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Get Scouted Scouting CareersAs the National Director of Softball who has has scouted some of the best talent coast to coast, I can tell you that what Coach Mo is telling you in this video is 100 percent correct.
From a scouting standpoint, one of the first things I’m evaluating on a pitcher is her leg drive. A good leg drive not only will increase velocity, but also will allow the pitcher to improve her breaking pitches (also partly as a result of the higher velocity) and hide her off-speed pitches better if her arm/lower timing is on point.
How long should the stride be? Although this is something that must be right for the pitcher, a typical stride is about 90-120 percent of her height. I always encourage pitchers to stride 5-plus inches or more beyond their height. A 5-foot-6 pitcher, for example, often will stride 6-plus feet.
As Coach Mo said in the video:
1) You’re set and pushing down into your front toe on the front of the rubber.
2) Can’t just stand up and step off.
3) Hard leg drive forward into the pitch.
4) Use legs for power as if you were jumping.
5) The idea is not leaving the ground.
6) Getting the hips open before you land.
7) Stay tall.
8) A proper drag should look like a question mark in the dirt.
9) From the mound it should go straight toward home plate and, after about a foot or so, it should go behind you.
When evaluating a pitching prospect and examining her mechanics, a good leg drive and drag are “tell-tell signs” of a more experienced pitcher. I’ve scouted plenty of 6-0 pitchers who could step off the mound and windmill it 59 mph. But, in my head, all I could think is “Man, get this kid using her legs, and she’s a mid 60s kid in a heartbeat”.
Stay tuned for more softball-specific tips from Coach Mo. Curious how your pitching stacks up? Be scouted and get recruited: www.nsr-inc.com/softball
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National Scouting Report is dedicated to finding scholarship opportunities for athletes who possess the talent, desire, and motivation to compete at the collegiate level. We’ve helped connect thousands of athletes with their perfect college.