| With no runners on, the pitcher will generally be is the Wind-Up position. The pitcher should place his heels on the rubber about 6-8 inches apart. The pitcher should hold his glove in front of him so that the batter and base coach’s will not be able to see what grip he is using.
When receiving the sign, you should be in a comfortable position with your knees slightly bent and your shoulders and hips square to the plate.
- Your first movement will be a short step back and slightly to the side with your left foot (for Right handed pitcher, for lefty reverse all future left/right references). Try to keep your head and shoulders still during this step back. Your hands may move up towards your chin or eyes. It is important to keep balanced during the remainder of the wind-up as any excess momentum one way or the other will impact the pitcher’s control. Once the left foot has stepped back the right foot moves to become flush with the rubber.
- The pitcher pivots his body so that his body is now facing third base (first base for lefty).
- While pivoting, the pitcher lifts his front leg, such that his thigh is at least parallel to the ground. This is what is referred to as the ’Balance Point’. The pitcher’s weight should be directly over the rubber such that if he stopped in this position he would not fall one way or the other.
- Once in the balance point the pitcher will want to now bring his front leg down near the surface of the mound and then out towards the plate. As the pitcher begins his movement towards home plate, his hands separate thumbs down. At time of front foot landing with a slightly bent knee and on the balls of the foot and at only a slight angle to the plate, his elbows should be at shoulder height. The throwing arm should be cocked (about 90 degrees) with the fingers on top of the ball facing the shortstop or centerfielder.
- After the front foot lands, the hips open to the plate, which allows the body to bend forward. The lead arm rotates inward and down, the throwing arm continues smoothly through with the throwing elbow above the shoulder with the hand behind the ball, not under.
- The throwing arm should follow through all the way around and should finish around the lead foot ankle. The back leg should then come around and land even with the lead leg and the pitcher should now be a in a good fielding position.
- With runners on base pitchers will use the ’Stretch’ position. The stretch is the same as the wind-up, except it skips the small step back and pivot and picks up right before the start of the balance point. All other aspects of the wind-up will apply to the stretch as well.
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