| Learning different pick-off moves to all of the | | | | arms. Equal and Opposite was a term coined, I |
| bases is important to your success as a pitcher. It | | | | believe by Tom House. It means that your glove |
| boosts your confidence at a young age, so you | | | | arm is a mirror image of what your throwing arm |
| can focus more on the batter as opposed to | | | | is doing. It is a form of maintaining balance and |
| worrying about what you don't know as a pitcher. | | | | posture throughout your delivery. You can have a |
| Knowledge about your pick off moves will give | | | | difficult time throwing strikes or hitting your target |
| you that confidence. However, this isn't an article | | | | if you don't learn this strategy. |
| about how to pick anybody off, how to catch a | | | | Now, moving on to proper throwing mechanics to |
| runner stealing or even getting out of a pickle. It | | | | the bases: |
| is information about maintaining proper throwing | | | | While your intent is to hold the runner on the |
| technique while you keep the runner close to the | | | | base, it is imperative when making your throw to |
| bag. | | | | any base that you have good throwing mechanics. |
| I will share a few pitching mechanic tips before I | | | | If not, you risk an overthrow which is giving the |
| talk about proper throwing technique to the bases. | | | | runner a free base or two. |
| Here are some basic pointers you need to know | | | | Many right handed pitchers have the tendency to |
| when you throw the baseball. First and foremost, | | | | open up when they throw to first. Left handed |
| when you throw the ball it is imperative that all of | | | | pitchers tend to open up when they throw the |
| your energy is going toward your target. If you | | | | ball to third base during a pick off. Staying closed |
| are on the mound and you want to throw to the | | | | while keeping a runner close to the bag is |
| catcher, all of your momentum better be going | | | | something that takes a lot of practice. Most |
| toward the catcher or you run the risk of not | | | | pitchers have a difficult time maintaining their |
| only making a bad throw; but putting undue stress | | | | throwing mechanics when they throw to second |
| on your throwing arm. So, maintaining your | | | | base because most mounds, particularly at the |
| balance ensuring that your head is going in the | | | | little league level, don't have much of a slope. |
| direction of the throw is the first step. | | | | When you make the throw to second, it's like |
| Staying closed is another important aspect of | | | | taking a step down a steep stair; you can lose |
| throwing the baseball. You want to ensure that | | | | your balance very easily. |
| your feet, hips and shoulders remain in a closed | | | | Learn correct pitching mechanics first and then |
| posture all the way to foot strike. | | | | use them when you do your practice drills for |
| Another mechanical adjustment many pitchers | | | | your pick offs. |
| need to make is keeping "equal and opposite" | | | | |