Pickoff Thows, How To?

[JackB1]

I recently started pitching again in my league and want to know some of the basics about pick off throws....

I have the pickoff to 1st down pretty good......I just step off with my pivot (rubber) foot towards between home and 3rd and then step towards 1st base with my left foot and throw.

What's the easiest way to pick off to 2nd? Do I have to step back off the rubber with my pivot foot 1st or can I just spin around on my pivot foot and throw to 2nd? I have also seen righties spin clockwise and throw to 2nd, but that seems more difficult.

Pickoff to 3rd? - Do I have to step off the rubber first or do I do like lefties do when throwing to 1st?

[StraightGrain11]

I recently started pitching again in my league and want to know some of the basics about pick off throws....

I have the pickoff to 1st down pretty good......I just step off with my pivot (rubber) foot towards between home and 3rd and then step towards 1st base with my left foot and throw.

What's the easiest way to pick off to 2nd? Do I have to step back off the rubber with my pivot foot 1st or can I just spin around on my pivot foot and throw to 2nd? I have also seen righties spin clockwise and throw to 2nd, but that seems more difficult.

Pickoff to 3rd? - Do I have to step off the rubber first or do I do like lefties do when throwing to 1st?

Your move to 2B is determined by the "play" you set and by the abilitly level of the runner on base. The "spin" technique is used more for "timing" plays, and the clockwise technique is used more for inexprerienced runners you can catch leaning on the leg kick.
The difference between a "lefty" throwing to 1B and a "righty" throwing to 3B is that the lefty HAS to throw to 1B (unless he steps off), the righty can fake his throw to 3B (w/o stepping off).
-You do not have to step off the rubber for pick-off throws to 2B or 3B - whether you complete the throw or fake it.

[TG Coach]

I recently started pitching again in my league and want to know some of the basics about pick off throws....

I have the pickoff to 1st down pretty good......I just step off with my pivot (rubber) foot towards between home and 3rd and then step towards 1st base with my left foot and throw.

What's the easiest way to pick off to 2nd? Do I have to step back off the rubber with my pivot foot 1st or can I just spin around on my pivot foot and throw to 2nd? I have also seen righties spin clockwise and throw to 2nd, but that seems more difficult.

Pickoff to 3rd? - Do I have to step off the rubber first or do I do like lefties do when throwing to 1st?

Being a lefty I never worked with right handed pitchers. But regardless of hand, how many pickoffs have you ever seen at third?

[jbooth]

I recently started pitching again in my league and want to know some of the basics about pick off throws....

I have the pickoff to 1st down pretty good......I just step off with my pivot (rubber) foot towards between home and 3rd and then step towards 1st base with my left foot and throw.

What's the easiest way to pick off to 2nd? Do I have to step back off the rubber with my pivot foot 1st or can I just spin around on my pivot foot and throw to 2nd? I have also seen righties spin clockwise and throw to 2nd, but that seems more difficult.

Pickoff to 3rd? - Do I have to step off the rubber first or do I do like lefties do when throwing to 1st?

You can just pivot and throw. That's why it's called the "pivot" foot.:waving

To be legal, all you have to do is step in the direction of where you are throwing, and the stepping foot must touch the ground before the ball is released from your hand. You can't throw, and then step.

In throwing to second you can turn in either direction, but your foot must land on the second base side of the rubber, ahead of your throw. You can fake to second and third, but not to first. You must step ahead of a fake also.

[Chris O'Leary]

I have the pickoff to 1st down pretty good......I just step off with my pivot (rubber) foot towards between home and 3rd and then step towards 1st base with my left foot and throw.

This is technically a balk if you step too far off the rubber (e.g. end up disengaged from the rubber after pivoting).

[jbooth]

This is technically a balk if you step too far off the rubber (e.g. end up disengaged from the rubber after pivoting).

How far you step MAY be a factor to some amateur umps, but the distance is not the primary issue.

Your footwork must be fluid and quick. You may move your pivot foot first, but you need to quickly step with the free foot.

Up until this year (where they made the rule equal what's been called), moving your pivot foot first was, by the book, a balk. But, for the last 25 years at least, umps have let pitchers "jump turn", or "jab step", and move the pivot foot before stepping, PROVIDED that the "jab step" with the pivot foot was immediately followed by a step toward first.

