instructors fixed it.

@Magic, this is the stance I was using when you saw me working that 70+ game in Goodyear, AZ. I'm sure it was the highlight of your trip. Hahahaha.

[Mr Ump]

Thanks THUNDERHEADS

[Mr Ump]

If you want to practice it at home just use a chair or end table as your catcher. The back of the chair can provide the proper head height and the front legs would be the catchers feet. Now you can practice spacing. Add another chair for your batter and there you go.

Of course don't let the wife see you using her chairs as baseball equipment unless you want to practice coach vs umpire confrontations too.....

[TheRockawayKid]

The basics is this: One thing to consider is that there's an arc -- not a full circle but an arc -- around the catcher. The focus is roughly the plate. So if you get more into the slot, you have to angle yourself away from the pitcher more. 

Question about this, apparently, I was told this is how I was setting up in the slot naturally (probably because I'm short) but because my foot was turned out I was catching foul balls that got under the catcher on my inner thigh. Any way to avoid that? Those hurt like a b*&+#

 

Try turning your feet in, so the toe faces the pitcher. It's less comfortable, but keeps all the plating facing the pitcher. Remember where the ball will be coming from -- mostly over the plate -- so keep as much armor in front as possible.

 

 

With this "new" way, you don't square up to the pitcher. Your shoulders are squared toward the second baseman with a right-handed batter. (Toward the shortstop with a left-handed batter) That's the whole idea. It gets your head/shoulders already angled toward the outside corner and you only move your eyes to track. I've tried this way of angling my head and shoulders and don't like it. It works for some but it isn't comfortable for me. I stay pretty square to the pitcher.

This is more of my understanding of the super-slot. Most times you don't track the pitch, you just see it's conclusion. But if your head is angled towards F4/F6 and you're not tracking the pitch, how do you protect your ear/back of your head from the wild pitch. You better be wearing an HSM. I don't get it.

 

 

I try and keep my head pointed at where the feet of an umpire in B position would be (for a righty batter). Nothing will hit the side or top of my head that way. It may hit the bars on the outside, but it would be a glancing blow.  

[zm1283]

At the clinic I attended this winter Ted Barrett was encouraging us all to get up there into what you are calling the "Super Slot". Right foot behind the catcher's spine left foot forward and just behind the catcher's left heel. I have to be careful not to overlap. They encouraged us to look across the plate almost at a diagonal from back left corner to front outside corner. With the heel to toe set up that far forward you just keep your upper body in line with your shoulders and it puts you in the correct position. I'm still less comfortable with lefthanded batters but the set up of course is the same just reversed with your feet. You can see me working this style in the recent string, Caught On Video.

 

This is what I'm talking about. Some NCAA advisors/evaluators are teaching this at clinics and it has trickled down from MLB/MiLB. 

You should always keep your head still and track with your eyes.

 

I never said any differently. 

[Tksjewelry]

Tksjewelry....are you getting hit in the thigh of the leg behind the catcher? That sounds like they need to block better. Now it it is the other leg, your 'outside' leg that is exposed, I point that toe at the pitcher. This allows my UE shins to be square to the pitcher and reduces any chance of thigh hits.

The leg behind the catcher is the one getting hit. Yup, they definitely need to catch better!

The basics is this: One thing to consider is that there's an arc -- not a full circle but an arc -- around the catcher. The focus is roughly the plate. So if you get more into the slot, you have to angle yourself away from the pitcher more.

Question about this, apparently, I was told this is how I was setting up in the slot naturally (probably because I'm short) but because my foot was turned out I was catching foul balls that got under the catcher on my inner thigh. Any way to avoid that? Those hurt like a b*&+#

Try turning your feet in, so the toe faces the pitcher. It's less comfortable, but keeps all the plating facing the pitcher. Remember where the ball will be coming from -- mostly over the plate -- so keep as much armor in front as possible.

With this "new" way, you don't square up to the pitcher. Your shoulders are squared toward the second baseman with a right-handed batter. (Toward the shortstop with a left-handed batter) That's the whole idea. It gets your head/shoulders already angled toward the outside corner and you only move your eyes to track. I've tried this way of angling my head and shoulders and don't like it. It works for some but it isn't comfortable for me. I stay pretty square to the pitcher.

This is more of my understanding of the super-slot. Most times you don't track the pitch, you just see it's conclusion. But if your head is angled towards F4/F6 and you're not tracking the pitch, how do you protect your ear/back of your head from the wild pitch. You better be wearing an HSM. I don't get it.

I try and keep my head pointed at where the feet of an umpire in B position would be (for a righty batter). Nothing will hit the side or top of my head that way. It may hit the bars on the outside, but it would be a glancing blow.

I'll try that and see how it works.

[catsbackr]

I tried this new stance Sunday, JUCO game, 2 pretty good teams.

 

I'll preface this by saying I use the Davis stance normally.

 

I did like the view, a lot.  However, I felt like I was in the catcher's way on balls in the dirt at me, that he went down to block.  I moved back a little and still enjoyed the view I got.  I'm not sure it's a better look than I get with the Davis stance to be honest though.  It's almost as if you have to angle your shoulders over your left leg on a RH batter, kind of like in the scissors, to get square.

 

I'll try it again this week.

[Majordave]

As with equipment, do/use what works best for you.  

 

If you are getting the strikes you need to get and nobody is bitching and you are comfortable and consistent then keep doing what you are doing.  I resisted this stance.  But at a clinic you are supposed to try new things.  I worked three days of plates with about three opportunities a day to try it with immediate feedback.  I got what I wanted.  I was a GD stance man for years.  I was comfortable with the GD stance and thought I was getting all the strikes I needed to get with minimal bitching.  I now like this stance better.

