Quick Tip: Making Sure Your Arm is on the Power Line

Since the forearm fire release and power line concept are two of the very first things you learn as a student of Fastpitch Power’s method or similar methods, it’s natural for a lot of pitchers to forget to focus on the power line as they advance in their training. Here are some simple reminders about the power line concept. Even if you don’t think this will apply to you, please read, especially if you tend to miss inside and/or outside!

What is the power line?

The power line is an imaginary line on the ground that connects you to your target. For a basic down-the-middle fastball if you’re a beginner, it runs from the middle of the pitching rubber to the point of the plate. To move your pitches around the zone, change the angle of your power line slightly and adhere to it.

Some not-so-obvious power line problems

In order to throw a strike, your arm needs to fire through your throw zone in a clear path down the power line. Seems simple, but there are several ways this can go wrong, usually causing you to miss pitches inside or outside:

• In order for your arm to have a clear path down the power line, no part of your body can be blocking the power line. Not only do you want to avoid bringing your hip around to face the catcher too soon—thus interfering with the clear throw zone—but you also don’t want to land with your whole body on the power line. The stride foot should land very slightly off the power line so that your arm, when it passes by your belly button, has an unobstructed path down the power line.
• The path of the arm circle is very slightly in front of you. Imagine standing facing a wall about 6-8 inches away, dipping a softball in paint, and then drawing a big circle on that wall. That’s roughly where you want your circle to take place relative to your body. With that said…
• Watch out for unexpected places your arm can leave the power line. The most notorious and difficult to see are over your head at the top (imagine reaching the top of that painted circle and then pulling the ball straight back away from the wall behind your head), and too far behind your back at the back of the circle. This is the direction you would reach in if you were to clasp your hands behind you and stretch. It only takes a very slight reach back to block your arm with your body. Be especially careful of these two issues when practicing isolated forearm fire and K drills if they are part of your practice.
• Once you’ve established your power line and your throw zone, keep your arm very close to your body as it fires. Don’t let your forearm fire  bounce off your body and create too much space between your arm and your torso.

If you’re ever unsure, physically draw a power line in the dirt and use it for reference. Wall drills also provide a great visual reference for your power line.