one of the keys to a pitchers delivery is what we call separation when the hands actually part from one another we like it to happen in the center of the body and it really helps to keep the delivery in sync the rhythm of the delivery is affected by when and how we separate if we watch our pitcher get into his wind-up you see gathers with hands together as he breaks and the and the ball comes back with his throwing arm his stride foot goes forward they work together now the timing of this is affected by the length of the arm swing as well as the length of the stride we need pitchers to work on this in the bullpen so that their delivery works rhythmically and in sync together one of the drills we do for this it's just a little rhythm drill we have them start from the stretch position he comes up to that gathering point separates and strides then comes back does it again and then the third time he goes through and throws the pitch this gives him a balanced feel but he really feels the separation how is stride leg and throwing arm work together and if he does this in the bullpen and you have your pitchers do this in the bullpen over and over again their delivery starts to get more consistent more rhythmic more fluid and that usually leads to more strikes