 

I still hear bitching occasionally, especially in the first two innings when I am ringing batters up on CK3 on the outer half/corner.  But, you know what?  I don't have to ring anyone up later in the games.  They start swinging bats, putting the ball into play, fielders making plays and runners running with everyone cheering for their respective team and future major leaguer and I don't hear anything from anybody.  It is a lot more fun and quicker if the fielders can make plays and pitchers can throw strikes.

 

It's like that old Alka Seltzer commercial......."Try it!  You'll like it!"

 

Just sayin'.................

[umpstu]

Question about this, apparently, I was told this is how I was setting up in the slot naturally (probably because I'm short) but because my foot was turned out I was catching foul balls that got under the catcher on my inner thigh. Any way to avoid that? Those hurt like a b*&+#

If that ball's gonna bounce and get you, that ball's gonna bounce and get you.  Smack the catcher in the back of the head.

[umpstu]

I don't square my shoulders to F4/F6 as the case may be. Still squared towards F1. I was at first and the instructors fixed it.

@Magic, this is the stance I was using when you saw me working that 70+ game in Goodyear, AZ. I'm sure it was the highlight of your trip. Hahahaha.

Weren't you using the super slot when working the bases on our game?  I was wondering why you didn't miss anything.

[umpstu]

I tried this new stance Sunday, JUCO game, 2 pretty good teams.

 

I'll preface this by saying I use the Davis stance normally.

 

I did like the view, a lot.  However, I felt like I was in the catcher's way on balls in the dirt at me, that he went down to block.  I moved back a little and still enjoyed the view I got.  I'm not sure it's a better look than I get with the Davis stance to be honest though.  It's almost as if you have to angle your shoulders over your left leg on a RH batter, kind of like in the scissors, to get square.

 

I'll try it again this week.

I use a modified version of the Davis, just getting my batter's side foot further into the slot.  This is the first time I have ever heard getting your foot further up into the slot called the super slot.  Sounds no different.

[TheRockawayKid]

I still hear bitching occasionally, especially in the first two innings when I am ringing batters up on CK3 on the outer half/corner.  But, you know what?  I don't have to ring anyone up later in the games.  They start swinging bats, putting the ball into play, fielders making plays and runners running with everyone cheering for their respective team and future major leaguer and I don't hear anything from anybody.  It is a lot more fun and quicker if the fielders can make plays and pitchers can throw strikes.

Agreed. Now, I don't do JUCO or college, but you know who I've found is the one telling his hitters to shut up and swing? The catcher, in the dugout. 

 

They like the outside corner just as much as we do. 

[KenBAZ]

I still hear bitching occasionally, especially in the first two innings when I am ringing batters up on CK3 on the outer half/corner. But, you know what? I don't have to ring anyone up later in the games. They start swinging bats, putting the ball into play, fielders making plays and runners running with everyone cheering for their respective team and future major leaguer and I don't hear anything from anybody. It is a lot more fun and quicker if the fielders can make plays and pitchers can throw That's what I like best about this position. I feel a lot more comfortable calling pitches away. It doesn't hurt me on pitches in because my head is still on the inside corner and now I can see the ball all the way from F1's hand to the mitt on the ball away.

[woodiemiller]

 

 

UPDATE: Well I have worn both my WVG TW and my UE in 4 games. I have yet to be hit. I don't usally get hit a lot anyway so this is true to form. I work a lot on positioning and using the Super Slot.

@Mr Ump What is the Super Slot? Super Slot is a technique us college guys are using as of late. It is basically a staggered stance where say the batter is right handed. Place your left foot almost even with the catchers left foot and your right foot slightly turned out, even with the catchers spine. Now square up to the pitcher. This should give you total view of the outside corner. It takes balls to do so if you the scary type forget it. I love it. You will see the entire zone much better. I wish I had a pic but don't.

 

Us college guys use? Not most I know.

[woodiemiller]

 

I tried this new stance Sunday, JUCO game, 2 pretty good teams.

 

I'll preface this by saying I use the Davis stance normally.

 

I did like the view, a lot.  However, I felt like I was in the catcher's way on balls in the dirt at me, that he went down to block.  I moved back a little and still enjoyed the view I got.  I'm not sure it's a better look than I get with the Davis stance to be honest though.  It's almost as if you have to angle your shoulders over your left leg on a RH batter, kind of like in the scissors, to get square.

 

I'll try it again this week.

I use a modified version of the Davis, just getting my batter's side foot further into the slot.  This is the first time I have ever heard getting your foot further up into the slot called the super slot.  Sounds no different.

 

Seems more like a modified "heel-to-toe".

[Thunderheads]

 

 

 

UPDATE: Well I have worn both my WVG TW and my UE in 4 games. I have yet to be hit. I don't usally get hit a lot anyway so this is true to form. I work a lot on positioning and using the Super Slot.

@Mr Ump What is the Super Slot? Super Slot is a technique us college guys are using as of late. It is basically a staggered stance where say the batter is right handed. Place your left foot almost even with the catchers left foot and your right foot slightly turned out, even with the catchers spine. Now square up to the pitcher. This should give you total view of the outside corner. It takes balls to do so if you the scary type forget it. I love it. You will see the entire zone much better. I wish I had a pic but don't.

 

Us college guys use? Not most I know.

 

"us college guys" probably refers to guys from his area that were at a/the same clinic and are utilizing this ......  obviously it doesn't mean everyone. Everyone's results will vary as to who they know that works a certain stance .....

[RingEmUp]

Without pictures this never happened.

[catsbackr]

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRozm5aj6VyONYO5zwDfsBpcgeLcN3_vYCP4C2KBX4veffY67MeHg

 

Barksdale.