Sidearm Delivery | Henken [Baseball Pitching Lab Japan]

The sidearm delivery, also known as a sidearm throwing style, is a pitching motion in which the arm comes through from the side of the body.
Compared to overhand and three-quarter deliveries, it generally produces less velocity, but because it involves less upper-body tilt and a more stable line of sight, it allows for better control.

Breaking Balls from a Sidearm Delivery

The sidearm delivery makes it easy to generate horizontal movement, to the point where even a fastball naturally runs.
Along with the slider, one of the most effective out pitches is the sinker.
Sidearm sinkers often have unique movement: they may appear to rise slightly before dropping and tailing away from the hitter, making them very difficult to hit.
In general, pitchers use a combination of sliders and running fastballs or sinkers to disrupt hitters with lateral movement.
The forkball is considered difficult to throw from a sidearm delivery.
With the sidearm wrist angle at release, it is hard to produce a sharp downward drop; instead, the ball tends to start breaking immediately after release, like a curveball or sinker.
Control can also be more challenging.

Physical Stress of the Sidearm Delivery

The sidearm delivery generally places less stress on the shoulder.
However, unlike overhand pitching, it cannot take advantage of gravity as much, so the motion relies more on rotational force from the hips.
This can increase strain on the lower back.
Many sidearm pitchers experience chronic or severe lower back issues that can impact their careers, so proper care and conditioning of the lower back are essential.