How to Throw a Splitter

The splitter, or split-finger fastball, resembles a fastball in both velocity and direction as it heads toward the plate. When thrown well, though, it loses speed and drops to the dirt just before it reaches the hitter.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Baseball Fielding Gloves
• Baseballs
• Baseball Scoresheets
• Baseball Cleats
• Baseball Caps/hats

1. Grip the ball as you would a two-seam fastball, holding it with your middle and index fingers at the point where the seams are closest to each other.

2. 
    

   Spread your middle and index fingers outward and along the seams, extending them to the point where the seams are farthest from each other.

3. 
    

   Support the ball with your thumb and small fingers. Your thumb should lie along the seam stitched on the underside of the ball, while the ball should rest in a "V" formation.

4. 
    

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

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

6. 
    

   Throw the pitch using the same motion as a fastball, flicking your wrist downward as you release.

7. 
    

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

Tips & Warnings

• Exerting differing pressures with your fingertips will control the splitter's downward movement. Experiment with making the ball drop at different speeds as it approaches home plate.
• A similar, though more challenging, pitch grip is the forkball. Grip a forkball by splitting your middle and index fingers as wide as possible, creating a "V" formation outside the seams. Your thumb should provide the main support, lying on the underside of the ball between the middle and index fingers. When thrown properly, the ball should show more movement than a change-up.
• This is an advanced pitch for more mature arms only. Consult a baseball coach or manager for more information on throwing the splitter.

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[BigBoy]

on 5/3/2007 New learners- When first learning how to throw a split finger, make sure you are experienced enough( so you don't throw you arm out). Second, make sure your fingers are big enough so they can fit tightly around the ball for a better break. Once you start throwing a split, don't stop! Keep trying and improving it, it could become as good as your fastball. I always am trying to improve on my split for the bigest break.

on 9/20/2006 The key to effective movement is the angle of the wrist snap. You should avoid the wrist action that typically occurs when throwing a fastball. This is done by focusing on keeping your hand on top of the ball throughout the entire release. The pitch I throw gets more of a forkball tumbling action. The spin coming out of your hand should look like a bad knuckleball but thrown with a lot more velocity. Overall, it's a devastating pitch which is much easier to control than a curveball and much easier on the arm than a slider.

on 8/8/2006 Hold the ball where the seams are farthest apart. Put your index and middle finger a little bit outside the seams on opposite sides of the ball. Put your thumb underneath the ball and your ring and pinkie off to the side. The ball should sink at least one foot.

on 8/8/2006 The splitter is one of my favorite pitches, particularly because I developed my own way of throwing it as a side armer. As you wind up, when your arm is at your back, twist your hand to the outside of you so it's not easily seen. Right as you release, twist your hand back to it's normal position.

on 8/8/2006 I used to not be able to throw the splitter because it would always have too much sideways rotation. All you have to do to control this is put more pressure on the side that is not spinning. Doing this will place counter spin.