For over 20 years, Coach Skip has emphasized that the glove coming across the body before the stride prevents the catastrophic timing fault seen in typical, lesser motions.

Coach Skip says that bringing the front foot to the ground too early is considered a primary mechanical fault.

Optimal mechanics synchronize the body to deliver a wave of energy to the throwing arm✅

“Optimal” (Front Leg Lands After Glove Hand Action)

By getting the front leg to land after the glove hand comes across the pitcher’s body, the hips act to increase the motion’s ability to get the ball to the target more often, with greater velocity, and less injury to the throwing arm.

This description perfectly aligns with the principles of the Kinetic Chain and Hip-Shoulder Separation—the foundation of modern, high-velocity, and safe pitching mechanics.

  • Glove Hand Cross-Body Separation/Torque Load: The glove arm moves to position the front shoulder and helps keep the torso closed as the hips begin to rotate, maximizing the rotational difference between the upper and lower body.
  • Front Foot Lands: The front leg plants and stiffens, creating a pivot point that acts like a solid wall. All the linear momentum generated from the drive leg and the rotational energy stored in the trunk suddenly crash into this wall.
  • Hip Act to Increase Motion Energy Transfer: The sudden stop of the front side causes the stored rotational energy to violently transfer up the body. The hips and torso are forced to rotate rapidly around the braced front leg, creating the rotational whip that accelerates the throwing arm.
  • Ball Delivered: The throwing arm reaches its peak acceleration and release just after the foot plant, and the peak rotational force of the hips/torso ensures a maximum energy transfer and minimizes stress on the arm.
This scenario is correct

The timing of the front leg landing after the glove hand moves across the body is what allows the hips to be the primary power source and makes the delivery efficient, powerful, and safer.

A typical fault breaks the synchronization, forcing the arm to generate its own power.❌

“Typical”: The Late Arm Fault

The front leg movement in a typical motion has the front leg landing first, then the throw occurs. The hips act as a drag of the body and force the pitcher to throw the ball entirely with his throwing arm.

This scenario describes a common mechanical flaw in which the body’s powerful segments complete their job too early, leaving the arm to finish the job.

  • Timing Fault: The term “Late Arm” occurs because the Front Foot Lands First, and the hips/torso rotate or “fly open” prematurely before the throwing arm is fully ready.
  • Role of the Hips (Drag): The hips begin and complete their rotation against a weak or premature front brace. The powerful hip rotation and momentum are dissipated before the arm captures the energy, the hips no longer contribute to the final arm speed, and act as a “drag” because their job is over too soon.
  • Result: The pitcher is left to accelerate the ball almost entirely with the throwing arm, decreasing velocity and placing excessive, shear stress on the elbow, the shoulder’s labrum, and rotator cuff, leading to increased injury risk.
In essence, an efficient motion is about sequencing—ensuring the arm is “on time” to receive the energy wave generated by the lower body and core at the moment of front foot contact.

To learn an optimal pitching motion, including how to get the glove hand to travel across the body before the front foot hits the ground, go to one of the Pro Pitching Institute Products.