Comments on: How to Throw a Fastball

on 3/16/2006 If you look at most guys that throw hella hard.... sad to say.... they were born that way. Yes you can tweek out 5-7 miles an hour with hard work and good mechanics but in the end its a gift from the baseball gods. Try to find the perfect motion in the bigs..they all throw a different way but for the most part throw harder than most anyone. There are the few exceptions but for the most part. You have to have a bit of talent to go with your hard work.

on 3/28/2006 Everyone wants to throw a fastball faster. An easy way to do that is to not hold the ball so far back in the hand. Do not choke the ball. Hold the ball more toward your finger tips. A way for the ball to have more movement is to throw with your fingers closer together and in between the seams. If you want the ball to move more, do not cross the seams with your pointer and middle finger only your thumb.

on 1/31/2006 Yes, a two seam fast-ball that runs in on a righty and sinks at the same time is called a sinker, not a fast-ball. My favorite pitcher who throws this is Lowe. This is the most effective pitch, but takes a good amount of practice. Hold the ball as you would a normal two seam fast-ball, placing your index finger on the left seam and your middle on the right seam. Now, slide your index finger right next to your middle finger. This pitch works best with a 3/4 arm angle. As you release, subtly pronate your wrist, but do not focus too much on it, do not push the ball. After months of practice, it will come naturally. This pitch has the same effect as adding 5 MPH to your straight 4 seam. I am a college pitcher, this advice will work.

on 1/19/2006 I can get a sharp tail on my fastball when I throw sidearm. I use a regular 4 seam fastball grip, and when I'm about to release the ball I snap my wrist and the ball makes a late hard break toward the right when it reaches the plate. I can throw 75 mph sidearm as opposed to a 71 mph regular overhand throw. When I pitch, I throw from both arm angles, which makes it more difficult for hitters to pick up the ball.

on 1/13/2006 You must establish your fastball to be successful. Pitch it down and away, because it's the hardest location to hit. Once you've established your fastball, change speeds with your changeup for the middle innings so hitters won't sit on your fastball. Then end the game with your curveball to give the hitters a new look, and something else to think about their third time around.

on 12/9/2005 When throwing a fastball, remember not to overthrow because this reduces speed. The better your mechanics are, the harder you will throw. Remember to twist and tuck with your upper body and to push or drop and drive with your back leg. Remember your counts offset your curve with your fastball, and the fastball with the curve a good offspeed makes a fastball look that much faster.

on 11/22/2005 One way to have fastball speed and accuracy is by getting your momentum to the plate. For accuracy when your pitching keep you eye on the target. If your throwing the ball the left, that means that you head is leaning to the left as you release the ball. Same with the right side. To get the ball going faster, make sure you take a big step towards the plate. The farther you to the plate when you release the ball, the less time it will take to reach the batter, which will be harder to hit. Good Luck!

on 11/22/2005 The secrert to throwing a good fastball is not flicking your wrist. It's just landing with a strong flexed leg, and at the last second,rotate your trunk and lead your throwing arm with your elbow. Follow through all the way down and you should be throwing some high heat.
I'm only 15 years old and I'm throwin' 83-85 mph.

on 11/22/2005 My way of getting more velocity on my fastballs (and more velocity on my curveball but still the same drop), is to wind up like Roy Oswalt. With that type, or close to it, you will create more momentum and eventually a faster windup and more velocity on your pitches.

on 11/22/2005 Throw any kind of fastball - 4 seam, 2 seam of your cutter, go through your original windup, but when you make the circular arm motion make your thumb hit your side. This will align your body and your arm. This works for curveballs and sliders, too.

on 11/22/2005 Grip the fastball with the usual 4 seam fastball grip, and come with an over-the-top release. Snap your wrist hard at the plate and twist your wrist counter clockwise. This will create some movement, but not generate a lose in velocity.

on 11/22/2005 One of my teammates has a phobia of throwing sliders and curves so he has practiced his two seam and it is amazing. It has a lot of spin, but the actual ball moves like a knuckler. I don't know how he does it, but he told me to hold the ball with the regular two seam grip and right before you release the ball snap your wrist down, fast. This does not put any stress on your arm either.

on 11/22/2005 Maxing out your arm is not to bright and can cause a lot of damage to your arm. You should throw at a speed that you feel comfortable throwing and that won't hurt your arm after approximately 20-30 pitches. This will ensure that you're good to go when pitching in a game.

on 11/22/2005 The key to me is to stretch out my arm fairly often, and I pitch to me friend as well. When pitching down, overpower your arm. Most kids think that they need to be successful by throwing a fastball as hard as they can, even in practice, but you don't need to. In practice I throw around 70 and also experiment with new pitches. Save your arm for when you need it - in the game.

on 11/22/2005 Even if you don't have a blazing fastball, it must be your best pitch. Most pitchers don't have blazing fastballs, look at Greg Maddux. He's never thrown hard enough to consistently blow people away, yet somehow he's in the 3,000-K club. The reason is that he mixes his pitches well. If you locate your fastballs, life is much easier. I'm a varsity pitcher, and find if I have control problems it's with either the 2-seamer or the 4-seamer, never both. The 4-seamer is traditional thrown harder, but if thrown properly, the 2-seamer can be a lethal weapon because of the movement you can get on it by your finger position and release point.