Youth Pitching Motion

By Coach May for YouthPitching.com

Here are some components of a quality baseball pitching motion for youth pitchers.

• Balance inside of back and stride foot
• Stay Tall/head over pivot foot/have inward knee on pivot leg
• Lift Leg, let foot hang/front hip higher than back hip
• Rotate and show front pocket/Pause and balance
• Hands close to body
• Fingers on top of ball, thumb underneath/extend wrist
• Elbows slightly in front of shoulder
• Pivot knee relaxed & unlocked/Toe slightly open
• Forward Movement

No movement until knee drops

• Break hands as knee drops, thumbs down, force elbows up/ extend wrist
• Lead with hip, keep R(RH) shoulder back momentarily/front hip higher than rear
• Move side of hip, leg, foot forward, stay closed
• Resist Turning Keep elbows in front of shoulders , shoulders on Line
• Elbows shoulder high
• Landing

Stride ball of foot to ball of foot

• Front shoulder closed until foot plant
• Head at center of triangle up to foot plant
• Elbows shoulder high
• Ball facing SS (RH) 2nd (LH), fingers on top of ball/wrist forward
• Eyes level
• Land plant foot slightly closed, on ball of foot
• Firm plant foot, Thigh at 135 degree angle for release
• Don't let knee drift forward after plant
• Release Ball

Arch back thrust chest

• Hand outside elbow as arm accelerates
• Eyes level
• Have full extension on wrist/wrist laid back
• Move to 75 % of stride Rotate hips, trunk, shoulders…EXPLOSION
• Arms and shoulder rotate around head
• Flex back forward, release ball at same angle as back
• Roll over back foot (pivot post ankle)
• Don't let knee drift
• Pull back knee forward and In for velocity Back leg comes off rubber before release
• Drive glove hand back to chest at rotation/or keep over stride foot
• Throw thru the target, watch target not ball flight
• Flick wrist upon release, Pull ball hand down across body
• Finish with head over landing knee
• Follow thru by showing back pocket/heel over after push off foot lands

Checkpoints of a proper pitching motion

• Keep your head over your pivot foot thru-out the entire delivery
• No forward momentum toward home plate until your lift leg reaches it apex
• Lift – don't kick – your leg up to its maximum height
• Hold your hands at the center of gravity – from belly button to upper-chest level
• Maintain the same upper-body posture you achieve in the balance phase of the delivery
• Take a controlled fall toward home plate in the tall posture you achieved at balance
• As you begin to move toward home plate, make sure your entire front side – foot, hip, elbow, knee, and glove is aligned with home plate. This is know as a closed, compact delivery. Hips must stay directional (toward home plate) until the landing foot hits. All hip rotation takes place after this point.
• Land with your front side directional but your landing foot "closed off" – a right-hander's left big toe should point slightly toward the third-base side of home plate; a left-hander's right big toe should point slightly toward the first-base side of home through the body and into the arm at your release point, and ultimately ensures a less stressful deceleration of the arm.