Should Pitchers Learn the Wind Up? Or Just the Stretch?

Should pitchers in baseball still learn the wind up, or just scrap it altogether for the stretch? This is a big debate, but in this video I explain why you're missing the point altogether by asking this question.
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[@DanBlewett]

What do you think? Leave a comment below

[@CC_Marauder]

See my individual comment. The windup needs to be learned, early. (

[@Umaine2007]

I think the best part of this video is talking about practicing away from practice and games.

[@DanBlewett]

it's just SO important. So important.

[@dingdongsyo]

Brilliant comment, paraphrasing - "team practice is more like a recital, practice is working on things with friends / family" Totally true, especially for pitchers

[@wjpreble]

Absolutely love your direct yet sincere approach to the game. I coach a 16u team and really enjoy listening and watching your videos. I have encouraged my kids to read your books and watch your videos. your direct and to the point lessons have been a big part of my coaching and the results are paying off.

[@DanBlewett]

Thank you! Glad your kids have been thriving under your coaching leadership.

[@josephavant8700]

White Spray Paint on Pavestone brick in back yard (weird hard rubber ball that I still can’t find one that’s similar). Bout a 6in X 10in surface area. THREW EVERYDAY, ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! Had good command all the way through “career” (CC ball). GREAT VID MAN… SPOT ON!!’

[@mikeweiss2222]

I remember learning it and personally, I found a rhythm in my wind-up that I often lost in the stretch because initially, in the stretch, I would rush.

[@idl3john2]

I really like this approach. Recently, I took my 8-year-old to a pitching clinic his house league was putting on. He has never pitched in a game or practice but lit the clinic up. I just chalked it up to him having natural talent. I was surprised by what the coach over the clinic's first words to me were. He said, "You must throw with him a lot at home." I said yeah with him and his brother. Now after watching this video I understand why he said that. He is right, to be successful in baseball you have to love throwing. I have coached some teams in the past and on the first practice before they warm up I ask them if they know what makes a major league baseball player, a major league baseball player. My answer is this... They are the best in the world at playing catch, so take your warm-up seriously. New subscriber here for your straightforward, no-excuse approach.

[@NecronomJ]

Growing up, I played 15 years of ball. Most of which was in the 80's and 90's. We were always taught traditionally, windup to stretch when batters are on the bag.

[@ScottWhoolery]

Dan, loved the video. I'm an elementary PE teacher as well as youth baseball, basketball, and soccer coach. The message about "practicing" away from practice hit the nail on the head. I preach to my students and my athletes that they should be working on things at home away from the structured practice. Keep up the good work.

[@DanBlewett]

thanks - you wonder just how much all the backyard baseball (and other sports) we older folks played as a kids had an impact in this same way - the vast majority of my practice hours, and most peoples' our age, were in the backyard, with no judgment whatsoever. Very different from today, when the percentages are flipped. Kids have to be in front of others nearly all the time.

[@anthonyhighfield5819]

I agree with you Dan. Kids should do something baseball related (throw or hit) every day, and definitely learn the windup. Here is my experience with it. My son started pitching last fall in little league, sandlot division, league age 9. We throw/play catch or hit every day unless it’s bad weather. Admittedly, I fell into the wrong line of thinking that you point out about the stretch being easier. All for the same wrong reasons. So, I only taught my son the stretch. He continued to pitch only from the stretch through spring little league and 9U travel last spring. Over the summer, he tried out and made a different team for this fall travel season at the 10U level. His coaches on his new travel team stressed that he needed to learn to pitch from the windup. After discussing this with them and then seeing the results, I can attest learning the windup has made him a more consistent pitcher. He went from throwing around 50% strikes, often missing arm side, to consistently throwing 65-70% strikes. He’s got better control of his body movements since learning the windup. It’s even made him better from the stretch when he has runners on. I have also noticed that his velocity has increased slightly since learning to pitch from the windup. Some could argue that it’s just him growing up causing him to gain control and velocity. But, the change was immediate, once he got the mechanics of the windup down.

[@DanBlewett]

thanks for sharing and I'm glad its worked out - It definitely can be a challenge switching constantly from wind up to stretch in games, and I think this makes pitchers more resilient - they have to throw strikes from two different deliveries from one batter to the next. What's good for players longterm vs short-term can be hard to predict and i think it's complicated. Hence, prepare them for the road, not the other way around. I wish you both luck!

[@LuisFAraya]

My 12 yo son just started playing baseball 4 months ago, and he just feel like a "pro" doing the whole windup than just the mimic. Also, I take two more days to practice with him at home and he is now above his teammates that have more time practicing.

[@DanBlewett]

thats great! keep it up

[@maleake56]

Couldn't agree more. Back when I was growing up and playing baseball, I threw every day in the yard, at the city park, with my friends or just throwing against a wall. Any chance I got, I was throwing. I didn't wait for baseball practice. And it paid off. I learned how to get better command of my pitches. I grew up with the old full style windup in the sixties and into the seventies. Today's modern windup is a breeze by comparison, so there's no good reason to always default to the stretch. Anyway, I always found it was easier to get more on the ball with a wind up than coming from the stretch.

