Monday, July 21, 2014
Improve Your Game! ProHittingCages.com: How To Grip And Throw A Splitter ( Part 10)
ProHittingCages.com: How To Grip And Throw A Splitter ( Part 10): How To Grip And Throw A Splitter Splitter A split-finger fastball (sometimes called a splitter or splitty) is an advanced pitch. Typi...
How To Grip And Throw A Splitter ( Part 10)
How To Grip And Throw A Splitter
Splitter
A split-finger fastball (sometimes called a splitter or splitty) is an advanced pitch.
Typically, it's only a good pitch if you've got bigger hands. That's because the pitch itself should be "choked" deep in the hand. This is how splitters get their downward movement. Your index and middle fingers should be placed on the outside of the horseshoe seam. The grip is firm. When throwing this pitch, throw the palm-side wrist of the throwing-hand directly at the target while keeping your index and middle fingers extended upward. Your wrist should remain stiff.
Bruce Sutter, one of the best splitter pitchers in the history of the game, says that it is very important to put your thumb on the back seam, not the front seam. This puts the ball out front just a bit more than a fork ball. Then, he says, you just throw a fastball. A very sophisticated and misunderstood point is that the split-fingered fastball should be thrown with back spin just like a two-seam fastball. But in a Roger Kahn / Bruce Sutter interview in Kahn's book, The Head Game: Baseball Seen from the Pitcher's Mound
, he points out that this is not the case.
Resource from thecompletepitcher.com/pitching_grips.htm#q3
Splitter
Typically, it's only a good pitch if you've got bigger hands. That's because the pitch itself should be "choked" deep in the hand. This is how splitters get their downward movement. Your index and middle fingers should be placed on the outside of the horseshoe seam. The grip is firm. When throwing this pitch, throw the palm-side wrist of the throwing-hand directly at the target while keeping your index and middle fingers extended upward. Your wrist should remain stiff.
Bruce Sutter, one of the best splitter pitchers in the history of the game, says that it is very important to put your thumb on the back seam, not the front seam. This puts the ball out front just a bit more than a fork ball. Then, he says, you just throw a fastball. A very sophisticated and misunderstood point is that the split-fingered fastball should be thrown with back spin just like a two-seam fastball. But in a Roger Kahn / Bruce Sutter interview in Kahn's book, The Head Game: Baseball Seen from the Pitcher's Mound
, he points out that this is not the case.Resource from thecompletepitcher.com/pitching_grips.htm#q3
Saturday, June 28, 2014
ProHittingCages.com: How To Grip And Throw A Knuckle Curveball ( Part 8...
ProHittingCages.com: How To Grip And Throw A Knuckle Curveball ( Part 8...: How To Grip And Throw A Knuckle Curveball Knuckle curveball Another more advanced variation of the curveball is the knuckle curveball...
How To Grip And Throw A Knuckle Curveball ( Part 8)
How To Grip And Throw A Knuckle Curveball
Knuckle curveball
Another more advanced variation of the curveball is
the knuckle curveball (sometimes called a spike curve). This is the
curveball grip that I used. Thrown the same way as my beginners
curveball only you'll tuck your finger back into the seam of the ball.
Your knuckle will now point to your target instead of your index finger
(in the beginners curve).
The difficulty with this pitch isn't from the pitch itself. In fact, most pitchers feel this grip gives them the most rotation – and most movement – of any breaking pitch. However, many pitchers who are learning this pitch for the first time, aren't comfortable with the "tucking" part. It's not super comfortable at first to tuck your index finger into the baseball.
This is why I recommend that you spend a few weeks – preferably during the off-season – working on tucking your index finger into the baseball. Do it while you're watching TV or in study hall at school. Once your index finger is comfortable with the grip, you can progress into spinning a baseball to a partner without any trouble.
Note: You've got to maintain short and well-manicured nails – especially on your index finger of the throwing hand – for this pitch to be effective because long fingernails can get in the way of the grip.
