LE, how old is she? 64 is very impressive, Anna was clocked at 63 once, just one time and I wasn’t there, she cruised at 59 - 61. So when you talk about losing the ball for a micro second, I definitely get it, not a great feeling.The part about underhand never bothered me. I was never a catcher in baseball other than a few games in LL and rec ball. The reason I was never a catcher was because I hated the position. I always wanted to be Graig Nettles, not Thurman Munson. What gets me now is the indoor lighting and the fact my eyes, even corrected, aren't what they once were.
The other night, we were pitching indoors, and my daughter wore a white shirt. Little did I realize just how the yellow ball would disappear into the background of her white shirt. I would literally lose the ball for a micro second and have to pick it back up again before it hit me in the mask. That's not terrible on a fastball, but when it happens on a curve or rise, it's actually dangerous.
My daughter throws hard. She was measured at 64 multiple times this weekend at the college camp she attended. But she isn't perfect. Sometimes her pitches don't go where she wants, so the mitt setup isn't always where the ball finishes. She just began working on a drop in lessons, but I haven't had the privilege of catching one yet. I believe it would be better for me to catch in a crouch rather than on a bucket when she throws the drop. I might not be able to walk the next day, but I feel it might afford me better protection.
Shameless brag: One bucket dad at the camp was chatting me up before we began Saturday morning. He asked why I wasn't catching for her at the camp. I game him a polite response about lighting, age, eyes, etc. After the session, he approached me and said "Now I see why you didn't catch for her here."
The reason I ask her age is you said she’s just working on a drop ball? Throwing 64 and just now working on a drop, buddy, you better be completely kitted up from head to toe, and with steel toed shoes!
And I agree about catching from the crouch, MUCH safer, if you can do it. A bucket takes away so much mobility on low pitches!