[@kpic291]

Hey love, what you had to say, are used to say going to practice doesn’t make it any better because everybody goes to practice. It’s what you do at home that counts. You nailed it dude.

[@josephmccannii5782]

Freaking love this video!! I just asked my son’s 9 year old coach why he teaches all his pitchers to throw from the stretch? And he just said it’s easier… I was kind of baffled I grew up pitching and made it to the university of north Florida before I stopped playing… however I loved to throw from the wind up and felt I was way more accurate… so why not teach kids when they don’t even have to worry about steals

[@DanBlewett]

yeah, only learning the stretch builds less resilient pitchers who can only do the job when its made as easy as possible

[@ACNYCHIDDENTALENTSPORTS]

Well said Coach... the truth sometimes hurts, but in the long run it’s in the players best interest. Great video...

[@LukeBoygamerX]

Agreed, the goal shouldn’t be to minimize movement and increase balance by only pitching from the stretch but increase your balance through practice in both the windup and stretch. Now how do you tell that to a coach that is telling kids not to emulate the pro and doesn’t want to see step backs or added movements.

[@jonahchav3z]

i’ve always gone between the 2 and always felt stretch being more comfortable with no runners on that in the windup it just help me stay more relaxed but that’s just me everyone is different. I am a 14 year old that throws 88 from the stretch and wouldn’t be able to throw from the windup

[@sbongardt]

AMEN, Coach Dan, AMEN!

[@itsjohnrice]

"I'm going to solve all your problems by making everything as easy as possible" ... The reward is always better when you have to sacrifice for it! Love your content!

[@devongenereux1656]

there needs to be people like you in every single sport, telling parents how it really is and calling them out

[@DanBlewett]

ha. thanks. I mean, no one is doing this in bad faith - they have good intentions - it's just sometimes the bigger picture is missed.

[@CC_Marauder]

The wind up is how hopeful baseball pitchers need to be introduced to pitching. In LL, there is no base stealing until the ball crosses the plate so pitching from the stretch is 100% unnecessary as there is no need to hold the runners on base. Why do so many people insist on not learning the basics in school and sports these days? /rhetorical ? Dumbing down Americans is the new sport. TEACH THE KIDS TO PITCH FROM THE WINDUP LIKE THE REST OF US!

[@DanBlewett]

I think it's valid to ask why we need the wind up and I think skepticism around old methods - including the windup - is good and healthy for the sport. The key in asking if the windup is useful comes down to breaking down its constituent parts to sort through what aspects of it add value - power, efficiency, whatever - and to figure out how simple it can be without losing the benefits. Don't forget that the windup used to be very wild, with arms and legs swinging everywhere, and most of that got pared down as pitchers realized much of it was superflous. Pitchers today use a vastly simplified wind up compared to the old days and throw harder than ever. Anyway, I agree that the windup is still useful but the crusade against it DOES have some merit.

[@brianstoddard4742]

Realest words ever spoke...listen to the man kiddos...you get what you put in...put in the work and the rest takes care of itself...

[@Bigstubs1]

Maybe the the most valuable Truth Bomb ever delivered to baseball parents.

[@DMChase17]

Hi Coach I have a question and was hoping you can help me out. My son and I are big fans and watch a lot of your videos and thank you very much. My son will be 14 in August, he started pitching a couple years ago and has become a starting pitcher for his school and travel. My question is obviously he is still learning and has so much to learn that’s why I’m asking you for advice, I’m 53 and I’m still learning everyday. My question is, he pitches 2 times a week. I have been strict with his pitch count and rest and his coaches have been great about it. On his days off he wants to practice on his pitching and accuracy but also needs his rest in between games. How do we work on that and not over work his arm. Any and all help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks Team!!

[@DanBlewett]

he should be throwing 5-6 days per week, but only 2-3 of those should be days when he's actually pitching or throwing the ball hard.

[@nathanwaterford7993]

Amen. Put kids in a position to fall in love with baseball and make working on their game fun. It’s not for everyone, but for those who are drawn to it, coaches and parents must foster growth to see results. Great piece,coach.

[@DanBlewett]

thanks for watching!

[@Suitednzooted11]

I get that it's not that complicated, but also, why not keep it as simple as possible? I don't see why the windup would give you any extra velocity or accuracy, biomechanically speaking. If it doesn't have any advantage over the stretch, why use it at all when you could just use the stretch all the time?

[@DanBlewett]

I discussed this in the video

[@ACNYCHIDDENTALENTSPORTS]

Hey Coach Dan, my son is now 7yrs old and I’ve taught him how to pitch from the windup and stretch. My son throws a 2 seam, 4 seam fastball. Should teach him to throw a change up or a slider next? I don’t want to show him a curve ball yet because I think he’s to young. Maybe when he’s 10... what’s your opinion on next best pitch? Thanks for your help. Keep up the great work videos they help a lot.

[@DanBlewett]

changeup. except he's too young for any secondary pitch. Wait until he's 11.

