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Fastball- Also known as a smoker or hummer, a fastball is a pitch thrown at full speed. How fast? 97 to 98 mph. The pitch gets to the plate in 0.42 seconds! It is thrown with your wrist gripped firmly and your fingers along the narrow ends of the seams |
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Change Up- This is one of the most common pitches used by a closer. This pitch starts high, but suddenly drops under your bat. Like the knuckle ball and slider, this is a difficult pitch to recognize. This pitch is gripped with your middle finger in the center of the narrow seams, and your index and ring finger on the outside of those two seams. Release this pitch a little early and snap your wrist down. |
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Curveball- When thrown by a right handed pitcher, the curve breaks away from a right handed batter. A lefty's curve will break away from the left handed batter. A curveball is gripped with your index and middle finger on the top or on the side (the thumb grips too). When releasing, a downward snap of the wrist and thumb will help give it its curving spin. Little Leaguers are strongly recommended not to throw curveballs. He or she could end up ruining their arm. A reverse curve is also known as a screwball. It is released by snapping the wrist in the opposite direction as the curveball. |
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Sinker- This is a pitch that drops suddenly as it closes in on the plate. This pitch is gripped hard with your middle and index finger over the narrow area of the seams and released with a slight turn of the wrist.
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Split Finger Fastball- The spit finger is a close relative of the uncommon forkball. This pitch is squeezed between your forefinger and pushed back, but not back so far it touches the webbing at the base of your fingers. The split finger is thrown straight overhand, just like the fastball. But,the split finger doesn't even act like a fastball. The split finger drops as it nears the plate and breaks to the left or right. Not every pitcher can develop this pitch. You have to have big hands and long fingers, making it rare in Little League play.
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Slider- A slider is a pitch that is something between a fastball and curveball. The slider is easy for the pitcher to throw and it is difficult for the batter to recognize. In the delivering of a slider, the arm is held so your wrist is halfway between the fastball and curveball position. It is thrown like a fastball, except the pitcher flicks his wrist when he releases the ball, sort of like turning a doorknob. Despite the effectiveness of this pitch, pitchers wary about throwing it because it can tear up a pitcher's arm. |
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Knuckle Ball- Even harder to recognize and hit than a slider, a knuckle ball is a slow pitch. It travels at 60-65 mph, and breaks crazily as it nears the plate. The pitcher doesn't even know how it's going to break. The pitch isn't really a knuckle ball. The pitcher grips the ball with the tips of two fingers. Instead of a snap, the wrist is pushed toward the batter. This pitch is easy on the arm, though difficult to learn. |
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