Fastball Pitching Strategies

Every pitcher who has success at any level usually learns how to throw a fastball first. It's the simplest of the pitches for a pitcher to learn, and basically requires a pitcher to "grip-it-and-rip-it," putting the onus on the batter to be able to hit the ball. However, throwing a fastball isn't really basic at all. There are nuances that should be learned and strategies that must be used to be effective when throwing fastballs.

  1. Mixing It Up

    • Learning to throw different types of fastballs will help the pitcher add to his arsenal of pitches. Throwing a two-seam fastball, which is when the baseball is gripped with the index and middle fingers laying across the seams of the ball at their narrowest point, requires the same motion and arm speed as a four-seam fastball, which is when the pitcher grips the baseball with the seams of the ball parallel with the index and middle fingers. However, the pitches result in different actions. A two-seam fastball will drop slightly as it nears the batter, while a four-seam fastball rises. Other variations, such as the split-finger fastball, which is when the ball is gripped with the index and middle fingers split, or a cut fastball, which is when the pitcher moves his fingers slightly to one side of the ball so that it "cuts" away from the batter when pitched, can give the batter much more to think about at the plate.

    Changing Arm Motion

    • Changing the way the pitcher's arm is slotted when pitching can have a similar effect as changing the grip. The most common pitch delivery is the overhand delivery, where the pitching arm and hand move forward from above the pitcher's head. Other delivery styles include three-quarters delivery, sidearm delivery and submarine style. Changing the arm slot ever so slightly changes the angle of the baseball as it approaches the batter and can also result in more movement.

    Location, Location, Location

    • Not only is the style of fastball thrown important, but so is where it is thrown. Major League pitchers and some college-level pitchers consistently hit 95 mph or more on the radar gun. While most hitters advance in their career by being able to hit a fastball, where it ends up in the strike zone can make it more difficult. A fastball thrown up and in to a batter is hard for the batter to get around on and even sometimes results in a broken bat when the ball hits a bad area of the bat. A pitch thrown inside also gives the batter another thing to think about -- not wanting to get hit by a 95 mph-plus fastball. Changing a batter's eye level is important, too. Throwing a couple of pitches low in the strike zone may get them looking for something low, so throwing the next pitch high in the strike zone can catch them off-guard.

    The Right Pitch at the Right Time

    • Most pitchers do not throw just fastballs. Some pitchers have the ability to throw other pitches as well, and, in some cases, the other pitches are better than their fastball. Curve balls, sliders, change-ups and even knuckle balls can be used in conjunction with a fastball to keep a batter guessing at the plate. Fastballs are usually a pitcher's bread-and-butter pitch, however, and the one they go to when they need a strike. Throwing an effective fastball for a strike at the knees that the batter cannot get around on can make the difference between a strikeout, weak ground ball or grand slam.