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Step 1
Possess one great type of pitch. Though most closers throw a variety of pitches there is usually one great pitch that make a closer excellent at his job. Players usually refer this pitch as an "out pitch," which is a pitch that the hitters just cannot hit with any regularity. It can be fastball, slider, curveball, or sinker, but it just needs to be a great pitch for someone to be a closer in baseball.
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Step 2
Stay calm in a high-pressure situation. The closer usually enters a game with his team ahead in a close contest. The pressures in these situations are enormous, but a closer has to remain calm and finish the game without being rattled.
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Step 3
Have the ability to forget any memories of past failures. A closer is not going to be successful every time he pitches, but it is important that he puts failure behind him and concentrates the next time on the mound. The closer can't let the batter see any doubt when he takes the mound.
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Step 4
Use a secondary pitch to setup your "out pitch." While some of the great closers had one great pitch, most also had a secondary pitch they used to increase the effectiveness of their primary pitch. The secondary can also come in handy when the primary pitch is not working on a given outing. Not every closer will have the best speed or movement every time out but he usually finds a way to get the hitters out with other pitches in his repertoire.
