WINDUP DELIVERY

Windup Delivery

From the proper position on the mound, start the windup with a small back or side step. Raise your hands over your head. Lift your non-dominant leg up into the air and reach a balance point. Stride forward, bring the arm overhead and release the ball toward home plate.

"Balance and direction are crucial. Good balance helps you maintain control. Proper direction gives you maximum leverage in your stride."

Step 1

Take a small step back or to the side with your non-dominant foot

Keep your head still over the rubber

Eyes on target

Raise your hands together over your head

Pivot your dominant foot so the outside of it rests along the front edge of the rubber

Let your weight shift onto that foot and start coming forward

Step 2

Bring your hands back down between the waist and chin

Turn your non-dominant shoulder toward home plate

Lift your non-dominant knee between your waist and chest

Keep it on the inside half of the shoulder

Point your toe downward

Keep a firm dominant leg

Step 3

Break your hands at the chest

Take the ball down out of the glove

Move your leg down, then forward

Swing the ball down to your back thigh, then up behind your body

Raise elbow to shoulder height

Point the ball to 2nd base

Plant the ball of your front foot at a 45° angle

Step 4

Turn your hips to face the plate

Push with your legs

Rotate your shoulders

Bring your pitching arm forward

Keep your elbow at shoulder height

Release the ball

Upper body over and inside your front foot

Let your arm continue down outside the front knee

Step your back leg forward to a square position

Skills Drills

Balance drill

Start a normal windup, but pause at the balance point for 3 seconds. Continue and finish, focusing on pushing your body forward. Make sure you stay tall, working from ball of foot to ball of foot. This improves your balance point and stride.

Crow-hop drill

Extend your warm-up distance by using the "crow-hop" technique. This builds arm strength while improving your pitching mechanics. Standing in the stretch position, step forward with the stride foot. Bring the pivot foot behind the heel of the stride foot. Finish with a normal delivery, working top to bottom, ball of foot to ball of foot. Expand the distance until an arch in the throw occurs. Continue to increase by 10-foot increments.

Troubleshooting Tips

Adjust Yourself

If you are uncomfortable with your pitching motion, make adjustments. Avoid wild experimentation, though.

Feeling Pain?

Stop immediately
if you experience pain in your arm!
If it persists, see a doctor.

Distracted?

If bringing your hands over your head is distracting,

try the "no-windup" delivery.

Stay Tall

Stay tall. Work from the ball of one foot to the ball of the other. When taking the ball back, put the ball to thigh, then thumb to sky. When throwing, keep a high hand & high elbow. Work "top to bottom" by taking your arm from a high position to down outside your stride knee.

READ "What to throw, when to throw it"

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by
Jon Anderson
jontanderson@juno.com