Article by Dustin Peek
As a pitcher gets older and begins playing in more advanced leagues, he will find that he must learn how to throw different pitches in order to be successful on the mound. Fastballs are great for young players, but as opposing hitters get older and more experienced, they get better at hitting straight fastballs. A pitcher must begin changing speeds and using movement in order to keep the advantage. As a player reaches his teen years, he is ready to begin experimenting with different pitches. While there are many pitches to choose from, there are just a few that have become the tried and true pitches of the most successful pitchers. This article describes the top five grips for pitching in baseball:
1. Four-seam Fastball
The four-seam fastball is the bread-and-butter pitch for most pitchers. It is the fastest pitch in a pitcher’s arsenal and has very little movement. However, when a pitcher needs to turn on the gas, this is the pitch to throw. To grip this pitch, the pitcher holds the baseball with his index and middle fingers and places them perpendicular to the seams.
2. Two-seam Fastball
The two-seam fastball is a slight variation of the four-seam fastball. The two-seam fastball has slightly less velocity than a four-seam fastball, and it has a small left-to-right movement for a right-handed pitcher. If thrown correctly, it can deceive a batter and cause him to make poor contact with the baseball. To grip this pitch, the pitcher holds the baseball with his index and middle fingers on the ball where the seams are the closest together. As the pitcher releases the ball, he can put slight pressure on the ball with his index finger to give it more movement.
3. Circle Changeup
The circle changeup is the most common type of changeup. Its effectiveness is due to both its slower velocity relative to the fastball and its significant movement. The reason for its deceptiveness is that it is thrown with the same arm motion as the fastball only it moves into a right-handed batter if it is thrown by a right-handed pitcher. To grip this pitch, a pitcher makes a circle by touching his index finger to his thumb. He then holds the baseball with his middle, ring, and pinky fingers leaving his index finger on the side of the baseball. By remove the index finger from the release point, the ball travels with much less speed than a common fastball.
4. Curveball
The curveball is the most common breaking ball. It typically is a pitch with low velocity and big downward movement. To grip this pitch, a pitcher puts his index and middle fingers together and places his middle finger along one of the long seams. When the pitcher releases the ball, he uses his arm motion and wrist to put significant forward spin on the baseball.
5. Slider
The slider is one of the most difficult pitches for a batter to hit. The slider is a breaking ball with more velocity than a curveball and a sharp break as nears the plate. The slider is also thrown with the same arm motion as a fastball making it particularly deceptive. To grip this pitch, the pitcher should hold the ball with his middle finger along one of the long seams. During the delivery, the pitcher should treat the pitch as a fastball until just before release. Then before the release, the pitcher should put pressure on his middle finger. This creates the quick, sliding motion of this pitch.
The pitches described above are the top five pitches used in baseball. If they are used correctly, it can make any pitcher a dominating force in any league.
Dustin Peek enjoys helping others learn the skills necessary to dominate on the baseball field. He is a former player and true fan of America’s pastime. Learn everything you need to know about the best grips for pitching baseballs at:http://www.baseballskillscenter.com
