The windup is the full delivery (used with the bases empty); the stretch is the simpler set position (used with runners on, so he's quicker to the plate). Every pitcher must be able to pitch from the stretch, so it's the more essential one to master. For a young pitcher, simpler is often better: a big, complicated windup adds moving parts that can break down, while a compact, repeatable delivery is easier to command. Many pitchers, even pros, now simplify or pitch from the stretch full-time. Repeatable beats fancy.
Watch a youth game and you'll see every kind of delivery: kids with big leg kicks and arms swinging everywhere, and kids who barely move before they throw. So a fair question for any pitching parent is which approach is right, the full windup or the simpler stretch? The answer is more practical, and more freeing, than most people expect.
“Repeatable beats fancy. The simplest delivery he can trust is usually the best one.”
Command comes from consistency, not from a bigger windup.What each one actually is
Quick definitions, because the terms get thrown around loosely.
- The windup is the full delivery a pitcher uses with the bases empty. It usually starts with a small step, a leg lift, and a bit more rhythm and momentum. More moving parts, a little more built-up energy.
- The stretch (or set position) is the simpler delivery used with runners on base. The pitcher starts already turned sideways, lifts his leg, and goes. Fewer moving parts, and quicker to the plate so runners can't steal easily.
Here's the key fact many parents don't realize: every pitcher has to be able to throw from the stretch, because as soon as a runner reaches base, he'll use it. The windup, on the other hand, is technically optional. That alone tells you which one matters more to master.
Windup vs stretch, side by side
| Windup | Stretch | |
|---|---|---|
| When it's used | Bases empty | Runners on base |
| Moving parts | More | Fewer, simpler |
| Speed to the plate | Slower | Quicker (holds runners) |
| Must he master it? | Optional | Yes, always needed |
Why simpler is often better for a young pitcher
Here's the part that surprises people. A big, elaborate windup looks impressive, but every extra moving part is one more thing that can go wrong, one more place to rush, fly open, or fall out of sync. For a young pitcher still building consistency, that complexity often works against him. A simpler delivery has fewer things to time up, so it's usually easier to repeat, and repeatability is where command comes from.
This isn't just a youth idea, either. Plenty of pitchers, all the way up to the big leagues, have simplified their deliveries or gone to the stretch full-time, because they found they command the ball better with fewer moving parts and lose little or no velocity doing it. If it's good enough for pros chasing every edge, it's certainly a reasonable path for a developing kid. Our guide on why he can't throw strikes covers how central repeatability is to command, and rushing is exactly the kind of problem a busy windup can feed.
So which should he use?
A sensible approach for most young pitchers:
Master the stretch first
He needs it anyway, and its simplicity makes it the ideal place to build a repeatable, well-timed delivery.
Keep the windup simple
If he uses a windup with the bases empty, keep it compact and calm. A small leg lift and smooth rhythm, not a big, complicated production.
Let repeatability decide
If a windup helps him and stays consistent, great. If it's a source of wildness, simplifying it (or pitching from the stretch) is a perfectly good fix.
There's no rule that a pitcher must have a fancy windup, and no shame in a simple one. What matters is a delivery he can repeat, whatever it looks like. Our overview of what good mechanics look like applies to both the windup and the stretch, the same principles drive both.
The bottom line
The stretch is essential and the windup is optional, so if you have to prioritize, master the stretch. And for a young pitcher especially, don't equate a big windup with good pitching, extra moving parts often cost more command than they add anywhere else. A compact, repeatable delivery he can trust, from the stretch or a simple windup, is almost always the better foundation. Fancy is fun to watch. Repeatable wins games.
Whichever he uses, the question that matters is whether his delivery is efficient and repeatable. Film one pitch from the side and upload it, and we'll break it down frame by frame and show you whether his mechanics are working for him, and what to simplify or clean up. Smooth is fast, and simple is often smooth.
See whether his delivery is repeatable
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Start the Free Evaluation →Takes about 2 minutes · See a sample analysis firstCommon questions
What is the difference between the windup and the stretch in pitching?
The windup is the fuller delivery a pitcher uses with the bases empty, usually with a step and leg lift and more built-up rhythm. The stretch, or set position, is the simpler delivery used with runners on base: the pitcher starts turned sideways and is quicker to the plate to keep runners from stealing. The windup has more moving parts; the stretch is simpler and faster.
Should a young pitcher pitch from the stretch or the windup?
Every pitcher must be able to throw from the stretch, so that's the one to master first. Beyond that, simpler is often better for a young pitcher: a big, complicated windup adds moving parts that can hurt consistency, while a compact delivery is easier to repeat. Many pitchers, including pros, simplify or pitch from the stretch full-time for better command. A repeatable delivery matters far more than which one he uses.
Is it okay for a youth pitcher to only pitch from the stretch?
Yes, it's perfectly fine, and increasingly common at all levels. Since the stretch is simpler and every pitcher needs it anyway, some coaches have young pitchers use it (or a very simple windup) all the time to build consistency and command. He loses little or no velocity, and gains repeatability. There's no requirement to have a full windup.
Does a windup add velocity?
Not much, if any, for most pitchers. The rhythm and momentum of a windup can help some pitchers feel smoother, but the difference in velocity versus the stretch is usually small, and many pitchers throw just as hard from the stretch. The bigger factors in velocity are mechanics, strength, and sequencing, not whether he uses a full windup. If a windup costs him command, it's rarely worth a tiny velocity edge.
How can I tell if my son's windup is hurting his command?
Watch whether his misses come more from the windup than the stretch, and whether the windup has him rushing, flying open, or looking out of sync. A reliable way to know is side-on video: if his delivery breaks down more with the extra moving parts of the windup, simplifying it usually helps. A frame-by-frame look shows exactly where the delivery is getting inconsistent.
Upload one video. See his delivery frame by frame. Free.
We'll show you exactly where his mechanics are costing him, and what to work on first.
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