How to Throw a Drop Forkball
If you've been struggling to find that pitch most hitters will miss, the drop forkball is the pitch for you. Adding this pitch to your game will not only give you an extra tool, but a great strikeout pitch overall. Lets teach you how to throw a drop forkball with great velocity.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
Gripping The Drop Forkball
-
1
Start With A Two-Seam Fastball Grip. When learning to throw a drop forkball, its important to start your grip like you are getting ready to throw a two-seam fastball. This means the middle and index fingers should be placed on the seams where they are closest together.
-
2
Moving To The Drop Forkball Position. Now, start spreading your middle and index fingers as far apart as possible around the baseball. It will look like you tried to stuff the baseball between your fingers. This is going to be extremely uncomfortable, but as you practice the fingers will get used to it.
-
-
3
Finishing Off The Drop Forkball Grip. There are two or three ways to keep the baseball steady while throwing it. One way is to curl your thumb underneath the ball at a six o' clock angle. Make sure the baseball just rests on the thumb or the pitch won't work. If you find this difficult, use the pinky and ring finger as an added resting area. You can do this with the drop forkball pitch by laying them underneath the thumb making a circle. Try both styles and find out which works better for you.
-
4
Throwing The Drop Forkball. This is where the fun begins. In order to get nasty movement on the drop forkball pitch, make sure to whip the wrist with a hard snapping motion. The trajectory will go into a top spin instead of backwards. This transpires into a wicked drop at the end of the rotation. Most hitters won't know its coming if you use it correctly.
-
5
Balls And Strikes. When throwing the drop forkball remember its going to have an extremely large drop off. It's important to aim at the middle of the plate because when it gets to the catcher's mitt, the drop forkball could be in the dirt. The best time to use it is when the batter is behind in the count and you can waste a few pitches. So even though you plan on throwing a ball, it could end up a strike.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
The most important tip we can give you regarding the drop forkball is to do finger exercises. Sure it may look funny, but the wider you can stretch your middle and index fingers apart the better.
Once you've mastered getting the drop forkball over the plate, practice moving it around the strike zone for better performance in a game.
There are several injuries that are known to occur with throwing a drop forkball. Shoulder injuries are very common, along with other ailments in the elbow and wrist area as well. So throw the drop forkball at your own risk.
