Clock Position

I continuely see mentioned on this site clock position. What determines clock position? Is it just the pitiching arm in relation to a clock? Does the other arm have any thing to do with the clock? At what viewpoint are we to look at the pitcher? is it from third base or first base?

Face the pitchers throwing side. Or look at her face to face. With her arm straight up it is 12 o'clock. When she drops it straight back and it is at shoulder level, that is 3 o'clock. The arm continues down and the arm is in line with her leg, that is 6 o'clock. If her hand continued up and was straight out, that would be 9 o'clock.

No, the glove hand has nothing to do with it.

Not to be too picky, Amy, but looking straight at a RH pitcher, I think most people would call straight out behind (pointing to 2B) 9 o'clock. In most of the posts I've seen, people talk about toe touch and heel plant in the between the 12 o'clock and 9 o'clock position, as opposed to the 3 o'clock position.

Thanks for the replies, The throwing arm towards 2nd makes more sence to me being 9:00 opposed to 3:00 but I get it know thank you both

Here is what I do. I used to teach 2nd grade, and the little girls that I work with are used to seeing a big clock drawn on the white board. The clock is drawn there. Their shoulder is the middle of the clock and they are facing number 9. When your right hand is down at your side that is 6 o'clock. Bring your hand up to the 7, the 8 and you are pointing straight out at 9 o'clock.

What am I missing, here?

Amy in AZ. said:

Here is what I do. I used to teach 2nd grade, and the little girls that I work with are used to seeing a big clock drawn on the white board. The clock is drawn there. Their shoulder is the middle of the clock and they are facing number 9. When your right hand is down at your side that is 6 o'clock. Bring your hand up to the 7, the 8 and you are pointing straight out at 9 o'clock.

What am I missing, here?

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Hi Amy. I have ran into a few folks over the years that have the same belief as you.

Arm pointing towards the catcher has always been 3:00 for me and everyone in my area that I know.

Here's how I understand the clock terminology: if i was standing at 3rd base and imagined a clock surrounding my right-handed daughter as she pitches...

1) As she begins her stride from her pre-motion both of her hands are extended towards her target (3:15 - hour is throwing hand and minutes are glove hand)

2) As she continues her stride and as she opens her body her throwing hand is above her head while her glove hand is still pointing to her target (12:15)

3) As she plants her stride foot and continues dragging her pivot foot her throwing arm continues past 9:00 while the glove arm is still pointing at the target (9:15)

4) As she releases the ball her throwing arm is pointing at 6:00 and the glove arm has also returned to her stride leg thigh area (6:25)

5) After release her throwing elbow (assuming fastball) follows through to roughly a 3:00 position while glove remains near stride leg thigh. (3:25)

Hope this helps!

But what about military time??

Amy in AZ. said:

But what about military time??

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I'll one up you, Amy. Let's use geometry.
Circle start=0 degrees, 1st quarter=90,
Circle peak = 180, 3rd quarter = 270
Release = 360