Babe Ruth and a few others like him used pitching baseball grips to the fullest and created history on the baseball diamond. True enough, as these baseball pitching grips have helped so many pitchers win games for their teams. For every baseball player, having some information about these grips becomes imperative. This article is therefore dedicated to all those who want to be in the baseball hall of fame as pitchers!
Types of Baseball Pitching Grips
Curveball
This is one of the most popular and commonly used pitching grips for baseball. This falls under the category of breaking pitches. The grip for curveball goes like this. Grab the ball in such a manner that your middle finger touches the horseshoe part of the seam as it gets narrow. The index finger has to be just above the middle finger, side by side and touching the white portion of leather. As you throw the ball your wrist should be rotated towards the plate at the moment of the release. This grip will impart the spin for a good curve to your pitch. Read more on baseball training.
Three Finger Changeup
In this baseball grip, your ring, middle and index fingers should be centered on top of the ball. The thumb and the pinky finger have to be placed on the white leather beneath the ball. After that the ball should be held deep in your palm for taking the speed off the pitch. The ball has to be thrown like a fastball, barring the exception happening at the last minute. That is, your elbow should lead your arm downwards like you are pulling a shade or breaking a piece of chalk on a wall. Read more on pitching drills.
Four Seam Fastball
Ask which is one of many different baseball pitching grips which can get you a sureshot strike and the answer is this one. To begin with, put your index fingertip and middle fingertip on the horseshoe seam of the baseball. The seam has to face into the ring finger. Follow that by placing your thumb exactly underneath the ball, resting it on the leather. It has to rest at the center of the seam. It is advisable not to grip the ball too tightly, moreover, there has to be a little gap between your palm and the ball. Read more on baseball pitching drills.
Slider
Amongst the baseball pitching grips, the grip for the slider pitch is seen to be as the best in baseball. Hitter can be dismissed from both sides of the plate with this grip. With your index finger and middle finger grip the ball across its seams at the point where it becomes the widest. These two fingers should slightly be in the outer direction of the ball. The thumb then goes under the ball and the ring and pinkie finger have to go on its side. Remember none of them should make a contact with the ball’s surface. The pressure should be exerted with your thumb and the middle finger when the ball is being released. You have cut through the ball with the middle finger, unlike fastball. Otherwise it resembles the fastball. Till the final ball release, the fingers have to be on top of the ball. At that moment, turn the ball with your fingers. Read more on how to throw a slider.
Knuckleball
Okay this is those baseball pitching grips which are a combination of 2 different grips. This one is amongst the youth baseball pitching grips, even though it is an advanced variation of the curveball. It is thrown in the same manner as the curveball, just that your finger should be tucked back in the seam of the ball. Your knuckle have to be in the direction of the target rather than the index finger. Read more on baseball pitching drills.
In addition to this, when it comes to baseball pitching grips there are few more, mostly permutations and combination and variations of the basic types of baseball pitching grips. For instance, 2 seam fastball, circle changeup, palm ball and so on.