Anisotropic jump reorientation occurs in glasses, polymers, and plastic crystals. A general theoretical frame to describe such processes is presented. It generalizes previous work by Ivanov [Sov. Phys. JETP 18, 1041 (1964)]. A tractable model is given by a simple phenomenological assumption on the jump distribution. Analytical results and fast numerical methods to evaluate the relevant quantities are derived. The model is validated by comparing the predictions with ESR experiments on stiff, cylindrical tracers dissolved in the glassformer o-terphenyl. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.