A Slide Step is an efficient way of being quicker to the plate with runners on base.  It also gives your catcher a chance to throw out would be base stealers.  For the sake of you, the pitcher, when you can command all of your pitches with a slide step as consistently as you would with a regular leg kick or the wind up, hitters will be unable to pick up on any tendencies of your pitch selections.  As for the Slider, it can be easier to throw it with a slide step. Plus, you can even throw it better once you get comfortable with the slide step.  

Throwing the Slider with a Slide Step 
How to Throw It

Mechanically, you will still have time to load your lower half to take the stress off the arm and deliver the pitch quicker. When you are set and ready to start your delivery, move your front knee towards your back knee, push off the back leg, and GO!

When you become comfortable with the slide step, you will realize how this motion will give you more time to get on top with your arm swing, release the Slider out in front and throw it Downhill.
The 3 essential keys to being consistent with your Slider

When you get in your repetitions, you will begin to see more depth or downward tilt on your Slider.  If you are struggling with your Slider from your traditional leg kick, the slide step can help simplify your delivery to release the pitch out in front and throw it down hill.  Either in a side session or in game, this can prove to be a very valuable method to get you back on track with your Dominant pitch.

Throwing the Slider with a Slide Step
Strategy Session

Now, let’s touch on the methods of ruining a hitter’s day, shall we?
The objective of the slide step is to get the ball to home plate quicker.  So what is the hitter thinking when you are rushing the ball to the plate….?

Fastball

Pitching is about disrupting the hitters timing.  

A fastball coming with a slide step means the hitter has to get his swing started a bit earlier.  When you throw the Slider with a slide step, this creates a bigger timing gap to mess with the hitter.  Let’s not forget that he also has to adjust to the devastating movement that comes with a Slider.

Want another Weapon to Dominate Hitters?  If you throw a fastball with a bigger leg kick and then on the next pitch, try throwing the Slider with a slide step.  When the hitter sees a fastball with a leg kick and the next pitch you come with a slide step, it creates an instant panic in the hitter’s mind as he knows that he has to speed up everything.  

Throw the Slider correctly and you will see a hitter that knows he is beat before he even finishes his swing.  This is no doubt, very embarrassing for the hitter.  Thus, can also change the rest of the at bat, as the hitter has to now guess, both, what pitch and what leg kick in which to react.

Fun Tip….. with the same mindset as throwing the Slider with a slide step, trying throwing a change up this way…..

 

Keep Dominating!!!!

 

 

Throwing the Slider with a Slide Step.