One thing you can do is apply a thin coat of nail polish or fingernail strengthener. It's in the women's section where fingernail polish is found, of course. It's shiny (even the matte finish is a bit shiny), but dries clear. And it helps to make fingernails a little tougher. (If you do use it, you really need just apply it to your index finger.) www.prohittingcages.com.
Resource from thecompletepitcher.com/pitching_grips.htm#q3
Knuckle curveball
The difficulty with this pitch isn't from the pitch itself. In fact, most pitchers feel this grip gives them the most rotation – and most movement – of any breaking pitch. However, many pitchers who are learning this pitch for the first time, aren't comfortable with the "tucking" part. It's not super comfortable at first to tuck your index finger into the baseball.
This is why I recommend that you spend a few weeks – preferably during the off-season – working on tucking your index finger into the baseball. Do it while you're watching TV or in study hall at school. Once your index finger is comfortable with the grip, you can progress into spinning a baseball to a partner without any trouble.
Note: You've got to maintain short and well-manicured nails – especially on your index finger of the throwing hand – for this pitch to be effective because long fingernails can get in the way of the grip.
One thing you can do is apply a thin coat of nail polish or fingernail strengthener. It's in the women's section where fingernail polish is found, of course. It's shiny (even the matte finish is a bit shiny), but dries clear. And it helps to make fingernails a little tougher. (If you do use it, you really need just apply it to your index finger.) www.prohittingcages.com.
Resource from thecompletepitcher.com/pitching_grips.htm#q3
Monday, June 16, 2014
ProHittingCages.com: How To Grip And Throw A Beginner's Curveball
ProHittingCages.com: How To Grip And Throw A Beginner's Curveball: How To Grip And Throw A Beginner's Curveball Beginner's curveball The beginners curveball is a great pitch for younger pitche...
How To Grip And Throw A Beginner's Curveball
How To Grip And Throw A Beginner's Curveball
Beginner's curveball
The beginners curveball is a great pitch for younger
pitchers. In essence, this pitch does the exact opposite as a fastball.
Where as a fastball spins from the bottom to top (which is known as
"backspin"), a curveball spins from top to bottom. And instead of
leverage coming from behind the top of the baseball (as a four-seam
fastball), leverage on a curve comes from the front of the baseball.
I teach a beginners curveball grip to younger pitchers who are learning a curveball for the first time because I feel that it's the easiest way to correctly learn proper spin. (But I also think this is a great grip for more advanced pitchers to use in a practice setting if you're having trouble with your breaking ball.)
Here's how it works: Grip a baseball leaving the index finger off – like you were pointing at something. (Your index finger will be used to aim the baseball at your target.)
Next, place your middle finger along the bottom seam of the baseball and place your thumb on the back seam (as shown in the middle picture above). When this pitch is thrown, your thumb should rotate upward, and your middle finger should snap downward while your index finger points in the direction of your target. This, of course, is the reason this pitch is great for beginners: the ball goes where your index finger points. The beginners curveball helps to align your hand and ball to the target.
Note: Because hitters at the college and professional levels may be able to pick up on the "raised" finger during this pitch's delivery, a beginners curve shouldn't be used past high school ball.
Resource from thecompletepitcher.com/pitching_grips.htm#q3
Beginner's curveball
I teach a beginners curveball grip to younger pitchers who are learning a curveball for the first time because I feel that it's the easiest way to correctly learn proper spin. (But I also think this is a great grip for more advanced pitchers to use in a practice setting if you're having trouble with your breaking ball.)
Here's how it works: Grip a baseball leaving the index finger off – like you were pointing at something. (Your index finger will be used to aim the baseball at your target.)
Next, place your middle finger along the bottom seam of the baseball and place your thumb on the back seam (as shown in the middle picture above). When this pitch is thrown, your thumb should rotate upward, and your middle finger should snap downward while your index finger points in the direction of your target. This, of course, is the reason this pitch is great for beginners: the ball goes where your index finger points. The beginners curveball helps to align your hand and ball to the target.
