How to Throw a Slider

As the ball approaches the plate, a slider seems like a fastball but suddenly trails off to one side, baffling hitters and making them slide right back into the dugout. Follow these steps to master throwing the slider.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Baseballs

1. 
    

   Grip the baseball with your index and middle fingers across the seams at its widest point. Keep both fingers slightly toward the outside of the ball (off-center).

2. 
    

   Place your thumb under the ball and keep the ring finger and pinkie off to the side. These two fingers should not make any real contact with the ball's surface.

3. Exert pressure on the ball with your thumb and middle finger.

4. Go into your windup. Remember to pivot and shift your body weight from the back foot forward toward home plate.

5. Keep your wrist loose as you release the ball, and try not to drive it forward with more than an adequate amount of force.

6. 
    

   Throw the slider like a fastball, but 'cut' through the ball with the middle finger. Keep your fingers on the top of the ball until the actual release. Try not to twist your wrist; instead, turn the ball with your fingers. The greater the angle created by turning the fingers, the wider the break on the slider.

7. 
    

   Follow through. Your feet should be parallel at the end of the pitch, and your throwing arm should come across the front of your body.

8. Note that the pitch should break late in its flight in the opposite direction from a curve ball. A left-handed pitcher's slider should break down and away from left-handed hitters, and down and in on right-handed hitters - vice versa for right-handed pitchers.

Tips & Warnings

• Throwing a slider can cause serious and possibly permanent damage to your shoulder, elbow and wrist. For this reason, most managers and coaches advise that young players avoid this pitch until they reach physical maturity.

Who Can Help Sponsored

• Tired of Being Tired? Fight Fatigue and Try FRS for FREE!

[yankeesplayerca]

on 11/4/2009 I'm sorry but i have to correct you on this: "cut down through the ball with your middle finger". that is really a bad idea, not to be mean or anything. that will cancel out the break in the pitch that should make it a slider. It will just flatten out the pitch. If you want a good slider, or an effective one, you need to cut through the ball with your INDEX finger, preferably with the side of your index finger that is closest to your thumb, which will make for a lot more "sliding". you should throw it as if you are throwing a fastball, or else it will really hurt your arm. if you throw it like a curveball, you most likely will need to throw it with less speed, which is unnecessary. Not to be mean, but it just made me sad that you were advising people to throw it like that. I made this same mistake and permanently blew out my arm. I was throwing 60 miles per hour in fourth grade, and...

[tommy311]

on 6/8/2007 Thank you now i know hot to throw a slider!

on 4/13/2007 When I throw sliders, I kinda throw it sidearm. When throwing, throw softly, but not to soft that it won't cross the plate. Believe me, my slider works. I've struck out 48 batters with my slider.

on 8/11/2006 You 'cut' through the ball with your index finger, not your middle finger. If you throw it off your middle finger it will flatten out. Check out Steve Carlton's slider page. Reverse the images with photoshop if you are a righty. You throw it with the same motion as you would throw a fastball or you will probably hurt your arm.

on 8/8/2006 Hold the ball with your middle finger on any seam (I prefer the right seam like a curveball)and place your thumb between the two seams on the underside of the ball. You put 100% pressure on your middle finger, so it will get a great spin. While in your windup, place your index finger on the ball for more control. Release just like a curveball, and if thrown right, get a 25-35 cm angle toward a left-handed batter (if you throw right handed).