Baseball Pitchers: 90 Degree Angles and the Baseball Pitching Delivery.

90 Degree Angles and the Pitching Delivery

Now there, I’ll bet it never occurred to you that you would see a discussion concerning 90 degree angles in any aspect of baseball, let alone pitching. Like you, when I first found out about this information, I was surprised. A bit of a quirk, I’d say.

To begin with, this information came by way of the book, I must tell you where I got this information, COACHING PITCHERS, by Joe “Spanky” McFarland. He is the only author who has written about this subject that I know about. As you can imagine, I’ve read a few books on baseball pitching.

So, to the angles:

• When the pitcher is in the leg lift, or stride leg lift position, also known as the loaded position or gathered position, the pitcher must lift his lead leg to at least a ninety degree height. Any less and the pitcher gets less than the complete benefit of his stored energy for his delivery. Bring the lift leg at least waist high. That will get it done.

• When the pitcher lands on his front foot, he must maintain at least a ninety degree angle. At the landing position, the pitcher is bracing up against that leg, effectively holding himself back so the top of the body can spin to throw the ball. If the pitcher goes beyond 90 degrees, the front leg will collapse. Think of a building toppling over.

• When the throwing elbow starts forward, the elbow joint must be at least level with the shoulder joint. A bit higher is okay. Never less than 90 degrees. At this point, the elbow is at a 90 angle with the torso. In this position, also known as the acceleration position, the elbow should never be less than 90 degrees. If it is it leads to arm drag, flat fastballs, injury. Well, you get the point.

• As the elbow flies toward the plate like a spear, the elbow must be as high as the shoulder. At this point, the lead elbow creates a 90 angle with the torso. The angle can be less, but not more than 90 degrees.

• During External Rotation, the arm lays back at least 180 degrees. Once again the 90 angle comes into play. The elbow is leading the hand at a 90 degree angle.

Watching these 90 degree angles sequentially come into play is an easy way to see how a young pitcher is doing as he delivers a pitch. In this way a coach or parent is able to see what the pitcher is doing as he pulls his energy up, loads, spins and releases the ball. If any of those angles are missing, the pitcher is throwing with less than total command and benefit of his body.

And, very important, If a pitcher is not attaining all these angles, in proper sequence, some part of his body is compensating and if that is happening, an injury is in the making.

Baseball players, as is the case with all athletes, perform at their highest level when they are relaxed. When an athlete's mind is clear his body is free to move freely. When a body is moving freely, he is able to perform at his highest level.

The question is, how does the athlete get to the point where he is constantly and consistently competing at his highest level? In other words, how does the athlete get to the point where his mind and body are completely clear and performing at peak level?

One highly effective method is to use subliminal messaging software. This conditions your subconscious mind to work with your body at its optimum level. The technique is very simple, you just watch the proper subliminal message program as recommended, and your subconscious mind learns to do the right things, at the right time, automatically.

So now, mind and body are working together, and that is the formula for winning. See links below for our special subliminal message programs that can help you both as an athlete and a baseball pitcher.

“That which you do not know, the doing will quickly teach you.”

---Lao Tsu.