Comments on: How to Throw a Fastball

on 8/8/2006 In order to throw a great cut fastball, this is what I do. When the seams go in the horseshoe shape like ( ), place your index and middle fingers in between the seams and your thumb, directly under the ball. When you throw, snap your wrist slightly to the opposite direction that you would a curveball. Hold the ball loosely, or else the pitch will have a tendency to go slower and have no motion on it. I have gotten up to 6 inches break on my fastball before. Also, if you would like a Mariano Rivera type cutter, snap the ball like you would a slider, but throw hard, and the ball will have a downward motion plus the nice 6 inch break to the left.

on 8/8/2006 To throw a fastball, you have to use the follow though method which is to use your shoulder while you throw. The problem is, your arm will hurt after a lot of pitches.

on 8/7/2006 To keep the ball low when you pitch, step out far and get low to where your back knee is touching the ground ,and when you follow through your should be around your ankles and your face should be looking at the ground with you back bent.

on 7/12/2006 The fastball can be the most deadly pitch when executed properly. In order to throw a faster or more effective fastball, you should concentrate on faster arm speed and how the ball leaves your hands. It is not necessary to throw your arm out to attain an effective delivery. Concentrate on the way the ball leaves your hands. Your fingers (depending on which fastball you throw) should be as smooth as possible and your wrist should snap effectively, not painfully. Basically, to throw a great fastball, you should concentrate on being smooth and not powerfully.

on 7/6/2006 These grips are stated for righties, reverse them to make them for a lefty. Remember to always throw every pitch (not just fastballs) as hard as you can. You can throw these pitches in all counts but the suggested counts are the best ones to use.

A 4-seam fastball: Hold a baseball so the seams look like a C. Then put your index and middle fingers in the middle of the C. Put your thumb under the ball so that it and your middle finger lineup. Throw the ball with your palm facing the plate. The ball should go relatively straight.

Suggested counts to throw this pitch in: 0-0, 2-0, 3-0, 3-1. Batters will be looking for a fastball in these counts so be careful, if you don't trust your fastball, use your change up or a better fastball.

A 2-seam fastball: Take the 4-seam grip and slide your fingers over until you reach where the seams that are closest on the baseball. This pitch should come inside to righties and outside to lefties.

Suggested counts to throw this pitch in: 1-2, 2-0, 2-1, 2-2, 3-1, 3-2.

A cross-seam fastball: Take the 2-seam grip and turn the ball until the 2 seams that you just had going vertically (up and down), are now going horizontally (side to side). When I throw this pitch it sometimes acts like a normal 2-seam and it sometimes rises (usually up and away), when this happens I throw my splitter afterward. That drives them crazy. They get a pitch up and away, then I throw a "fastball down the plate" that suddenly disappears!

Suggested counts to throw this pitch in: One strike counts especially when you follow up with a sinker or a splitter.

A sinking fastball: There are many ways to throw this pitch, I will list the ways to throw the ones I know. Take a 2-seam fastball and put extra pressure on one of your fingers (if you throw sidearm imparting pressure with your middle finger will give this pitch a rising effect). Take a 4-seam, 2-seam, or a cross seam grip and throw it with your wrist partially out, this will make the pitch sink, and usually move inside to righties and outside to lefties. When this pitch starts to stay up in the zone stop throwing it or the batter will start hitting it like they are hitting off a T.

Suggested counts to throw this pitch in: Mostly two strike counts, especially after a pitch up in the zone.

A split fingered fastball: Take the 2-seam grip and split your fingers so that they dig down into the ball. Your thumb should lie directly in the middle of the bottom of the ball. This will impart drag upon the baseball that will cause it to tumble toward the plate. It should look like a fastball but disappear at the last second. When this pitch starts to stay up in the zone stop throwing it or the batter will start hitting it like they are hitting off a T.

Suggested counts to throw this pitch in: Two strike counts, especially after throwing something up in the zone.

Cut fastball: Take the 4-seam grip and move your fingers over until they rest on the edge of the ball. This should impart a spin on the ball that causes it to cut through the strike zone, all because you cut your grip on the fastball while compromising little to no speed on the pitch. Make sure that your thumb stays in the same place it was at when you had your 4-seam grip.

Suggested counts to throw this pitch in: You can seriously throw this pitch in any count and be successful.

on 6/30/2006 Hold the ball like you would a two seamer, but place your fingers between the seams: )ll( .
Your thumb should not be under the ball, but more toward your palm. Throw this pitch like you would a slider (off the side of the ball), and throw as hard as you can. Learn how to throw this on both sides of the plate to throw off hitters.

on 6/30/2006 It is not how hard you can throw, or even how much of a breaking ball you can get, it is about changing it up. Use a change up, be able to change speeds by 10-20 miles per hour. C.C. Sabathia has worked a new strategy where you start with a fast ball, not a curveball, and he is 3-1 (1.95 ERA) early in the 06' season. He has learned to move speeds around to pitch effectively. If you really want to force a grounder, use a sinker, it is easy to throw, can't hurt you and causes the infield to make plays.

on 6/30/2006 You gotta use your legs as momentum and whip your arm around with speed. Don't try and push the ball, let it roll off your fingers and whip your arm through with a big follow through. Make sure your leg comes flying through as well.

on 6/30/2006 To throw this special pitch, grip the ball with just your thumb and pointer finger, then throw overhand with your normal wind up. The ball may go slow, but it is hard to hit.

on 6/30/2006 You can also grip the 4 seam at the edge of where the ball makes a backward 'C'. This works extremely well, because the ball flies straight and hard and generally has more velocity than any other grips.

on 6/30/2006 Unless you've naturally got that 97 MPH fastball we all want, the 2 seam fastball will be harder for most hitters to hit. Plus, to move to a cutter, all it takes is sliding over your first finger; so without changing your delivery, you're already there.

on 6/30/2006 Hold your fastball across the horse shoe of the seam with your index and middle fingers (thumb on bottom). Always leave a small gap between your palm and the ball for maximum velocity. When you bring your arm back, keep it at eye level and have the ball face behind you (center field). Point toward the plate with your elbow, letting your hand point down. Keep your shoulders level. Your foot should point directly to home. If you want the ball to go to the inside part of the plate, put your foot a few inches in the opposite direction (outside away from the batter), same for outside pitches (foot a little toward the batter), for down the pipe put your foot right at it. For any spot, make sure your foot is at a 90 degree angle (toe to the plate). Follow through and take a large step toward home. Don't swing your body for more power for any reason! It will throw you off balance and result in a wild pitch.

on 6/30/2006 Hold the ball with your index and middle finger on each side of a seam. When you release, snap your wrist sideways.

on 3/25/2006 When throwing a split finger fastball, you have to spread your fingers like a V over the spot on the ball where the seams get closest. Then you should put the ball back in your palm and throw it as if you are closing a window shade.

on 3/20/2006 It is very annoying for a pitcher when a batter has fouled off 4 or 5 pitches in a row, but the count is too deep to throw a confident off speed pitch or breaking ball. Heres what you do. To do this you must practice it, but not excessively or you will hurt your elbow. Try throwing a sidearm fastball, if you get it for a strike the batter will be so confused the first time, you throw it because he wasn't expecting it that he probably won't even swing. But once again, only use it in these rare situations to confuse batters, and to most importantly save your arm.