Proper Pitching Mechanics By: Tommy Watson

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Tip One – Ball Grip


The easy way to teach the 4 seam grip is to take the ball and show the kids the horse shoe. Tell them to make rabbit ears with their fingers. Lay the end of their fingers across the seams farthest away from them. Their thumb goes directly under the ball where the thumb and middle finger cut the ball in half. The thumb’s position is very important. If the thumb is to the side of the ball, they will get a twisting action when they throw the ball and that is bad for the elbow. The two outside fingers should curl up on the side of the ball.


The two seam fast ball is to put movement on the ball. I don’t recommend the 2 seam for pitchers that are just starting out. The grip on the 2 seam is basically the same as the 4 seam. The difference is to find the 2 narrow seams. I call these the "railroad tracks". Take the rabbit ears and place them on the railroad tracks. The thumb goes under the ball. The thumb and middle finger split the ball in half. The two outside fingers curl up beside the ball.


Tip Two – Posture


Posture is one of the most important parts of pitching mechanics. The best posture is an athletic position. The feet should be a little wider than shoulder width apart. Point your toes straight with your back foot against the rubber. That is your throwing side foot. You should feel most of your weight shift to the balls of your feet. The ball in the throwing hand in the glove should be in the middle of your body.


Tip Three – Throwing Mechanics


The best way to insure that a pitcher gets a proper start is to make sure he has proper throwing mechanics.


Drill:


Have the child turn with his glove side, hip, and shoulder to the target. The back foot is what starts proper throwing mechanics. The foot has to be sideways of the target. Then put the ball in the glove with preferably a 4 seam grip. Then glove the ball in the throwing hand. The glove should be in the middle of the chest. Take the glove, throwing hand, and ball straight down past the belly button and break the hands with the fingers on top of the baseball. Arms should circle with both the throwing hand and the glove hand until both elbows get as high as the shoulders. The throwing hand should come up where the forearm is at a 90 degree angle and the ball and hand is at or slightly above the head. The glove arm should be pointed at 3rd base for right handers or 1st base for left handers. I call this movement down, around and up. Then they should stop at this point. Stride with their glove side foot, hip, and shoulder to the target. Plant the foot. Stop at this point with the elbows still as high as the shoulders. Then throw with the throwing elbow staying as high as the shoulder. The glove hand will turn up and the glove will come under the armpit. The upper body will move forward to finish with a flat back and head up. The head will stay on a straight line to the target. The head and the body should not fall off to either side.