Comments on How to Throw a Fastball

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I'm not a very fast pitcher, but I have a great grip that's easer to aim with,(I completely rely on aim, not speed) has an odd spin, and puts 5-10 mph speed on my pitch. Have the seams closest point facing you and have 1 seam on top of the other (one seam looks like a smile, the other like a frown). Put your fingers along the seam and let it rip! It's 10 times easier to aim and goes faster with a backspin. I've thrown a 3-hit game using only this pitch.

If you flick your wrist downwards quickly, it will go pretty fast.

Put your index and middle finger were the seams are closest. and put your thumb on the seam under the ball towards the left. Then just throw it like a fastball. If u want to have a greater cut then throw it so it spins off your finger tips.

The secret to a high velocity fastball isn't just throwing it hard, but throwing it fast! Don't worry about throwing it so hard that you hurt your arm, instead really focus on getting power from your shove-off leg and focus on snapping your whole arm and upper body downward as quickly as you can. This will impart speed on the ball much easier and more efficiently than your arm's muscles alone. At first, before you're used to pitching the ball at that kind of speed, expect the ball to hit the ground due to releasing too late. Keep practicing though, because it's invaluable to learn this. I was stupid and nearly lost my arm permanently by trying to throw it harder than I should have when I started out. I was pitching in the low to mid 70's. Now my top speed is 82-83 MPH and getting faster as I work out my legs and strengthen my arms tendons and it's natural elasticity. Keep at it and you'll be ringing up more K's than you can count. Good luck and practice, practice, practice!

My tip is for new pitchers. Practice one pitch over and over. When I was growing up, all I pitched was a 2 seam fastball. Now it is my best pitch. The ball is coming in and just at the end it drops to the batters feet. So just keep practicing, and try to learn only one new pitch at a time.

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.

You need to work on location. The fastest pitch won't get you anywhere if it's in the middle of the plate. Keep the batters off guard. It isn't the worst thing to throw a few outside the zone, but don't let the batters get comfortable. Work on accuracy, and then speed. Throw a 4 seamer, 2 seamer and a cutter. If you are having a hard time with a breaking ball, throw a change up. A good change up is just as effective as a curveball, if not more.

Following through is a big deal, especially when throwing a fastball. When you throw a fastball, grip the ball as you usually would, get into your windup, when releasing the ball continue your arm motion (as if you were scooping up dirt on the mound) after the release. If you do not follow through you will have a tendency to throw high and inside our outside.