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Replies: 22
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CU Guru [1564]
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Softball face guards question.
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Feb 14, 2024, 7:27 AM
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Serious question. Why do softball players have face guards on their batting helmets?... To not get hit; yes I know, but beyond the obvious I don't see a need for them. There doesn't seem to be anymore frequency of getting hit than baseball. I know some of you have seen way more softball than me and maybe I am wrong. Is this just something that is done because it has always been done that way or was there an incident that triggered a change to face guards. Whole lot of questions there but I am genuinely curious.
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National Champion [7709]
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Re: Softball face guards question.
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Feb 14, 2024, 7:28 AM
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Rise balls?
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CU Guru [1564]
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Re: Softball face guards question.
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Feb 14, 2024, 7:39 AM
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Maybe? From what I have watched it doesn't seem to be a real issue. It would make sense that a ball thrown underhand would tend to rise up more than one thrown overhand but I wouldn't think it would be a big enough problem to cause an equipment addition. I did think about that though.
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Paw Warrior [4850]
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Players get hit in the face for than many realize.
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Feb 14, 2024, 7:48 AM
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Saw lots of freakish things on 10+ years of coaching multiple levels of the sport. Not wearing kne is just unnecessary risk leading to avoidable injuries.
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Paw Warrior [4850]
TigerPulse: 95%
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Players get hit in the face for than many realize.
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Feb 14, 2024, 7:48 AM
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Saw lots of freakish things on 10+ years of coaching multiple levels of the sport. Not wearing kne is just unnecessary risk leading to avoidable injuries.
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Paw Warrior [4850]
TigerPulse: 95%
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Forgive the typos.***
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Feb 14, 2024, 7:48 AM
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Ultimate Tiger [33722]
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they wear them for
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Feb 14, 2024, 7:53 AM
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Heisman Winner [78906]
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Re: they wear them for
Feb 14, 2024, 8:27 AM
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I feel more patriotic just for looking at this
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Orange Immortal [63250]
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Re: Softball face guards question.
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Feb 14, 2024, 8:01 AM
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It's due to reaction times are slower in softball since pitcher is so close. Same reason why it's required for on deck and baserunning. An overtopped softball is much more likely to bounce up than a baseball.
Biggest reason is the size of the softball. You can wear the face bar and in softball it protects you. In baseball, which I think little league has tested it. But in baseball, it'd have to be a football helmet and you couldn't see theball. Hth.
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Hall of Famer [8367]
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Re: Softball face guards question.
Feb 14, 2024, 8:38 AM
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Reaction times for softball hitters are not less than baseball hitters. The pitchers are closer, but the pitches are slower.
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CU Medallion [20137]
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Ultimate Tiger [33722]
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wacky side arm guys can make their balls rise
Feb 14, 2024, 9:49 AM
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BUT for the most part the biggest reason is
"...... gravity works in baseball players’ favors, as baseball pitches must follow a downward trajectory. "
baseballs fall in and out out of the strike zone, softballs rise.
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CU Medallion [20137]
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The rise ball is one of the hardest pitches to teach and master...a deadly
Feb 14, 2024, 10:01 AM
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rise ball is almost unhittable...however, if you miss your spot it can easily land in the lagoon. The wrist motion for a rise ball somewhat mimics turning a door knob.
VC's fastball has a ton of drop...it dives at the plate. Combine that with a very good rise ball as well as an off-speed rise ball plus her changeup...pretty effective.
Go Tigers!
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Hall of Famer [8367]
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CU Guru [1564]
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Re: Softball face guards question.
Feb 14, 2024, 6:26 PM
[ in reply to Re: Softball face guards question. ] |
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Thanks. This makes much more sense now. I did not even think about the pitcher being closer, and the ball bouncing.
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CU Medallion [20137]
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Absolutely correct...and just as important, maybe more, is the mask
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Feb 14, 2024, 8:28 AM
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for the pitcher. We saw Millie take a line drive shot to the chest that dropped her.
My yearly PSA - My daughter took a line drive off of her forehead that split her head open like a melon. Not to be too gross but I could see her skull. It took 20-something stitches to close it up. Luckily, she turned slightly which kept the ball from hitting her full in her face. She'd worn her mask in every inning before; she either forgot it or decided she didn't need it that inning. As the coach who called the pitches, I should have noticed it. It was one of the scariest moments of my life.
If you are involved in softball at any stage please encourage your players to wear a mask. For HS and below it should be mandatory for pitchers...highly recommended for 3rd base also since they are sometimes positioned in the hitter's front pocket.
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MVP [546]
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Hall of Famer [8367]
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Re: Softball face guards question.
Feb 14, 2024, 8:40 AM
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That pitch hit her shoulder.
And many baseball players have been hit in the face.
Not sure how this answers the question...
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Letterman [164]
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Re: Softball face guards question.
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Feb 14, 2024, 9:09 AM
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Sex differences - if a guy gets hit in the face it gives him "character" - different for a woman.
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Game Day Hero [4482]
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Re: Softball face guards question.
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Feb 14, 2024, 10:07 AM
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Us guys can go through life with busted up noses and stuff, but girls not so much🤷♂️
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CU Guru [1564]
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Re: Softball face guards question.
Feb 14, 2024, 6:34 PM
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I considered this as well and was really the only thing I could come up with. However, I think the answer above about the closeness of the pitcher to the batter and the propensity of the ball to bounce more seems to be the best answer so far, and makes perfect sense.
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Orange Blooded [2387]
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Re: Softball face guards question.
Feb 14, 2024, 12:29 PM
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The worse Batter Hit in Face was Boston Outfielder Tony Conigliaro, basically ended a great career. The face flap that some players wear at the plate may have saved his vision in his left eye.
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CU Guru [1564]
TigerPulse: 98%
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Re: Softball face guards question.
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Feb 14, 2024, 6:39 PM
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Can't believe I got a TD for asking this question. Some people just look for something to get offended about.
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Replies: 22
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