Rule 8.01
(c) At any time during the pitcher’s preliminary movements and until his natural
pitching motion commits him to the pitch, he may throw to any base provided he
steps directly toward such base before making the throw.
Rule 8.01(c) Comment: The pitcher shall step “ahead of the throw.” A snap throw followed by
the step directly toward the base is a balk.

Rule 8.05
(c) The pitcher, while touching his plate, fails to step directly toward a base before
throwing to that base;
Rule 8.05(c) Comment: Requires the pitcher, while touching his plate, to step directly toward a
base before throwing to that base. If a pitcher turns or spins off of his free foot without actually stepping
or if he turns his body and throws before stepping, it is a balk.
A pitcher is to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base but does not require him to
throw (except to first base only) because he steps. It is possible, with runners on first and third, for the
pitcher to step toward third and not throw, merely to bluff the runner back to third; then seeing the
runner on first start for second, turn and step toward and throw to first base. This is legal. However, if,
with runners on first and third, the pitcher, while in contact with the rubber, steps toward third and then
immediately and in practically the same motion “wheels” and throws to first base, it is obviously an
attempt to deceive the runner at first base, and in such a move it is practically impossible to step directly
toward first base before the throw to first base, and such a move shall be called a balk. Of course, if the
pitcher steps off the rubber and then makes such a move, it is not a balk.

Comment; (b) With a runner on first base the pitcher may make a complete turn, without hesitating toward
first, and throw to second. This is not to be interpreted as throwing to an unoccupied base.

[JackB1]

This is technically a balk if you step too far off the rubber (e.g. end up disengaged from the rubber after pivoting).

SO what is the "correct" way to do it? Do I just pivot my pivot foot, step towards 1st with my front foot and throw? Which foot moves first?

[Chris O'Leary]

SO what is the "correct" way to do it? Do I just pivot my pivot foot, step towards 1st with my fromt foot and throw?

It better (and faster) to just pivot on the heel of the PAS foot rather than disengaging via a bigger step toward 3B.

Technically, to disengage from the rubber you have to step back toward 2B. However, pivoting on the PAS foot isn't generally considered to be disengaging.

What most pros do is pivot on their PAS foot and then step and throw to 1B.

[JackB1]

It better (and faster) to just pivot on the heel of the PAS foot rather than disengaging via a bigger step toward 3B.

Technically, to disengage from the rubber you have to step back toward 2B. However, pivoting on the PAS foot isn't generally considered to be disengaging.

What most pros do is pivot on their PAS foot and then step and throw to 1B.

So that's why you said what I technically was doing was a balk? Because I was "disengaging" from the rubber and stepping slightly forward at an angle?
Now I understand. For some reason, I thought you had to step off the rubber before throwing to 1st??? Funny thing is, I was pretty quick to 1st that way :) It is quicker I think to take a quick "step" rather than actually pivoting completely (like "squishing the bug"), but I think I was overdoing it a bit. What I think I will now do is a combination quick step/pivot, then step towards 1st and throw.

Thanks for the clarification.

[jbooth]

So that's why you said what I technically was doing was a balk? Because I was "disengaging" from the rubber and stepping slightly forward at an angle?
Now I understand. For some reason, I thought you had to step off the rubber before throwing to 1st??? Funny thing is, I was pretty quick to 1st that way :) It is quicker I think to take a quick "step" rather than actually pivoting completely (like "squishing the bug"), but I think I was overdoing it a bit. What I think I will now do is a combination quick step/pivot, then step towards 1st and throw.

Thanks for the clarification.

Most pros use the "jab step" move.

They don't just pivot on the pivot foot, step and throw. They lift the pivot foot, move it a little and turn it, and then jab it back down, close to the rubber, but a little to the right of where the foot started, and then step with the free foot and throw. The movement of the right foot is small, and doesn't cover a lot of distance. It's just a way of pivoting without keeping the foot in contact with the ground during the pivot. It's kind of hard to pivot with spikes on, and the foot against the rubber. The move is simply to accomplish a pivot without getting your foot stuck.

You aren't supposed to take a literal step with the right foot, it's a "pivot" step.

And, per rule, you do NOT have to disengage the rubber before throwing to a base. In fact if you disengage (step backward with your pivot foot, to the second base side of the rubber) and then throw to first, you better hope you don't throw it wild into dead ball territory, because when you disengaged, you became a fielder and that runner on first (and all other runners) will be awarded two bases. If you throw wild while engaged (the jab step in front is considered still engaged), the runners only get one base.

