How to Make a Pitcher's Mound

A quality baseball field uses proper dimensions outlined in the rules of the game. Groundskeepers, coaches and players must take specific care to construct a proper pitcher's mound. A quality mound involves specific dimensions and materials to provide a safe and effective place for the pitcher to throw. Poor mounds often slope too sharply or not enough, have an uneven surface, and an unstable landing area for the pitcher. Good coaches and groundskeepers will take the extra time to make a proper pitcher's mound.

Things You'll Need

  • String
  • Measuring tape
  • Pitching rubber
  • Spikes
  • Clay bricks or Powdered mortar clay
  • Water hose
  • Rake
  • Tamp tool
  • Pick
  • Shovel
  • 10-foot-long board, 2 inches by 4 inches board
  • Turface top dressing
  • Tarp
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Instructions

    • 1

      Learn the proper dimensions for the pitcher's mound. The mound should be 18 feet in diameter. The pitching rubber should be 24 inches long and 18 inches behind the center of the mound. The slope for the rubber should begin 6 inches in front of the rubber and slope 1 inch for every foot toward home plate. The top of the mound should be no more than 10 inches above the playing field. The flat area around the pitching rubber should be 5 feet wide and 3 feet deep. For Little League, the distance from the back of home plate to the front of the pitching rubber should be 46 feet. For high school and college, the distance should be 60 feet and 6 inches.

    • 2

      Take a string and line it up with the point of home plate to the second base peg. From home plate, measure 46 feet for Little League or 60 feet 6 inches for older leagues. This marks the front of the pitching rubber. Place the rubber in the ground. Measure 18 inches in front of the middle of the rubber where the string runs and drive a spike in the ground. This will be the center of the pitching mound. Attach a string to the spike and measure out 9 feet. Attach another spike at the end of the 9 feet and, keep the string taught, scrape a circle around the center spike. This will make the dimensions for your pitching mound.

    • 3

      Build a solid base for the pitching mound using either clay bricks or powdered mortar clay. Temporarily remove the pitching rubber and about three inches of dirt with a pick and shovel in the area of your pitching mound and landing area in front of the mound. Moisten the ground. Drop powdered clay in the area or insert clay bricks into place. Water the area again, allowing the bricks to swell if you are using them. Cover the area with the dirt you just removed.

    • 4

      Build up the mound area using soil with high clay content. When the top of the mound rests 10 inches above the playing surface, measure again the distance for the pitching rubber and insert it in place. Measure with a tape measure from the left edge of home plate to the left edge of the rubber, then repeat the measurement on the right side. Move the rubber until both measurements are the same. This aligns the rubber with home plate. Tamp the rubber down when aligned with a tamp tool.

    • 5

      Level out the area around the pitching rubber. The area should be 6 inches in front of the rubber, 18 inches on either side of the rubber and 24 inches behind the rubber. The entire leveled area should be 5 feet across and 3 feet wide. Use a rake and level to smooth out this area. When done, the rubber should be even with the top of the mound. Tamp down the area until the ground is firm.

    • 6

      Place one end of a 10-foot-long 2-inch by 4-inch board on the edge of the leveled part of the mound. Gently move the board around the mound to evenly scrape the dirt to create a smooth sloping transition. Tamp down the area after scraping.

    • 7

      Place a top dressing on the mound, such as Turface, to help prevent slippage in wet conditions. It also prevents soil erosion on the mound.