How to Throw a Cutter in Baseball

When stepping onto the mound, a lot of pitchers want to know how to throw a cutter in baseball. A cutter is a pitch that acts a lot like a fastball until it darts toward or away from  a hitter at the very last moment. The cutter is a great pitch for a young pitcher to add to their rotation as there is know additional torque that is placed on the elbow like with a curve ball. Here’s how to throw a cutter in baseball. 

Supplies you need to throw a cutter:

• Baseball
• Pitching mound
• Catcher or target

1. Grip the baseball. To throw a cutter in baseball place your middle finger on the seam of the baseball. If your left-handed, this will be the left seam and if you’re right-handed this will be the right seam. Your index finger will be spaced slightly to the side of the baseball and will act as a guide, while your thumb will rest underneath the baseball. You can adjust which direction the baseball darts by placing your middle finger on the opposite seam. This will help keep hitters off balance.
2. Go into your wind-up. It is important that you keep the same wind-up for every pitch in your rotation so that the hitter doesn’t know what’s coming when you throw a cutter.
3. Release the baseball. To throw a cutter in baseball you want to spin the baseball hard on it’s release. Think of the imagery of flicking your wrist downward creating backspin. While in practicality you don’t want to actually flick your wrist that imagery upon the release will help get the proper spin and darting action on the baseball.