When you pitch in the games of baseball or softball, you start your throwing motion with one foot on the pitching rubber. The pitching rubber is located on a small rise called the pitching mound. Major league regulations define the location, size and construction of the pitching mound. If you want to lay out a baseball field, keep in mind that most leagues follow nearly identical rules. The distance from pitching mound to home plate may vary.
Location
The center of the pitching rubber on the mound is located on a line between home plate and second base. Use a long measuring tape to lay out the line starting at the rear of home plate that is exactly 127 feet 3 3/8 inches long. This is where the center of second base will be. Again starting from the rear of home plate, measure a distance along the line you laid out of exactly 60 feet 6 inches. This is where the center of the pitching rubber will be located. You should drive a wooden stake into the ground at this point.
Dimensions
The pitching mound must be a circular area 18 feet in diameter. Lay out this area so that the edge nearest home plate is 10 feet in front of the pitching rubber and the remaining 8 feet behind it. The pitching rubber itself is 24 inches by 6 inches in size. The pitching mound has a flat area at the top 5 feet in diameter. The top of the mound must be 10 1/2 inches above the level of home plate. You will need to use a surveyor's transit or field level to insure the height of the mound is correct.
Construction
When you build your pitching mound, use a mixture that is rich in clay to minimize wear and tear. A typical mix consists of 40 percent clay, 40 percent sand and 20 percent silt. Build the mound up in layers about 1-inch thick. Roll or tamp down each layer before starting the next. The sloping sides of the mound should be even. For example, the height of the mound directly in front of the pitching rubber should rise about 1 inch per foot.
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