How to Grip a Fastball

Trevillu

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posted on 13 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Baseball is America's pastime and has been played by people all over the world for well over the last 100 years. Since the beginning of baseball, throwing hard has played a huge role in the game, with the fastball being the most common pitch thrown. Fastballs are used by pitchers to get ahead in the count or when a strike is a must. The hardest fastball recorded to date was clocked at 105.1 mph (169.1 km/h) and was thrown by Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman while he was playing for the Louisville Bats. There are variations of fastballs (2-Seam, Cutter, Splitter) where lateral movement is added to the trajectory of the ball with a reduction in velocity being a common drawback. For someone interested in becoming a pitcher, or throwing harder and more accurate, the first step should be to properly grip the baseball. Properly gripping the baseball will maximize backspin and minimize side spin which will increase the accuracy and velocity of the pitches thrown. This article will show you how to grip a 4-seam fastball, a 2-seam fastball, a cut fastball (cutter), and a split finger fastball (splitter), as well as offer tips on how to throw them.

Steps

4 – Seam Fastball

Pick up baseball and place in throwing hand

Hold the ball with a proper throwing grip. This means your index finger and middle finger are on top of the ball with your thumb pushing it against your folded ring finger and pinky for support.

Rotate the ball in your hand until you find the “horseshoe seam”. This is where the seams form a C shape, a backwards C shape, or a horseshoe shape.

Place the last one-third of your index and middle fingers across the top seam of the horseshoe seam. Your last knuckle should lie just before the seam.

Place your thumb underneath the ball in the middle of the opposite C shape. Your thumb should be directly in line with the gap between your index finger and middle finger.

Grip the ball softly but firmly in your fingertips. There should be a gap between the baseball and the palm of your hand. This will minimize friction as you release the ball thus adding velocity.

2 - Seam Fastball

Repeat steps 1-2 of the 4 – Seam fastball grip

Rotate the ball in your hand until you find where the seams are closest together.

Place your index and middle finger directly on top of these seams.

Place your thumb underneath the ball in between the same narrow seams on the other side of the baseball

Grip this pitch a little tighter than you would on a 4 – seam fastball, putting slightly more pressure on the index finger. This will give the ball a little bit of movement, but a couple mph less in velocity.

Cut Fastball

Repeat steps 1-2 of the 4 – Seam fastball grip

Rotate the ball in your hand until you locate the horseshoe or C-shape seam. The opening of this C-shape should be opening towards your body.

Place your middle finger on or a little bit inside the right seam of the C-shape. Place your index finger right next to it.

Place your thumb directly under the ball in the middle of the opposite C shape.

Squeeze the ball with your thumb pushing it against your middle finger.

Split Finger Fastball

Repeat steps 1-2 of the 4 – Seam fastball grip

Rotate the ball in your hand and find in between where the seams are the closest together and the open side of the C shape.

Place your index and middle finger on the outside of the seams of the lower part of the C- Shape. Your middle knuckle on each finger should lie on the area where the seams start to widen.