How Do I Throw a Backdoor Slider?
A well-thrown backdoor slider is one of the most effective pitches in baseball. To the hitter, the pitch looks like a fastball until it dives off to the side. A backdoor slider can be thrown by a right-handed pitcher to a left-handed batter or vice versa. The key is for the pitch to appear that it is going to be outside, then to break back in and cross over the outer portion of the plate, thus entering through the "back door" of the strike zone.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
Instructions
-
1
Grip the baseball with your index and middle fingers along the longest part of the seams. This is known as a "two-seam" grip.
-
2
Place your thumb under the ball so that your fingers are all within the outer third of the baseball. Keep your ring finger and pinky finger off to the side.
-
-
3
Line up your target. The key to a backdoor slider is to have the pitch begin outside the plate.
-
4
Go into your windup. Push off with your back foot and stride directly toward home plate with your front foot.
-
5
Move your arm with the same speed and motion as if you were throwing a fastball. Allow the ball to spin out from under the thumb side of your index finger. Keep your wrist loose upon release.
-
6
Follow through. Your landing foot should end pointing toward home plate and your throwing arm should come across your body.
-
7
Watch the flight of the pitch. If you threw the pitch correctly, it should break late in its movement. A slider from a right-handed pitcher will move from right to left, and a slider from a left-handed pitcher will move from left to right. The pitch should end up just on the outside part of the strike zone.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
The slider takes a lot of practice. Work on your grip and release before trying to throw the slider at full speed.
The slider is a pitch that puts a lot of stress on the elbow and shoulder and therefore should not be thrown by children.
References
- Photo Credit guantone baseball image by Stefano Tiraboschi from Fotolia.com
