Pitching · July 28, 2026

Flying Open on the Mound: The Pitcher Flying Open Fix

Q: How do I know if my pitcher is flying open too early?

Watch the front shoulder and glove: if they pull open toward the plate before the front foot plants, the pitcher is flying open. You will usually also see the arm dragging behind, pitches sailing arm-side, and a loss of velocity and command.

Q: Why does a pitcher fly open on the mound?

Usually the lower half opens too soon or the pitcher rushes toward the plate, so the hips and shoulders rotate before the front foot lands. The fix is teaching the back leg to build momentum while the front side stays closed longer.

Q: What drills fix a pitcher flying open?

Drills that teach the front side to stay closed and the lower half to lead: a hover-and-stay-closed drill that controls the glove side, and a pre-opened start drill that delays the front leg so the back leg builds momentum. Run one drill per bullpen, small focused sets, over two to three weeks, and pair it with in-person coaching.

"Flying open" gets thrown around a lot on the hitting side, but pitchers do it too, and it quietly costs them velocity and command. Here's the pitcher flying open fix: what flying open actually means on the mound, how to spot it from behind the backstop, why it happens, and two coach-credited drills that clean it up.

Quick answer: A pitcher flies open when the front side, the glove, front shoulder, and hips, rotates toward the plate too early, before the front foot lands and the arm is ready. The body opens ahead of the arm, which leaks power and pulls pitches off target. The fix is to keep the front side closed longer and let the lower half lead: a hover-and-stay-closed drill and a pre-opened start drill that delays the front leg so the back leg builds momentum.

What does it mean when a pitcher is flying open?

Flying open on the mound is when the pitcher's front side rotates toward the plate too soon. The glove, the front shoulder, and often the hips all pull open before the front foot has landed and the throwing arm is in position to deliver. The body is already facing the target while the arm is still trying to catch up.

The result is the pitching version of the same problem hitters have: energy leaks out the front instead of transferring into the throw. You lose the whip you get from staying closed and unloading in sequence, and the ball tends to run arm-side or up because the direction to the plate breaks down.

How do I know if my pitcher is flying open too early?

The glove and front shoulder pull open early. From behind or to the side, the front side rotates toward the plate before the front foot plants.
The arm drags behind. The body is open and facing the hitter but the throwing arm is still lagging, so the release feels late and rushed.
Pitches run arm-side or sail up. Losing direction to the plate shows up as misses to one side, especially arm-side.
Velocity drops off. When the front side opens early, there is nothing left to throw against, so the ball comes out soft.

None of this replaces trained eyes. If you are unsure what you are seeing, or if there is any arm discomfort involved, get an in-person pitching coach to look, and see a physician for anything that hurts.

Why does a pitcher fly open on the mound?

Almost always, it starts in the lower half. Either the hips open too soon or the pitcher rushes down the mound and gets out ahead of themselves, so the front side spins open before the front foot lands. Poor sequencing follows: the body rotates first, the arm never gets to lead into a strong, closed front side, and direction to the target suffers. That is why the best drills teach the lower half to build momentum while the front side stays closed longer.

2 drills that fix a pitcher flying open

Drill 1 · All levels · Mechanics

Hover and stay closed, by @montebellopitchingacademy

The pitcher gets the front foot into a controlled hover position and works on staying closed through the delivery instead of rotating early. It directly targets premature rotation and glove-side control, giving the pitcher a clear feel for holding the front side shut until it is time to fire.

Watch @montebellopitchingacademy's drill →

Drill 2 · Youth · Sequencing

Pre-opened start, by @santiagosoldiers

The pitcher begins already opened up, which delays the front leg and forces the back leg to do the work of building momentum toward the plate. Starting from that position teaches better sequencing and cleaner direction to the target, so the front side learns to stay closed longer once the full delivery is put back together.

Watch @santiagosoldiers' drill →

Run one drill per bullpen, small focused sets at a time, for two to three weeks. Rebuilding a delivery is about accumulated reps with feedback, not one magic session, and with young arms keep the volume light and stop at any sign of discomfort. Credit where it is due: these drills belong to the coaches linked above. Go follow them.

When it's not flying open

Command misses but a clean, closed front side and good direction? That is more likely a release-point or timing issue than flying open. Losing velocity with a front side that actually stays closed? Look at the lower half and lead leg instead. If the fix is not obvious, describe exactly what you are seeing in plain words and let the index sort it out. That is literally what Fungo does.

Get the best flying-open drills for your pitcher.

The two drills above are a sample of a much deeper index. Tell us your pitcher's exact version, their age, their level, and what you actually see on the mound, and we'll email the 3 best drills for that pitcher, within minutes.

Find your drills → Coaching a staff, or want a full weekly plan for your pitcher? See Fungo plans.