Why do some pitchers stride too closed and work against their lower body? What exactly is too closed to the plate? In today’s video blog post, we are answering these questions, and giving you tips to fix these common pitching faults!
Pitching Faults: Correcting A Closed Stride
When you see a pitcher who goes out and his stride foot goes off of his stride line, and their base area is too closed to the plate. This can lead to not being able to command pitches down into the zone, and especially away from their arm side.
If you draw a line going from your starting point to home plate, being too close is considered any more than a shoe width away from that stride line. 2 or more shoe widths further and you will find yourself trying to fight your lower body.
A pitcher can be too closed in their stride to the plate because:
During the leg lift, the pitcher may be going to the plate too early. The hands are separating too early and the arm goes back before the knee can lift. This causes the pitcher to step too quickly, resulting in a closed stride/closing off his lower half.
Another key culprit to the rushing aspect/closed stride is the back knee. After the leg lift, the back knee collapses, instead of rolling toward the target before going out. Instead, at the leg lift, you want the back foot to roll to the inside part of the foot and the knee to roll and direct toward the plate. Correcting this, and getting into the second phase of balance allows your hips to work freely in the pitch.
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