Just like the four seam fastball, you want all the pressure from your pitching hand going thru the index and middle fingers. The first step in learning how to throw a two seam fastball is the pitching grip. When throwing a two-seam fastball, your index and middle fingers are placed directly on top of the narrow seams of the baseball .
The best grip for velocity and control on the fastball is across the four seams. The “best” change up grip will depend on the pitcher. So it’s a good idea to let young pitchers experiment with different options. Here you have the pitcher grab the baseball across all four seams and throw the ball from their traditional windup.
As it moves in that direction, it will lose a bit of velocity and move down in the zone. Generally, pitchers will have slightly less control with this pitch because of that movement. The arm action is identical to a four-seam fastball, although the hand action differs slightly. Typically, the two-seam has more movement if the pitcher applies slow pitch softball machine index fingertip pressure, or holds the baseball deeper in the hand. Both techniques cause the ball to spin out of the hand off-center and away from the pitcher, similar to the spin of a changeup. Kneeling Curveball Practice—Pitchers should get into a kneeling position with their front knee up and their back knee on the ground.
If your son is a pitcher, you’re going to love this guide… Over extending the elbow by releasing the ball in a 12-6 vs. a 1-7 rotation. It’s not difficult to see why he’s one of the most dominant closers in MLB history with that deuce.
Maintain a good arm slot; not too high, not too low.
The front foot should be pointed to their partner but slightly closed . The player’s front shoulder should be pointed at their partner with his hands together at the position they separate in his delivery . The goal of the pitcher is to create consistent upper body positioning and arm action to allow for proper rotation of the ball. This includes fastball action of the throwing hand until the ball gets beside the pitcher’s head. The pitcher should then attempt to slice the batter in half with his pointer and middle fingers, continuing down to simulate stabbing himself in the thigh of his landing leg. However, since he is in a kneeling position, the hand will finish beside his glove-side ankle.
Your fingers should be a comfortable distance apart but not too far – the farther they’re spread, the less velocity on the throw. A two-seam fastball is generally one of a pitcher’s fastest pitches, although it doesn’t have quite the same velocity as a four-seam fastball. A two-seam fastball is one of the most frequently thrown pitches in baseball. The four seam fastball and a good changeup are the first two pitches you should learn to throw. A two seamer is gripped a little firmer than the four seamer.
The main variation from the four-seam fastball is how the laces or seams of the ball are positioned in the fingers. After a pitcher can command the four-seam fastball for a strike, it is time to introduce him to a two-seam fastball. I hope this will help you learn how to throw a two seam fastball.
For a left hand pitcher, it moves down and to the left. You will find that this pitch will move based on the amount of pressure you use with your index finger. The other variable for movement will be how much you choke the ball in your hand. The two-seam fastball is a great pitch to use if you are ahead in the count.
The ball is thrown in the same way you would throw a beginner’s curveball with the difference lying in the index finger tucked back into the seam of the ball. Instead of the index finger pointing towards your target, the knuckle points towards the target. The ball looks like it is floating and darting in different directions to the batter because there is no spin added to the ball. To grip the four seam fastball, place your index and middle fingertips directly on the perpendicular seam of the baseball. The “horseshoe seam” should face into your ring finger of your throwing hand . I call it the horseshoe seam simply because the seam itself looks like the shape of a horseshoe.