Step 15

Stride From Pitcher's Plate

This is a lower body only step. Stand facing the batter, hips and shoulders square to home (fully closed) feet shoulder width apart. The toe of the left foot is a few inches behind the heel of the right foot. All of the weight is on the right foot and the left foot has the toe touching the ground. This is the starting position for step 15.

Slide the weight back and lower the left heel to the ground so that all the weight is on the left foot and the toe of the right foot comes off the ground. Next slide the weight forward to the starting position and continue sliding the weight forward by flexing the right ankle and the right knee. As the weight moves forward, step with the left foot so that the pitcher is in the starting position for step 1. Make sure to land on the left toe and to not pt the heel down. The left foot comes down at a 45 degree angle to the power line with the toes right up to the power line.



The one difference from the step 1 starting point is that the right foot may be facing the target more, say about half way between directly pointing at the target and a 45 degree angle.

Next practice this from the starting position of step 15 to completion of step 3 so that the transition and body rotation is very smooth and fluid. In the rotation the hips and shoulders to the open position remember that the hips and shoulders remain on top of each other. Also note that the open position is somewhere between “Fully Open” (shoulders parallel to the power line) and “45 Open”. In general it is better to be closer to the fully open position. That way if the player starts to close her hips and shoulders before she releases the ball, she has some leeway to make sure that the hips and shoulders remain at least 45 open until the hand passes the hip and the ball is released.

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The things to watch are that the angle of the right thigh should be slightly back as the weight comes forward and the step is taken.

It’s a good idea to practice step 15 and continue to close as in step 4. This is not included as a formal step as doing the motion without using the arms is very difficult. Requiring a student “pass” such a step is more work that it is worth.