Pitching Mechanics

Proper pitching mechanics are essential in order to consistently deliver strikes. This information will help you understand what a coach needs to know. The dedication and drive that an athlete needs to do this will quickly weed out those who are unwilling to put in the time. The point that I want to drive home is this. Use an experienced coach to teach this information.

Team USA coach Mike Candrea and Amanda Freed cover the art of pitching.

The most common pitching delivery is the step drag style. Let’s take a moment to go through what happens in order to pitch this style.


A more advanced delivery method is the leap drag method. I believe that this method should only be attempted after the pitcher has at least a year of experience.


The grip and wrist snap combined will cause the ball to rotate. This rotation is what will cause the ball to be a fastball, curve, drop or whatever.


The alignment drill, most often refered to as "the K's", are the next set of pitching drills a pitcher should work on, after the wrist snaps. Begin with your feet just over shoulder width apart and your toes on the power line.


The pitchers alignment and balance plays a big role in developing a pitcher. The big thing that the coach wants to look is how the pitcher looks after she has released the ball. Does her momentum bring her directly toward the target under control or does she fall of to one side or the other? Falling off to one side or the other is a symptom of something that needs to be corrected. Here are some things to watch for.


Hitting the corners when you want to is the sign of a top pitcher. Consistent quality hard work on a regular schedule will eventually result in the ability to consistently hit the strike zone. Once you have developed a quality pitch, then it’s time to learn how to locate your pitches where you want them in the strike zone.


Your pitch selection depends on what will work best for the current situation. This information will help you in making the right choice. This is dependent on the skill level of your pitcher.

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