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
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