Pros never step backward and then throw.

Rule 8.01
(e) If the pitcher removes his pivot foot from contact with the pitcher’s plate by stepping backward with that foot, he thereby becomes an infielder and if he makes a wild throw from that position, it shall be considered the same as a wild throw by any other infielder.

7.05 Each runner including the batter-runner may, without liability to be put out, advance -
(g) Two bases when, with no spectators on the playing field, a thrown ball goes into the stands, or into a bench (whether or not the ball rebounds into the field), or over or under or through a field fence, or on a slanting part of the screen above the backstop, or remains in the meshes of a wire screen protecting spectators. The ball is dead.
(h) One base, if a ball, pitched to the batter, or thrown by the pitcher from his position on the pitcher’s plate to a base to catch a runner, goes into a stand or a bench, or over or through a field fence or backstop. The ball is dead;

[Drill]

learn to throw with your glove on, using your glove hand


just kidding of course


drill

[Spencer]

You can just step towards first with your PAS foot and turn and throw.

It's legal as far as I know.

[JackB1]

Most pros use the "jab step" move.

They don't just pivot on the pivot foot, step and throw. They lift the pivot foot, move it a little and turn it, and then jab it back down, close to the rubber, but a little to the right of where the foot started, and then step with the free foot and throw. The movement of the right foot is small, and doesn't cover a lot of distance. It's just a way of pivoting without keeping the foot in contact with the ground during the pivot. It's kind of hard to pivot with spikes on, and the foot against the rubber. The move is simply to accomplish a pivot without getting your foot stuck.

You aren't supposed to take a literal step with the right foot, it's a "pivot" step.

And, per rule, you do NOT have to disengage the rubber before throwing to a base. In fact if you disengage (step backward with your pivot foot, to the second base side of the rubber) and then throw to first, you better hope you don't throw it wild into dead ball territory, because when you disengaged, you became a fielder and that runner on first (and all other runners) will be awarded two bases. If you throw wild while engaged (the jab step in front is considered still engaged), the runners only get one base.

Pros never step backward and then throw.




Thanks for the clarification. I guess I was already doing a "jab step", but I was exagerating it too much. I just need to shorten the 1st step a little and stay a little closer to the rubber.

[jbooth]

You can just step towards first with your PAS foot and turn and throw.

It's legal as far as I know.

The rule book uses the terms "free" foot, and "pivot" foot. The "pivot" foot is the right foot for a righthander.

You must step toward the base with your "free" foot and step ahead of the throw. If PAS means "pitching arm side", then your statement is incorrect. You may not step toward first base or third base with your "pivot" foot. That is most definitely a balk. If you step toward second with it, you will have disengaged, so then you aren't the pitcher.

[JackB1]

So what is the best way to pickoff to 2nd (counterclock spin)?
Just spin on the pivot foot , step towards 2nd base and throw?
Can I tak a little "jab step" again, like when throwing to 1st?

[Chris O'Leary]

They don't just pivot on the pivot foot, step and throw. They lift the pivot foot, move it a little and turn it, and then jab it back down, close to the rubber, but a little to the right of where the foot started, and then step with the free foot and throw. The movement of the right foot is small, and doesn't cover a lot of distance. It's just a way of pivoting without keeping the foot in contact with the ground during the pivot. It's kind of hard to pivot with spikes on, and the foot against the rubber. The move is simply to accomplish a pivot without getting your foot stuck.

You aren't supposed to take a literal step with the right foot, it's a "pivot" step.

I agree...

[wogdoggy]

Being a lefty I never worked with right handed pitchers. But regardless of hand, how many pickoffs have you ever seen at third?

not many but you can get a few kids sleeping, and some agressive coaches screaming, until you hit the 90 footers..

we had a timing play with the third baseman scratching his arm as a cue...definately a timing play whereas the third baseman plays back and breaks towards third on knee lift..a good lead throw and a agressive two hand tag or shove and bingo...:clapping

[JackB1]

Can someone explain the fundamentally correct pickoff throw to 2nd (for a righty)? I have seen guys step back off the rubber with the pivot foot, then spin and throw and I have seen guys just spin on the pivot foot and throw. Which is the preferred/taught method?