Equipment question - knee-savers

Thats an interesting point

I have never seen any studies on them at all good or bad. The #1 stance is relaxed anyway so whats the point when you are in the #1 stance? The two stance you need to be ready and less relaxed. It would seem that kids would stay in the relaxed mode if they rely on them if they are getting tired etc. In the #3 stance they are useless unless the catcher stays squatted on them and in this case he is not in the proper posistion. It would seem to me that only an experienced catcher that would not rely on them in times he shouldnt would be fine. But a young catcher learning the posistion would be hindered by them especially if he learns to rely on them and not get in the proper posistion. Again I am not saying they are bad. But I would not want a young kid that is learning the posistion to wear them. Its too easy to rely on them and "rest" on them in situations it would not be beneficial to performing properly.

But to each his own. I just don't want our catchers wearing them because I dont want them to rely on them or rest on them when they should be ready or in the proper stance. But again that does not mean there are not alot of very good catchers that use them. It probaly is just a personal preference.

 

Thanks guys. He doesn't wear them now and based on everyone's help here, he will not start wearing them.

 

Another points is that if he's gonna wear them, the problem today with catchers and knee savers, is they aren't worn in the proper area. They should actually be worn right below the knee, not on the calf muscle but the pointed edge should be touching the back of your knee. However this being said, I had them in both and like them much better lower on my calfs. And if you watch even MLB catchers with them they have them down there (b/c in my opinion, it's easier, faster, and feels like less weight to toat, and you can get lower, and you can stay on your insides of your feet easier). Which leads me to my point:

The studies have obviously only been done where they were designed to be worn. On the upper knee. So you may have a valid point, does it cause the knee in the long term to "give out" like many catchers do? Very interseting point.

 

I wore them until I got in high school, and then I stopped wearing them for a number of reasons. First, I realized how lazy they could make you with runners on base. Without them, I had to work to stay on the balls of my feet more and I also felt more ready for the runner to go. Also, I learned the importance of giving a low target and keeping my body low in order to get the low strike for my pitcher. For me, if I could get lower comfortably, I could get lower pitches, which obviously helped our pitcher. I don't know if they actually help your knees or not but I know there have been several times catching bullpens when I wanted them back.

 

True, with the bullpens thing. Expecially with all the ones I caught in HS this year. But all in all after a while I looked at it as a chance to be ready for the game. Just think while your in that bullpen without knee savers, and all that muscle your building in your legs that the guy beside you isn't because he's using knee savers, is putting you that much farther ahead of him.