Expert: Rick Bundy - 10/22/2010

Question
does the height of your leg going up in the stretch effect your ball speed?

Answer
Tony:  Effect on your ball speed would be minimal.

The leg lift takes you to your balance position, gathered and poised to take your stride foot to the ground and get you to your loaded or power position.  The action that occurs after the stride foot lands is the powerful part of your delivery.

A good guide is to bring your leg up until your thigh is parallel to the ground.  Going higher than that tends to push your head and body back, which will start to open up your front side, disrupting accuracy, decreasing velocity.

It is important to think,"lift the knee to the chest".  Your head should be directly over your back foot.  Those two mechanics will get you striding on line, keeping your hips and shoulders closed.  Your hips don't open until the stride foot is down.  The explosive rotation of your hips and upper body take you towards the plate.

Yours in baseball,

Rick