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How to Throw Tricky Pitches

Friday, May 30, 2008
Related Tags: pitches | gyro | ball | palm | fastball
 

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

  • baseball
  • Step 1:
    Learn to throw a gyro ball! Grip the baseball like you're getting ready to throw a standard fastball. When you are releasing the baseball from your hand, the arm should twist to the point where your palm is staring at you. This is a standard move during these tricky pitches. Most gyro ball pitchers throw this pitch sidearm because of the velocity it allows.
  • Step 2:
    Move on to the sub marine slider tricky pitch! Grab the baseball like you're about to pitch a four-seam fastball. Place your fingers so that the thumb rests at six o' clock, and move your index and middle finger together. Your release point will be underneath and hitters will realize this is one of your tricky pitches when they strike out.
  • Step 3:
    Throw a palm ball. This requires you to place your middle and ring fingers on the parallel seams of a horseshoe. The index and pinky will be positioned on each side of the ball with a slight curl. Center the thumb underneath, and let the baseball rest in the palm of your hand. This is considered one of the tricky pitches because it has a breaking motion, depending on your release point. Plus, throwing it like a fastball will disguise its off-speed tendencies.
  • Step 4:
    Use the tricky pitches at just the right moment. The gyro ball is great to use as a strikeout pitch. The palm ball is often used in odd point areas. If you need a strike or have just thrown a fastball the prior pitch, the palm ball can be number one on the tricky pitches list. It allows you to get ahead in the count.
  • Step 5:
    Practice makes perfect. Make sure that you practice on your own to perfect your pitches before trying them on the field. All of them have the ability to leave batters standing there with the bat on their shoulder. Just make sure your practice sessions only last about twenty pitches each and not all during the same session. Later down the road try on messing with the grips to get different movements. Pressure on different fingers will do the trick.

Tips & Warnings

  • Practice performing these tricks, and add to them with your own flair and style of pitching.
  • Don't over use these pitches or your arm will suffer tremendously.
  • Any pitcher under fifteen should not even attempt to throw any of these tricky pitches.

How to Throw Tricky Pitches Provided by eHow.com
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