Baseball Pitching Tips - Checkpoints Are Mandatory For All Pitchers!

By Larry Cicchiello

Checkpoints are something that a pitcher should do before every pitch in order for him to be the most effective!

Usually, baseball pitchers have about three or four. They will vary from pitcher to pitcher. Checkpoints are very simply mental reminders that a pitcher gives to himself before every pitch.

Some Common Checkpoints That Pitchers Use:

Step toward your catcher's target.

Keep the front shoulder closed when driving toward the plate so you don't "fly open."

Throw the ball and don't overthrow the ball.

Don't rock left and right and keep everything straight during the windup and delivery of the pitch.

Remember not to tilt the head and to keep it straight.

Remember to "stay back on the rubber" if you have a tendency to get your body ahead of your throwing arm.

Keep the windup slow if you have a tendency to rush and it causes pitching problems for you.

Get the legs involved in the pitch to share the work load.

Stay "on top" of your pitches or they will flatten out and be much more hittable.

Turn the hip enough when pivoting.

Raise the throwing elbow up to shoulder height.

Break the hands apart early so you don't have to rush the throwing arm.

Raise the front knee to at least waist height.

The list can go on and on. (And it almost did.)

As an individual pitcher, you have to decide what the three or four things are that should be your personal checkpoints. Only you will know what the things are that you should do, or should not do to pitch effectively.

Think about them before every pitch you throw.

It's not nearly as complicated as one might think. Simply think of an abbreviated form because it is not like you have to think of thirty, forty or fifty words before every pitch.

A typical checkpoint list may be staying back on the rubber, front shoulder closed and point the landing foot to the catcher's target.

A more logical and abbreviated version would be "stay back, closed and foot."

It takes about one second at the most.

Spending this one second will help you tremendously as a baseball pitcher.

Larry Cicchiello is the author of "Excellent Baseball Coaching: 30 Seconds Away." His site offers many FREE baseball tips on hitting, baseball pitching tips, baseball coaching drills, baseball fielding tips, etc. You will be FULLY EQUIPPED!

You can visit his website at http://www.larrybaseball.com/

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