[@ACNYCHIDDENTALENTSPORTS]

@@DanBlewett ok understood, thanks coach. The only reason why I asked was because I don’t want him damaging his arm at an early age throwing curveballs. I have him on a pitch count every game he pitches. His mechanics are almost flawless, but thanks for your input I really appreciate it.

[@imaxfli]

I watched a "rural" kids LL game the other day and they are SO BAD compared to what we were. WOW-like 40% of return throws from Catcher back to pitcher weren't completed. These rural kids don't get together like we did in the City and just play BB all day, and BOY CAN YOU TELL!!

[@dalessiocw]

This is a phenomenal video Dan - such an important message for this upcoming generation. Keep up the great work.

[@DanBlewett]

Thanks so much!

[@pantherche]

Kids want to throw from the windup. They want to do what they see the pros doing! My son started pitching last year. All the initial training was from the stretch, just focusing on the basic mechanics. But once he and his teammates started feeling comfortable on the mound, they all were playing with their windups and using them in games by the end of the year. My son says he just feels more fluid from the windup.

[@DanBlewett]

Most players prefer the windup in my experience. And thats usually the case because they'll throw more pitches from the windup in a game than the stretch, and they dont practice the stretch as often in bullpens. I have to yell at kids to throw from the stretch in bullpens, remind them constantly. It's really what you practice more.

[@mymainmandeebo]

This is 100% true. Practice is "team practice".

[@jsmith3259]

Great video. Everything you said was spot on.

[@DanBlewett]

Thanks for watching!

[@ricky5369]

I was a stubborn idiot child playing baseball who didn't want to learn anything. I refused to block balls as a catcher, learn how to bunt, and other fundamentals. But I still have a mechanically perfect windup. I also had a problem with the yips as a fielder, yet somehow I felt comfortable on the mound and it was probably because I had a good windup. I think it's great for kids to learn

[@grammesser7362]

Could you do a part two to this and explain what the purpose of the wind up is? Meaning, how is it beneficial to a pitcher in game vs the stretch. Thanks! Love your stuff bro!

[@DanBlewett]

A lot of pitchers feel they get better momentum and flow down the mound with the wind up, and I agree with that sentiment. The stretch requires you shove yourself down the mound, rather than getting some momentum from the rocker step into the leg kick. There's not a huge difference but there is a difference.

[@joemurray6522]

What is the benefit of the windup though?

[@stevel6220]

This is the truth for EVERY sport. It's quite evident which kids work on their own and which ones don't. Other parents complain that they can't get their kids to go outside. I ask them if they've tried turning off the WiFi.

[@DanBlewett]

yep. 100%. The sport and the skills get blamed as being too hard, but it's not the sport's fault.

[@timefly4221]

Part of the problem is that kids, parents, and coaches today are taught that any extra throwing destroys your arm. Pitchers are told to throw only a few days a week at practices and games to “save their arms”, although I suspect the most successful youth pitchers are ignoring the advice and throwing every day anyway. Then again I have seen some really good 14 and 15 year old pitchers not make it through HS without surgery. I was a HS and college runner, and I experienced the running version of this which was that the guys who could somehow run 60+ miles per week and stay healthy were the best, and everyone else was either injured or not training enough.

[@DanBlewett]

it depends what throwing means. Playing catch at a low intensity daily? No problem. If this was the case, every infielder would be injured, but quite the opposite is true. It's the full speed, max effort throwing that is the problem. Kid needs to throw more but at a lesser intensity.

[@kurt5213]

@@DanBlewett So my understanding is that the kids should be throwing at close to max power when they practice pitching. So how often should they throw practice pitches when they're not playing or having team practice? Should they be doing the max count that's safe for their age?

[@ksc11]

Love your videos, but nothing here addresses anything about the windup. It's been proven that there's no more velocity or momentum gain from the windup, which makes sense, since none of the movement is towards the mound. All of the motion of the windup is in a different direction than the plate. You ask in the video what about it is so complicated, well, it's more complicated than the stretch. You're question should be, why do a more complicated motion if there is no known benefit. The whole aside about practice is true, but has nothing to do with the core argument.

[@DanBlewett]

It’s been proven? Link me to the study. Also, for youth pitchers? They 100% throw harder from the wind up, from a big leg kick. Kids lose velocity from the stretch because its harder to drive their body toward the plate and gain momentum from the stretch, and many leak their weight forward from the stretch, causing degradation in their mechanics. Maybe among pro pitchers, their velocity is the same, though I'd still dispute that - and I dont think you actually have evidence to support your claim, whereas I've seen many, many youth pitchers lose velocity because of their difficulty pitching from the stretch and the constraints its places upon them.

[@dkchillinmusic]

I’m 14 and I pitch way better from the windup than the stretch

[@kingfish524]

I'm far from an expert, but for my son the wind up provides a better rhythm to the mechanics of pitching.

[@DanBlewett]

I think theres something to that - pitching has a rhythm and soul to it beyond just being a human pitching robot. Thanks for the comment

[@everypitchcounts4875]

As a pitcher you need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable

[@DanBlewett]

100%

[@imaxfli]

I think a full wind up is easier on a young kids arm.