jim wrote:Why all the padding? I understand the grippy part.
Because you're catching something that's coming at you around an average of 60 mph.
Exactly. Get the padding out and feel the ball and that doesn't happen. My catchers mitts didn't have that much padding and I was catching 90 mph baseballs. He missed that ball because of those [expletive] gloves.
jim wrote:Why all the padding? I understand the grippy part.
Because you're catching something that's coming at you around an average of 60 mph.
Exactly. Get the padding out and feel the ball and that doesn't happen. My catchers mitts didn't have that much padding and I was catching 90 mph baseballs. He missed that ball because of those [expletive] gloves.
But when you catch a baseball you use the pocket, webbing between an extension of your fingers. Catching a soccer ball has to hit you right in the hands.
I actually watched the whole England game. Not bad, except for that terrible goal. I guess that other one could have been a goal though, so it would have been a tie either way. I don't think I could sit and watch a whole game that the US isn't in, but I'm kind of that way with all sports.
jim wrote:Why all the padding? I understand the grippy part.
Because you're catching something that's coming at you around an average of 60 mph.
Exactly. Get the padding out and feel the ball and that doesn't happen. My catchers mitts didn't have that much padding and I was catching 90 mph baseballs. He missed that ball because of those [expletive] gloves.
But when you catch a baseball you use the pocket, webbing between an extension of your fingers. Catching a soccer ball has to hit you right in the hands.
I would think they would wear what a WR would wear, so you get the grip while still keeping the feel. So the goalie gets an ouchie when the ball hits his hands.
jim wrote:I would think they would wear what a WR would wear, so you get the grip while still keeping the feel. So the goalie gets an ouchie when the ball hits his hands.
Considering soccer has been played professionally and making a ton of money for the parties involved from the owners to the players to the equipment companies for over 150 years, I think it's safe to assume that in the millions of hours of game action, practice, testing and research, the parties involved have refined a piece of equipment ideal for the job. They aren't just putting on gardening gloves as an afterthought.
So while you may feel like after watching about an hour and 45 minutes of soccer you have a better idea for what kind of equipment they should be wearing, I'll respectfully suggest that you have no clue
Just applying common sense. Am I to assume that the NFL receivers have it all wrong then? I can't believe all of that padding is useful in fielding the ball. Might be more comfortable, but no way can you field a ball as well.
THAT GETS A YELLOW CARD: England striker Wayne Rooney gets relief while playing golf at the Lost City course of Sun City yesterday after Saturday’s 1-1 draw with the United States.
jim wrote:Just applying common sense. Am I to assume that the NFL receivers have it all wrong then? I can't believe all of that padding is useful in fielding the ball. Might be more comfortable, but no way can you field a ball as well.
Unless the NFL guys have it all wrong.
I'm not trying to be condescending, but common sense would be to admit you are a novice layman with little practical knowledge or context of the game. There are differences in the weight, movement and speed of a soccer ball. There are differences in the job of a goalkeeper and a wide receiver. It's apples to oranges. Wide receiver's have to catch everything. Goalkeepers primarily deflect or punch balls away. Proper technique teaches you to only catch balls you're absolutely certain you can catch and to do so with your body, not your hands. Perfect example was Tim Howard's point black save on Emile Heskey in the second half. Trying to catch everything is not only impractical considering most shots are far from your grasp's range, but it's actually bad technique because you are more likely to give a rebound back into a dangerous area or more likely to lapses in technique and concentration.
My English buddy and I have an inside joke about soccer we call "shoot the goal." He's a huge, lifelong soccer fan and when we watch games together I joke that on every possession the players should just kick the ball at the goal, no matter how unlikely a shot, and hope it goes in. It's all based on that Simpsons' parody "holds it...holds it...holds it....HOLDS IT." He's like, "you're right, over the last hundred years these teams playing the sport at the highest level have been doing it all wrong, haven't thought about tactics or figured out the most effective technique, they should just shoot the goal." I try to annoy him by watching a handful of games a year and then telling him how the sport should really be played.
