Shot to the Jaw under the Throat Guard

[Rock Bottom]

I caught a bounced fastball that went under my throat guard and hard into the underside of my jaw/chin. I'm wondering if I'm leaning too far forward, because I have a 6.5 inch guard. The batter was really short so I definitely was down lower than normal. 

Anyone have this happen to them?

[Vegas_Ump]

I am 6'4", and in doing Little League, I have some diminutive batters!

So I stretch my stance WIDE!  I offset the inside foot forward of the line where my back foot is.  Then I drop straight down!

Advantages:  You will be set like a rock!  Wild throws or foul balls will usually miss you, but if they don't, your gear will be square and do what they are supposed to do.

Your head will be straight up as will your throat guard.  I wear a West Vest, and my throat guard rests right on a little pad at the top of the vest.  Takes the errant pitch easily.

You will get a solid, steady view of the zone, and you won't have to guess!  Your skills will improve, and at the higher levels the techniques make things go even better!

BTW, in Little League, I have been hit in the throat guard more by thrown bats than by pitches or fouls.  Happens more in the younger levels!

So work on a wider stance!  Don't lean over to get the elevation!  Just drop straight down and your gear will work.  (Also better on your back!)  Good luck!

Mike

Las Vegas

[The Man in Blue]

Agree with @Vegas_Ump about not leaning to gain/lose elevation.  It potentially opens up gaps.  Widen your stance or work on adjusting your squat.  Either way, let your legs (not your back) do the work.  Maybe even experiment with the scissors or other stances.

I have been hit in the jaw once, and it was my own fault.  I do not use a throat protector beyond the extension on my mask (yes, I know ... still being short-sighted).  The ball hopped up off the turf (or the catcher, which would better explain the odd angle), clipped my CP, and shot up underneath.  I did not see the weird bounce coming, so I didn't tuck in time.  

Fortunately, it did get me in the jaw and not the throat.  I went down to one knee, out of precaution while I took a "self-assessment".  It rattled me a little and must have looked bad because I had multiple coaches around me before I realized what happened.

[wolfe_man]

I've taken them since buying the AS Skully.  I think it makes the mask sit just a bit higher, which leaves the throat more open under the chin, so you have to play with the harness and make some adjustments.

Other times, it can simply be an odd bounce off the plate or off F2.  It's only happened twice to me in 8 years, so I don't think it's my stance - but both were this year!

 

[834k3r]

On 7/2/2022 at 9:00 AM, Vegas_Ump said:

I am 6'4", and in doing Little League, I have some diminutive batters!

So I stretch my stance WIDE!  I offset the inside foot forward of the line where my back foot is.  Then I drop straight down!

Advantages:  You will be set like a rock!  Wild throws or foul balls will usually miss you, but if they don't, your gear will be square and do what they are supposed to do.

Your head will be straight up as will your throat guard.  I wear a West Vest, and my throat guard rests right on a little pad at the top of the vest.  Takes the errant pitch easily.

You will get a solid, steady view of the zone, and you won't have to guess!  Your skills will improve, and at the higher levels the techniques make things go even better!

BTW, in Little League, I have been hit in the throat guard more by thrown bats than by pitches or fouls.  Happens more in the younger levels!

So work on a wider stance!  Don't lean over to get the elevation!  Just drop straight down and your gear will work.  (Also better on your back!)  Good luck!

Mike

Las Vegas

This is my stance as well, and it does help. Saturday I was behind the plate on a Legion A game and foul ball came up (accelerating off the bat) and caught the throat guard square. Ball hit the throat guard hard enough one of the AS bands disconnected (leaving it dangling) and hit my upper chest hard enough I have the beginnings of a bruise (note to self:  time to readjust that CP).