Beginner
Windmill
Also known as: windmill pitch
The windmill is the underhand fast-pitch delivery in which the arm makes a full circle before release, generating the velocity that defines the game.
By whipping the arm through a complete 360° circle and snapping the wrist at release near the hip, a windmill pitcher produces speeds that, over the short distance, give hitters a baseball-like reaction window. The motion is also the platform for movement pitches — rise, drop, and curve all start from the same windmill action, which is what makes them hard to read.
Example
The pitcher’s arm circles fully overhead and down, snapping the wrist at the hip to release a fastball low in the zone.
Related terms
- Rise BallA rise ball is a fast-pitch pitch thrown with backspin so it appears to climb as it nears the plate, tempting hitters to swing under it.
- Drop BallA drop ball is a fast-pitch pitch thrown with topspin so it sinks sharply as it reaches the plate, inducing ground balls and swings over the top.
- Reaction WindowThe reaction window is the fraction of a second a fast-pitch hitter has to read, decide, and swing. The short pitching distance makes it one of the tightest in all of sport.
Related guides & benchmarks
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