Note: Because hitters at the college and professional levels may be able to pick up on the "raised" finger during this pitch's delivery, a beginners curve shouldn't be used past high school ball.
Resource from thecompletepitcher.com/pitching_grips.htm#q3
ProHittingCages.com: How To Grip And Throw A Straight Curveball ( Part ...
ProHittingCages.com: How To Grip And Throw A Straight Curveball ( Part ...: How To Grip And Throw A Straight Curveball Straight curveball The straight curveball (or "overhand curveball") is one of th...
How To Grip And Throw A Straight Curveball ( Part 7)
How To Grip And Throw A Straight Curveball
Straight curveball
The straight curveball (or "overhand curveball") is one
of the most common breaking ball grips. It's a variation of my
beginners curveball and my knuckle curveball.
A straight curve requires mastery of my beginners curveball, because many of the same principles that apply to both grips. This doesn't mean that you have to throw a beginners curve (most pitchers actually start right out with this pitching grip). But the beginners curveball is a good place to start. Then, of course, this pitching grip is the next step. That's because there is essentially no significant difference between a straight curveball and a beginners curveball, except for the finger placement of your index finger. It should be placed on the baseball as opposed to pointed at a target.
The thumb action of the pitch is upward. The thumb rotates up while your middle and index fingers rotate down.
The arm action on this pitch is a little abbreviated at the end. Instead of getting a nice long arc of deceleration and finishing throwing elbow outside of your opposite knee (as with your fastball), you'll want to bring your throwing-hand elbow to the opposite hip. This, of course, shortens your follow through, but allows you to really snap off the pitch.
Resource from thecompletepitcher.com/pitching_grips.htm#q3
Straight curveball
A straight curve requires mastery of my beginners curveball, because many of the same principles that apply to both grips. This doesn't mean that you have to throw a beginners curve (most pitchers actually start right out with this pitching grip). But the beginners curveball is a good place to start. Then, of course, this pitching grip is the next step. That's because there is essentially no significant difference between a straight curveball and a beginners curveball, except for the finger placement of your index finger. It should be placed on the baseball as opposed to pointed at a target.
The thumb action of the pitch is upward. The thumb rotates up while your middle and index fingers rotate down.
The arm action on this pitch is a little abbreviated at the end. Instead of getting a nice long arc of deceleration and finishing throwing elbow outside of your opposite knee (as with your fastball), you'll want to bring your throwing-hand elbow to the opposite hip. This, of course, shortens your follow through, but allows you to really snap off the pitch.
Resource from thecompletepitcher.com/pitching_grips.htm#q3
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
ProHittingCages.com: How To Grip And Throw A Palmball ( Part 6)
ProHittingCages.com: How To Grip And Throw A Palmball ( Part 6): How To Grip And Throw A Palmball Palmball The palmball (sometimes called a palm ball or four-finger changeup) is one of two or three ...
How To Grip And Throw A Palmball ( Part 6)
How To Grip And Throw A Palmball
Palmball
The palmball (sometimes called a palm ball or
four-finger changeup) is one of two or three variations of the changeup.
It's an off-speed pitch.
A palmball is is gripped by essentially choking the baseball deep in your hand and wrapping all of your fingers around the baseball. It's essentially a four-fingered change-up where the baseball is centered in your hand between your middle and ring fingers.
The index and ring fingers are placed on either side of the baseball for balance, and the thumb is placed directly below the baseball. At its release point, try to turn the ball over a little to get more movement. The deeper the grip, the more friction that is created on the ball, which takes off velocity.
However, as with all off-speed pitches, the arm speed and mechanics of your pitching delivery have to be the same as your fastball.
Resource from thecompletepitcher.com/pitching_grips.htm#q3
Palmball
A palmball is is gripped by essentially choking the baseball deep in your hand and wrapping all of your fingers around the baseball. It's essentially a four-fingered change-up where the baseball is centered in your hand between your middle and ring fingers.
