Scissors to Squat

[C'monBlue]

Ahoy fellas,

So for about 16 years now I've been sitting in scissors. In an effort to improve my game, I've thrown on the shins and a cup and tried out locking in the slot with a wide squat. 

First off, my zone was nails. I could sit all day and follow the pitch through the zone into the mitt.... step... call. Loved it.

The issue I had, however, was harmony with the catcher. I know how to "dance" with the catcher in scissors but I'm guessing my position or footwork is off sitting in the wide squat.

I tried it on 14u. Some of these cats are tall enough that I can sit nicely in the slot but some are still too short. So, instead of placing my chin on top of the catcher's helmet, I still slotted into the pitch with my eyes on top of the zone. The problem I kept having is that I was still interfering with the catcher on pitches, before the mitt. I tried mixing it up by staying atop the catcher but, as you guessed, my zone started to creep up. My interference wasn't enough for anyone else to mention (or even notice), but It was enough to drive me nuts as I always try to be the best I can.

I didn't know if anyone has had this issue, especially coming out of the scissors? Should I just stick with scissors? Is this just a new dance I have to learn in the squat?

Anything helps.

 

Thanks.

[Biscuit]

I've had a little issue with the "dance", as you call it. I've recently started stepping in with my outside foot first (left with righty batter). I think it's helped me stay a little farther back from the catcher, and that has led to me interfering less. You can still get your head where you want it, with your inside foot a little farther back than you may think. Hard to say if that's your problem, but you can try it.

[noumpere]

How and when are you interfereing?  That will help.

And, are your feet square, or heel-toe--that is, if your hips and shoulders were in line with your feet, would you be looking at F1 or F4 (that might be a little far)?

[catsbackr]

You just have to "open the gate", turning one way or the other depending on where the ball went.

[yawetag]

My suggestion: never walk on a field without wearing a cup. And if you're the PU, always wear shin guards.

[ArchAngel72]

On 6/28/2019 at 3:37 PM, yawetag said:

My suggestion: never walk on a field without wearing a cup. And if you're the PU, always wear shin guards.

+1  

having been hit at least 4 times in the cup this year in my 1st year behind the plate OH yea.. +4 then...

Personally in the slot I have a tendency to open up from the foot I have behind the catcher 1st  right foot on a righty batter left foot on a lefty.   Only had this cross me up a couple times cause of odd bounces off a center post in the back stop. And that was because based on where the ball went thru I guessed on the bounce back instead of looking for the ball.. (rookie mistake) still learning..

 

[BobUmp]

I don't know if this would help, but I too line up my outside foot first, then my inside foot with the catcher, but initially set up a little farther back than where I intend to be when the pitch comes in, to give the catcher time to get himself where he wants to be. You probably did the same "dance" in scissors.. Also, I don't set down with hands until the pitcher is receiving signs, then once his pitch is started I creep up to where i want be relative to catcher, and finally "lock" myself to follow the pitch..

With catchers that move as the pitcher is starting delivery (either to fool the batter on location or because they are always moving around), the steps are distinct and follow as i state above. For catchers that "stay in place" from where they gave signs, the hands down, creep up and lock is really one movement. Some games I feel like for one half inning i'm waiting locked for a long time each pitch with a catcher that hardly changes position, and the other half inning I'm just finishing moving when pitcher is finishing his delivery motion and releasing..

[Aging_Arbiter]

I could never get comfortable in the scissors.  I could possibly see using that if you were 6' 14 & 1/4" tall (are you?), but I feel less wobbly (side to side) and can track the ball without moving my head (or my body in scissors). Heel toe heel here brother!