THE WIND-UP

8 Steps to Perfection

by Jeremy Thomas, Pitching Coach Dixie State College

1. READY - Stand on the pitching rubber with feet about shoulder width apart. The heels of the feet should be on the pitching rubber with toes resting on the dirt in front of the rubber (Some pitchers will turn body slightly toward the throwing hand side).

The hands should be in front of the body with the fingers of the glove pointing toward the sky. Keep base coaches from seeing the pitch grips by positioning the glove so that you can see the ball and the catcher at the same time. The hands will stay in this position until stride.

2. STEP - Keep head still over your pivot foot with eyes focused on the target point (EYES WILL NOT MOVE FROM TARGET POINT AT ANY POINT DURING THE DELIVERY). Take a small step to the side (away from pitching hand) no bigger than glove length. Some pitchers simply shift body weight to non-pivot foot without much step. The hands remain in the same position as step 1.

3. PIVOT - With the body weight on the non-pivot foot, turn the pivot foot so that the entire foot is in front of the pitching rubber. Hands remain in the same position as step 1. Eyes should continue to remain focused on target point.

4. LOAD - The load is one of the most critical and often where most mechanical mistakes are made. Lift the non-pivot leg between the elbows until the knee meets the hands ( Hands should still be in the same position as step 1). This allows the hips to remain closed and gives a coil or load effect. The load foot should be positioned directly below the knee or slightly angled away from the body. Pivot leg remains tall and straight. Head remains balanced over pivot foot. Eyes should continue to remain focused on target point. NOTE: THE LOAD FOOT SHOULD NEVER BE BELOW A PITCHERS BUTTOCKS. THIS RESTRICTS THE LOAD AND LIMITS THE POTENTIAL ENERGY CREATED FROM THE LOAD.

5. SEPARATION - Once the load knee meets the hands at balance point, the hands trail the feet and separate. The palms point down as the hands extend downward and slightly separate. The hands should remaining in line with the feet approximately shoulder width apart. The Hips and buttocks begin to explode toward the catcher. Eyes should continue to remain focused on target point.

6. STRIDE - Stride toward the catcher landing with the landing foot pointed toward the catcher. At foot strike the lead foot and shoulders should be in a direct line to the catcher. The front and rear elbows should be even with the shoulders and the palms of both hands still pointing to the ground. The glove arm should mirror the throwing arm throughout the stride. The ideal stride length is between 100%-125% of a pitchers height (i.e. A 6'4" pitcher should have a stride length between 6'4" and 8' long). The average stride length is between 90%-99%' of a pitchers height. Eyes should continue to remain focused on target point.

7. RELEASE - At the instant the stride foot lands, the hips rotate, the shoulders rotate and the glove hand turns over as the chest extends toward the glove. The arm extension and release occur FOLLOWING the hip and shoulder rotation. This creates a whipping affect and maximum velocity. Eyes should continue to remain focused on target point.

8. FINISH - After ball release, the chest extends beyond the front knee. Throwing hand finishes on the outside of plant leg and the back and back leg form the flat back position. This position is where the back is flat and is inline with the heel of the back leg running parallel to the ground. Let the throwing arm and hand relax as the back foot comes up, over and around to the front (Do not let the throwing arm recoil after delivery, this causes an abrupt stop in the arm motion and can potentially lead to injury). Finally, the stride foot can be brought forward to assume a fielding position. Eyes should still be focused on target point.

Maintaining proper pitching mechanics throughout the delivery will lead to increased velocity and command of pitches. Maintaining proper mechanics requires hard work and dedication on a daily basis. Above all, always remember to keep it simple. Try and eliminate any unnecessary movement from the delivery.

Always remember the two goals of pitching. 1) Throw the first pitch strike to every batter and 2) Get the first batter out of every inning. Accomplishing these two goals allows a pitcher to get ahead in the count and get out of innings quicker and with less damage. Pitchers who consistently follow the two goals of pitching will be successful at any level.