How To Throw Different Pitches

All baseball pitchers need to find out how to throw different pitches so they can fool the batters they face. Once they know how to throw different pitches, the pitchers have to decide when to throw them to a batter. Some batters can hit different pitches better than others, so the pitcher has to try and learn every batter’s strengths and weaknesses if they want to get them out.

1. Most pitcher’s learn how to throw a fastball when they are young. The fastball is an easy pitch to throw. Hold the baseball with your index and middle fingers running along the seams, and then put your thumb under the baseball so it does not touch a seam. Once you are able to throw a fastball with good control you can try to throw it harder to make it more difficult to hit.
2. A curveball is another easy pitch to learn. To throw different pitches, it takes practice so work on your curveball until you master the pitch. Put your index finger along a seam of the baseball, with your middle finger next to it. Your thumb goes directly under the baseball. Don’t let your palm touch the ball at all. Use the same throwing motion as a fastball pitch, or the batter may figure out you are throwing them a curve. Turn and snap your wrist to make the ball curve at the end of your throwing motion.
3. When you are practicing to throw different pitches, try a change up. Grip the baseball so the tip of your index finger touches the tip of your thumb. Squeeze the other three fingers around the ball so it is firmly in your palm. Try different speeds and follow through motions to make your change up more dangerous as you learn to throw different pitches.
4. Try to learn the slider when you throw different pitches. Hold the ball like a fastball except put your fingers a little off center. Throw the slider using the same motion as a fastball and see if you can fool the batter. Hide the ball in your glove so the batter can’t see you changing your grip.