Step 6

1/4 Circle

Use the lower body movement of step 1 in the step. Extend the arm directly towards second base with the open hand facing third base. Flex the elbow to raise the hand. The amount of flex should be 30 to 45 degrees and the open hand is still facing third. Extend the left arm on the power line so it is pointing at home plate. Bring the right arm to the starting position of step 5. Make sure that the elbow is making a circular arc, not just dropping to that position. Also as the elbow is coming around, the amount of flex in the elbow should increase so that it reaches 90 degrees by the time the elbow is pointing straight down. As the right elbow is taking its 1/4 circle, the left arm should drop to the leg at the same speed the right upper arm is rotating.

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Once you have reached the starting position of step 5, continue with the remainder of step 5. There should be no pause when you reach the step 5 starting point, just a fluid motion by the right hand. When you reach the step 5 starting point, the hand should start accelerating. Have the pitcher work on this step until the motion is relaxed, fluid and very fast. As the speed increases, make sure that the elbow flex is still working properly.

One thing to note is that in practice, pitchers generally do not have their elbow flexed a full 90 degrees. The optimal amount of flex is closer to 45 degrees with 30 being a minimum and 60 being very good. For purposes of doing this step, getting the full 90 flex is appropriate, but if the pitcher is having trouble with that allow her to get to that point between 45 and 60. Now, if she is only flexing to 45, then the starting point needs to be less than 45. One of the key movements being developed in this step is the increase in the flex of the elbow through the last quarter of the circle

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