How to Throw a Moving Fastball

Fans across the country have been watching baseball for a few months now this year. Some fans are watching little league games, others watch minor league baseball games, and even more watch major league baseball. At all levels, a lot of attention is given to the pitcher. Fans love to see a pitcher who can throw a fastball with a lot of speed. At the major league level though, movement is just as important as speed. Many major league hitters can hit fastballs that travel at 100 miles per hour. To make it harder on them you need to throw a fastball that moves up or down, or to either side. Here is how to do just that.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• baseball
• practice
• video camera

How To Throw A Moving Fastball

1. Practice different grips on the baseball. The grip you hold a baseball with can control where the pitch goes.

2. Grip the baseball with your fingers on the seams in a parallel line. This will result in a straight fastball when you throw it, with a slight downward drop.

3. Grip the baseball with your fingers parallel to the seams, but instead of directly on the seams, place your fingers just to the right of each seam. This grip will result in your fastball moving to the left as it gets close to home plate.

4. Grip the baseball with your fingers parallel to the seams, but instead of directly on the seams place your fingers just to the left of each seam. When you throw your fast ball with your fingers in this position it will move to the right as it goes over home plate.

5. Grip the baseball with your fingers perpendicular to the seams of the baseball. Place your fingers across the seams forming a t-like shape. This will result in the baseball rising slightly as you throw a fastball towards home plate.

6. Maintain the same arm motion for every pitch that you throw. As a pitcher you don't want a batter to be able to guess what type of movement your fastball will have based on your arm motion.

Tips & Warnings

• Mix up these four grips on the baseball when you throw a fastball. This way your fastball will drop, move left, move right, or rise when you throw it. The batter won't be able to guess the motion of your fastball. Use a video camera to record you practicing these pitches to see how they move.
• Throwing a fastball with the same grip each time will make your fastball too predictable for hitters.

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