Softball Pitching: 4-Seam Fastball Grip

Video Transcript

"In this segment, we're going to teach you the four seam fastball grip. Now, my all star pitcher Cody here, she's holding the ball with her fingers directly on the seams across the wave. Now, you never want to hold the ball like this, because this is a different type of ball, a different type of grip for a different type of fastball. It must be across the seams, with all four of your fingers firmly on the seams to get an effective fastball. This type of fastball is normally the most tighter with the least rotation, and the least movement. Since a four seam fastball is your most controlled pitch and it has no movement whatsoever, this is usually the type of fastball that everyone is taught when they begin pitching. So, normally the first thing we would learn is this type of fastball, you would normally throw it on counts that you're normally behind, normally to get a strike, so it prevents any type of movement, as it comes out of the pitcher's hands, and goes towards the plate. Now, to grip the ball, making sure that your fingers are firmly right on the seams, this prevents a much more tighter rotation off the pitcher's hand. Make sure that including the pinkie is also firmly on the ball because without a sure grip on the ball, you will cause to slip out of your hands and to lose control on your fastball, and this is how we grip a four seam fastball."