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Online now: 5 members: Donniesoftball, GG, Hitting10th, LEMO1420, Suds; 83 anonymousDiscussion: Took one off the chest pitching BP
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July 23, 2013 bkb555 301 posts | Took one off the chest pitching BP I usually pitch BP for our team and get a few guys hit a few through the middle...luckily I either field them or get out of the way but Monday night was the exception....we were running late and we tried to get a quick BP session in...5 balls and get out...I was scrambling getting balls while pitching and not really too worried that a guy might hit middle BUT...as I pitched the ball, I took a step to the right barely to get a ball without really fielding my position and before I knew it, the ball was nailing me in the left side of my chest....it felt like a sledgehammer hit me...I didn't go down but I went back and walked it off and promptly went to bench for my ice packs....it hurt but I still played outfield...later that night it still hurt and the next morning the same...I am sure I will have a massive bruise but really I was lucky...a few inches to the right and I have a broken sternum...a few inches up, I have a busted mouth or broken throat...I was mostly concerned that my heart would beat irregularly but I was ok in that regard.....it really opened my eyes to pitching and the dangers associated with it...it was only BP with less than full swings and old balls.....and U-Trip bats in our senior league...under the right conditions, this could have been catastrophic...here is a link to a picture....nice bulls eye ring and bruising starting to appear only 2 hours after the hit....copy and paste this link.... https://picasaweb.google.com/114024028227182823464/SoftballBruisePitchingBP?authkey=Gv1sRgCJPctZLe75yzDw#5903944369953273986 |
July 25, 2013 garyheifner 643 posts | We have 4 guys who can pitch. All have taken a shot in BP. We try and NOT to hit at the pitcher. However, we end up pulling everything and as a result don't practice hitting opposite field etc. We all kicked in and bought a screen. Now guys can free wheel, hit anywhere, try new stuff, stances, swings, grips etc with no worry. Worth every dime we spent. I am seeing more and more screens at senior events for batting practice. |
July 25, 2013 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | Think seriously about using the screen for BP. |
July 25, 2013 Jawood Men's 50 943 posts | You got to be kidding? I'm glad you were not seriously hurt, but who goes up the middle in BP without a screen? |
July 25, 2013 Enviro-Vac Men's 65 489 posts | Bob, you would be hard to miss even with a screen LOL Happy to hear your OK. |
July 25, 2013 Chief144 Men's 70 159 posts | We NEVER take batting practice with out a screen! We hand some close calls a few years ago and we got a screen that travels with us no matter what. Every team should have one, no questions asked. |
July 25, 2013 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | Forgot our screen once and so we pitched BP without it. Mistake. No one was hit, but scariest time pitching I have had in awhile. Balls are being thrown in behind you, guys coming in flip a ball to you, pitching as quickly as you can, not getting set since you don't expect your teammate to hit middle, etc. etc. Maybe best argument for a screen is garyheifner's though, it lets the batters practice hitting middle and opposite field and also experiment with grips, etc. No reason not to use a screen—they aren't that expensive. |
July 28, 2013 bkb555 301 posts | great input guys...the screen is the best...we used one for BP indoor sessions ...lost count of how many times it got hit and also from a batter's perspective, it is nice to experiment and go with all sides of the field to hit.....chest still feels it one week later and I was really lucky |