Pitching a baseball is as much form and technique as it is sure force. No matter how strong you are your pitches are never going to meet their mark if you do not have exceptional form. If you are left handed you are going to (more than likely) throw left handed. Although the techniques are the same as pitching right handed, you are performing everything with the opposite leg and arm.
Stand on the Mound
- Stand perpendicular to home plate. Your right side should be facing the catcher.
Grip the Baseball Left Handed
Grip the baseball with your left hand. There are a dozen different pitches you may throw, each with its own grip. See "Resources" for a link to a few different pitching grips. Make sure to keep the ball hidden in your glove while your gripping the baseball. This ensures the batter cannot see your pitch before you throw it.
Pitch the Baseball Left Handed
- Lift your right knee up as if you are marching in place. You want your thigh to raise to at least parallel with the ground.
- Step towards home plate with your elevated leg, just like you are stepping over the top of a chair. Visualizing this helps produce good form.
- Bring your left arm (holding the ball) out directly behind you as you step with your leg. You want your left arm stretched out completely. As soon as your right leg touches the ground bring your left arm forward, circling your arm towards home plate. While your bringing your arm forward twist your hips so your so your chest is facing the place.
- Release the ball just as your left arm begins to circle down towards the ground. This gives the ball more velocity.
Practice Pitching Left handed
Practice this routine over and over. You are going to find little adjustments that fit you better and the correct location to release the baseball to give you the best pitch.
Most baseball teams look for left-handed pitchers to fill into their rotation. This is because there are batters who struggle facing left-handed pitches (due to the velocity of the baseball and how it approaches the batter’s box). As fewer individuals are left handed you may find it more likely to start as a pitcher on your baseball team due to you being left handed (or at least pitching the ball left handed).
Additional baseball rules and information
Greyson Ferguson - Greyson Ferguson is a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design with a degree in Film and Television. Outside of working ...
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