The index and ring fingers are placed on either side of the baseball for balance, and the thumb is placed directly below the baseball. At its release point, try to turn the ball over a little to get more movement. The deeper the grip, the more friction that is created on the ball, which takes off velocity.
However, as with all off-speed pitches, the arm speed and mechanics of your pitching delivery have to be the same as your fastball.
Resource from thecompletepitcher.com/pitching_grips.htm#q3
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
ProHittingCages.com: How To Grip And Throw A Circle Changeup ( Part 5)
ProHittingCages.com: How To Grip And Throw A Circle Changeup ( Part 5): Circle changeup The circle changeup and the four-seam fastball are what got me to professional baseball. They're both great pitche...
How To Grip And Throw A Circle Changeup ( Part 5)
Circle changeup
To throw a circle changeup make - quite literally - a circle or an "OK" gesture with your throwing hand (using your thumb and index fingers). You then center the baseball between your three other fingers (as shown in the middle picture above right). The baseball should be tucked comfortably against the circle.
Throw this pitch with the same arm speed and body mechanics as a fastball, only slightly turn the ball over by throwing the circle to the target. This is called pronating your hand. (Think about this as giving someone standing directly in front of you a "thumbs down" sign with your throwing hand.) This reduces speed and gives you that nice, fading movement to your throwing-arm side of the plate.
A great way to develop the "fastball mechanics" but changeup speed is to practice throwing your changeup as you long toss (throwing beyond 90 feet). Alternate fastballs and changeups at 90-or-more feet for about 20 throws a couple of times a week.
Resource from thecompletepitcher.com/pitching_grips.htm#q3
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
ProHittingCages.com: How To Grip And Throw A Three Finger Changeup ( Pa...
ProHittingCages.com: How To Grip And Throw A Three Finger Changeup ( Pa...: How To Grip And Throw A Three Finger Changeup Three finger changeup A three-finger changeup is a good off-speed pitch for younger base...
ProHittingCages.com: How To Grip And Throw A Two Seam Fastball ( Part 3...
ProHittingCages.com: How To Grip And Throw A Two Seam Fastball ( Part 3...: How To Grip And Throw A Two Seam Fastball Two seam fastball A two seam fastball, much like a...
Monday, May 12, 2014
ProHittingCages.com: How To Grip And Throw A Two Seam Fastball ( Part 3...
ProHittingCages.com: How To Grip And Throw A Two Seam Fastball ( Part 3...: How To Grip And Throw A Two Seam Fastball Two seam fastball A two seam fastball, much like a...
Monday, May 5, 2014
ProHittingCages.com: How To Grip And Throw A Four Seam Fastball (Part 2...
ProHittingCages.com: How To Grip And Throw A Four Seam Fastball (Part 2...: Step 2: Grip · How To Grip And Throw A Four Seam Fastball Four-seam fastball To grip the four seam fastball, place your...
How To Grip And Throw A Four Seam Fastball (Part 2)
Step 2: Grip
·
Four-seam fastball
Next, place your thumb directly beneath the baseball, resting on the smooth leather (as shown in the picture on the right). Ideally, you should rest your thumb in the center of the horseshoe seam on the bottom part of the baseball.
Grip this pitch softly, like an egg, in your fingertips. There should be a "gap" or space between the ball and your palm (as shown in the middle picture). This is the key to throwing a good, hard four-seam fastball with maximal backspin and velocity: A loose grip minimizes "friction" between your hand and the baseball. The less friction, of course, the quicker the baseball can leave your hand.
Does a four-seam fastball rise?
"No," says Bill James, author of the The Neyer/James Guide to Pitchers. "A fastball can't rise unless it's thrown underhand. But if you throw the fastball overhand with enough force, it will appear to rise because it's not dropping as much as the batter's brain thinks it should."
