Cedar Ridge Pitching Steps

1. Cedar Ridge Pitching Steps Major League steps to becoming the best pitcher possible

2. Pitching is 90% technique; 10% velocity All the velocity in the world means nothing without technique. Someone throwing 85 mph could touch 90 with proper mechanics. Know HOW to pitch, and follow through with that knowledge.

3. Step One: Balance A pitcher should start from the windup completely facing home plate, with a 45-degree angle on the throwing-side foot. There should be a slight bend at the knees The glove should be facing out, just below chin level. At Cedar Ridge, we will �fumble� the ball on every pitch, as not to tip off an off-speed grip Your hands should meet as if the palms were touching if you weren�t wearing a glove

4. Beginning the rocker step There is no need to bring the glove above your hat. It serves no purpose but fatigue in the late innings. Notice the poor balance here; good thing people couldn�t hit in 1910.

5. The glove-side foot should release to the BACK of the rubber. Going to the side is technically a balk. And, it�s a bad habit. Don�t do it! The step should be no more than the length of your foot. If you pick your glove-side foot up and lose your BALANCE, you are going back too far. At all points through the windup, you must stay on the BALLS of your feet to throw STRIKES! Beginning the rocker step

6. As you move forward to the leg lift position, remember these key points: Nose, glove, navel and knee � at all times you should be able to draw a straight line connecting all these points. You need to be in �athletic� position. Your back will be slightly bent (using the abs, not back) to ensure the proper axis alignment above. The abdomen � the crunches now pay off. You should feel a tightness in the tummy if all things are lined up correctly. Relax your glove-side leg � relaxation is the key!

7. Moving to opposite angles Releasing from the balance position, keep these points in mind: Your weight must remain loaded in the BACK leg. Avoid heavy landings. Stay on the BALLS to throw STRIKES! You should be able to pick up the front foot. Your front foot should land in a line connecting home plate to the instep of your pivot foot. If you are off, you will miss left or right. The front shoulder must remain closed Your hands should break at the highest point of your leg lift. As you bring the ball to its �back� position, do not overextend the arm. KEY: You should ALWAYS be able to draw a line from wrist to wrist without touching your chest!!!!!!

8. Opposite angle examples

9. Opposite angle examples Is Wells wrong here? Are his arm and wrist angles opposite? Is one side up and other down? Could you go wrist to wrist without touching his fat gut? No he�s not wrong � this follows our opposite angle guidelines.

10. Slow down and Rotate Late Most pitchers get in too much of a hurry It�s physics, fellas: 1. Your feet deliver your legs. 2. Your legs deliver your torso 3. Your torso delivers your arm 4. Your arm delivers the ball Get any of these out of sync, and it�s unnecessary strain on the arm and probably a bad pitch

11. Slow down and Rotate Late If we look at Johnson here, notice in the �back� shot he has planted, but his upper body is pointing left of the plate. He is coiling his body to increase the release of energy.

12. Even though he�s obviously not pointing home, let�s watch what happens when he rotates around his glove, which is lined up nose, glove, navel, knee as we discussed earlier.

13. Keep that line up front!! After the late rotation, make sure you BRING YOUR BODY to the glove, that should be lined up just above the front foot. Why, you may ask � It allows you to stride farther with better balance. For every foot closer your release point is to the mound, it appears 3 mph faster to the batter! And, because every single member of last year�s NL and AL All-Star team does it.

14. Proof �

15. Need more proof?

16. Don�t forget to finish! Some points to remember at release: 1. You will release the ball when your wrists become parallel. It is a physical fact of nature. You cannot change that. So, if your glove is low, your release will be high. (Remember, the wrists must always be in a straight line from one another � this is why)

17. Don�t forget to finish!

18. After the release The momentum of your torso rotation should force the top of your throwing-side foot to roll down, literally turning upside down. To relieve this stress, your body will automatically lift the foot at the same rate as your throwing arm is moving to the plate. This is where the �leg lift� comes from. If you are having to �remember� to lift your leg, or you are not lifting at all, you are putting serious stress on your throwing arm.

19. After the release

20. After the release And if it all works together, you get this as your final result � notice how Smoltz is balanced and ready for fielding position after the back leg catches up with the rest of his body. Hoffman has over-rotated and lost balance. Note the glove position. He has �overthrown� here.