Pitching Basics - Stretch

The Stretch

FOCUS ON THE PROCESS NOT THE RESULTS

BE CONFIDENT IN EVERY PITCH YOU THROW

STAY BALANCED, STAY WITHIN YOUR FRAME

NEVER EASE OFF YOUR PITCH, THROW INSIDE

On the mound - When pitching out of the stretch, you want to start in a comfortable, relaxed position.  Set up with your feet shoulder width apart and your hands at your sides.  As you come set, pick up your front foot and move it back to just within shoulder width and bring your hands together just above your waist.   You should have your weight on your back leg and a little bend in that back knee.  This position will allow you to pitch with a leg lift, slide step, or pick off. 

Slide Step – When using a slide step, it isn’t a race to throw the pitch as quickly as possible.  You still need to get to a powerful position before striding, and give your arm time to get in the right position – the key is to do this without bringing your knee up to your waist.  When you’re ready to pitch, bring your front foot up off the ground just a few inches and bend your knee.   That will load you on your back leg allowing you to push down the mound.  We are still lifting our hands has our front leg comes up, its just a quick motion.  An we must still get our hands going down when our leg goes down, again its just quicker in order to get our hands up when our front foot lands.  

Stride -  As your knee comes down from your balance point, your hands should come down with them, breaking in a downward motion as if you are flicking your thumbs at the ground.  Once your leg has come down, its time for your stride.  Your stride does not begin with your leg or your foot; it starts from YOUR HIP.  You want to lead with your front hip down the mound.  As you stride, you want to stay within your frame, do not let your foot or arm swing out to one side or the other.  Keep everything moving towards your target.  You want to stride out as far as you can, landing with your foot just slightly closed.  When you have landed on that front foot, your glove or lead shoulder should be pointed at the target and the ball should be pointed straight behind you with your throwing elbow above your shoulder. 

Pitch & Follow Through – Once your foot lands down the mound, its time to turn your shoulders and hips, and throw your pitch at your target.  As you turn your body, still remembering to stay within your frame, turn your glove over and pull it in towards your body.  This will help rotate your shoulders, keep you compact, and get you in a better fielding position.  As you throw, you want to reach out as far as you can towards your target, this will get your more velocity and help start a strong follow through.  As you release the ball, you should be reaching to the ground to get your body through the pitch.  Finally, your back leg should come off the ground and follow the same path your arm just went through.  The higher your leg comes off the ground, the further you can bend down, which gives your arm more time to slow down.  Land with your feet square to the plate and get ready for a line drive back at your face (which won’t happen if you’ve followed all these steps).