Resource from thecompletepitcher.com/pitching_grips.htm#q3
Saturday, April 19, 2014
How To Grip And Throw A Three Finger Changeup ( Part 4)
How To Grip And Throw A Three Finger Changeup
Three finger changeup
A three-finger changeup is a good off-speed pitch for younger baseball pitchers – and for those who do not have big hands.
To throw an effective three-finger changeup, center your ring, middle, and index fingers on top of the baseball (as shown in the third picture at right). Your thumb and pinky finger should be placed on the smooth leather directly underneath the baseball (as shown in the middle picture).
A lot of pitchers that I work with like to "touch" their pinky and thumb when gripping this pitch (as shown in the middle picture). It helps to develop a good "feel" for the pitch, which is important since the changeup is a finesse pitch.
OK, now that you've got your grip, hold the baseball deep in the palm of your hand to maximize friction and to "de-centralize" the force of the baseball when the pitch is released. This helps take speed off of the pitch. Throw it like you would a fastball: Same mechanics. Same arm speed. Same everything.
One way to develop "fastball mechanics" but changeup speed is to practice throwing your changeup as you long toss (throwing beyond 90 feet). Alternate fastballs and changeups at 90-or-more feet for about 20 throws a couple of times a week.
Note: Advanced pitchers can experiment with "turning the ball over" to create even more movement on the pitch. To do this, pronate your throwing hand (turn it over as if you were giving your catcher a "thumbs down" hand signal) as you throw the pitch.
Resource from Thecompletepitcher.com/pitching_grips.htm#q3
Three finger changeup
To throw an effective three-finger changeup, center your ring, middle, and index fingers on top of the baseball (as shown in the third picture at right). Your thumb and pinky finger should be placed on the smooth leather directly underneath the baseball (as shown in the middle picture).
A lot of pitchers that I work with like to "touch" their pinky and thumb when gripping this pitch (as shown in the middle picture). It helps to develop a good "feel" for the pitch, which is important since the changeup is a finesse pitch.
OK, now that you've got your grip, hold the baseball deep in the palm of your hand to maximize friction and to "de-centralize" the force of the baseball when the pitch is released. This helps take speed off of the pitch. Throw it like you would a fastball: Same mechanics. Same arm speed. Same everything.
One way to develop "fastball mechanics" but changeup speed is to practice throwing your changeup as you long toss (throwing beyond 90 feet). Alternate fastballs and changeups at 90-or-more feet for about 20 throws a couple of times a week.
Note: Advanced pitchers can experiment with "turning the ball over" to create even more movement on the pitch. To do this, pronate your throwing hand (turn it over as if you were giving your catcher a "thumbs down" hand signal) as you throw the pitch.
Resource from Thecompletepitcher.com/pitching_grips.htm#q3
How To Grip And Throw A Two Seam Fastball ( Part 3)
How To Grip And Throw A Two Seam Fastball
Two seam fastball
A two seam fastball, much like a sinker or cutter (cut
fastball), is gripped slightly tighter and deeper in the throwing-hand
than the four-seam fastball. This pitch generally is thought of as a
"movement pitch" (as opposed to the four-seam fastball, which is
primarily thought of as a "straight pitch").
When throwing a two-seam fastball, your index and middle fingers are placed directly on top of the narrow seams of the baseball (as shown in the picture on the left).
Next, place your thumb directly on the bottom side of the baseball and on the smooth leather in between the narrow seams (as shown in the picture on the right).
Again, a two seamer is gripped a little firmer than the four seamer. A firm grip causes friction, which causes the baseball to change direction, usually "backing up" - or running in - to the throwing hand side of the plate. It also slightly reduces the speed of the pitch, which is why most two-seamers register about 1 to 3 mph slower than four-seam fastballs.
