Great examples of how to stride

There are a number of factors that effect pitching velocity. How a pitcher strides is one of them.

The proper way for a right-hand pitcher to stride is with the side of his front foot facing the target and his toe pointing at 3B. This enables him to keep his hips closed throughout the "expansion" of the lower body off the mound and to the target.

A lefthander should stride with his tow pointing at 1B.

It's also important to stride out with the front foot low to the ground. This keeps a pitcher's shoulders relatively level.

Notice in the following pictures how each pitcher is striding toward the plate with the side of his front foot -- NOT his toe, which opens the hips too early.

Hideki Okajima (He's a lefty, so he strides with the side of his front foot facing the target and his toe pointed toward 1B.)

Hideki Okajima

Gary Majewski (He's a righty, so he strides with the side of his front foot facing the target and his toe pointed toward 3B.)

My former teammate, Ricky Nolasco

Curt Schilling

Carlos Silva

Kip Wells