Hiding the Baseball When Pitching

Baseball pitching is all about deceiving hitters and keeping them off balance by disrupting their timing. This can be done by changing pitch speeds and throwing pitches with different movement. It can also be done by hiding the baseball throughout your pitching motion. Hitters who cannot see the ball are unable to determine a pitcher's grip, which prevents them from guessing the pitch. A hidden ball also takes hitters longer to pick up and cuts down on their reaction time. Hiding the ball while pitching is easy to accomplish with focus and attention to detail.

Things You'll Need

  • Baseball glove
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set the ball in your glove as you take the mound. Bring your pitching hand into the web of the glove and keep it there as you look to the catcher for the sign.

    • 2
      Setting the pitch grip in your glove keeps opponents from determining pitch speed and movement.

      Hold the ball with your pitching grip as the ball still resides in your glove. A hitter who sees the grip you have on the ball can easily identify the pitch coming and will be better prepared to hit it.

    • 3
      Even as a pitcher starts his motion, the ball remains hidden in the glove.

      Keep your pitching hand in the web of your glove with the ball as you begin your motion. This can be done whether you are pitching from the stretch or from the windup, and whether you use an overhead windup or keep the ball in front of your chest.

    • 4
      Hideo Nomo's deceptive pitching motion helped him throw two no-hitters.

      Bring the ball out of your glove at the last possible moment as you start your motion to the plate. The ball can still be shielded from the hitter. Some pitchers keep the ball hidden behind their body as they start their throwing motion to home plate.

    • 5

      Release the ball, throwing it toward home plate and preparing for any batted ball that might return to the mound.