One thing I did with this pitch in college and in professional baseball was to always throw my two-seam fastball to the throwing-hand side of the plate and my four seam fastball to the glove-hand side of the plate. In other words, because I'm a righty, I'd throw two-seamers inside to right-handed batters and four-seamers away. I always liked how the feel of the grip of the two-seamer in my glove (when I was in my pre-pitch stance) let me know on a sub-conscious level that I was going inside on guy.
Resource from Thecompletepitcher.com/pitching_grips.htm#q3
Two seam fastball
When throwing a two-seam fastball, your index and middle fingers are placed directly on top of the narrow seams of the baseball (as shown in the picture on the left).
Next, place your thumb directly on the bottom side of the baseball and on the smooth leather in between the narrow seams (as shown in the picture on the right).
Again, a two seamer is gripped a little firmer than the four seamer. A firm grip causes friction, which causes the baseball to change direction, usually "backing up" - or running in - to the throwing hand side of the plate. It also slightly reduces the speed of the pitch, which is why most two-seamers register about 1 to 3 mph slower than four-seam fastballs.
One thing I did with this pitch in college and in professional baseball was to always throw my two-seam fastball to the throwing-hand side of the plate and my four seam fastball to the glove-hand side of the plate. In other words, because I'm a righty, I'd throw two-seamers inside to right-handed batters and four-seamers away. I always liked how the feel of the grip of the two-seamer in my glove (when I was in my pre-pitch stance) let me know on a sub-conscious level that I was going inside on guy.
Resource from Thecompletepitcher.com/pitching_grips.htm#q3
ProHittingCages.com: How to Throw Baseball Pitches (Part 1)
ProHittingCages.com: How to Throw Baseball Pitches (Part 1): How to Throw Baseball Pitches Guide Note There are some basic fundamentals that every pitcher must know to learn H...
How to Throw Baseball Pitches (Part 1)
How to Throw Baseball Pitches
Guide Note There are
some basic fundamentals that every pitcher must know to learn How to Throw
Baseball Pitches. This page provides information on how to grip the baseball
for popular types of pitches and how to use proper pitching mechanics to ensure
fluidity of motion and accuracy of pitches.
Table of Contents
Pitching Tips
Every pitcher will develop a personal technique and
approach to pitching.
Experiment with all kinds of different techniques to
find what works best for you.
Baseball is the only sport where the defensive team
has possession of the ball, making the pitcher perhaps the most important
player on the field.
Great pitchers use a variety of different pitches,
varying pitches' speeds and movements to gain competitive advantage against the
batter.
Popular Pitches:
·
Curveball
·
Introduction
·
You've probably
thrown a baseball before. But it's likely that nobody confuses you for a Major Leaguer (or a Minor Leaguer, or
even a semi-pro ballplayer). As anyone who's watched baseball knows, each
pitcher has his
own stance, motion, arm angle, and delivery. And that
means you can experiment with your delivery and pitches to find what gets you a
little more "oomph" in your throws. Maybe you'll never advance beyond
your rec league, but, with a little practice, you can wow your friends and
teammates with strong, accurate throws all day long.
·
An accurate pitch
begins before you even start your throwing motion. Pre-pitch fundamentals are just as
important as a strong and accurate arm. Your entire body goes into delivering a
pitch, so you have to know how to make every part best work in concert to
deliver the perfect pitch every time. How you set your feet and legs (your
stance) is the first step in making a successful pitch.
WARNING: Pitching can put a tremendous strain on all parts of
the body—most specifically the arm.[1] Younger pitchers are especially vulnerable
to arm troubles.[2] If you experience pain or
discomfort while pitching, consult your doctor. Younger pitchers involved with
any level of development within little league baseball should consult the latest guidelines regarding pitch counts.
Face your target.
Your feet should be just outside your shoulders.
Keep your legs straight, about a shoulder-width apart.
If you're on a pitching mound with a rubber, stand
near the right of the rubber if you're right-handed, left of the rubber if
you're left-handed.
Raise both hands to about chest level while holding
the ball in your glove.
TIP: You should stretch before you begin to pitch.[1]
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