How to Throw a Fastball Like Josh Beckett
Josh Beckett is one of the best young starting pitchers in Major League Baseball. He has developed into a good all-around pitcher, but part of the basis for his success is his fastball which tops out at 97 miles per hour. Even if you can't throw 97 miles per hour, you can learn to throw the same type of fastball Beckett throws.
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Instructions
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Throw a four-seam fastball. Josh Beckett throws a four-seam fastball, which gets its name because your fingers make contact with the seams in four places.
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Rotate the ball so the horseshoe of the seams is sideways. Place your index and middle fingers perpendicular to the seams. These two fingers should be slightly apart. Place your finger tips just barely over the laces.
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Curl your ring finger and pinky finger around the side of the ball. Your ring finger should make contact with the ball, and your pinky finger should be held beside your ring finger.
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Support the ball from below with your thumb. The thumb should be kept straight and placed in the middle of the ball.
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Hold the ball lightly with your finger tips. Your palm must not touch the ball. A soft grip allows you to throw the fastball harder.
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Use the four-seam fastball to set up other pitches. Josh Beckett likes to throw his fastball early in the count and then follow it with slower pitches, usually either a curveball or change-up. This disrupts a hitters timing. You can then come back with another fastball later in the count.
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