How to Throw a Fast Fastball

Baseball pitchers strive to overwhelm batters with the movement, location and velocity of their pitches. The primary pitch for getting batters out is the fastball. A fastball is a pitch that is relatively straight (when compared to other pitches that curve or "break") so location and especially velocity is important. To throw harder, you will need to improve your strength and flexibility while maintaining the fundamentals of your pitching motion to throw a faster fastball.

Instructions

    • 1

      Train using exercises that strengthen your core. The abdominal muscles are a key group for generating the torque necessary to throw a baseball with velocity.

    • 2

      Stretch to become more flexible. Your are, chest, back and abdominal muscles should be as flexible as possible to allow for greater range of motion. The difference between the starting point of the pitch and the release point will determine the amount of velocity you can put on your fastball. Stretching increases that range.

    • 3

      Use a proper grip on the baseball for the fastball pitch. The grip varies as related to the seams on the ball. Different finger placements will result in pitches of varying movement. A constant among all fastball pitches is a grip that leaves relief between the ball and the palm of the hand. You will also need to place the thumb on the exact opposite side of the ball from the fingers.

    • 4

      Employ a proper windup technique. The windup is the motion a pitcher makes before throwing the pitch. The goal of the windup is to build the potential energy to be released during the throw. Start in a balanced position and lift you forward leg toward your rear leg. A straight leg lift denies the full potential of building the energy that will translate into a fast pitch.

    • 5

      Stride toward home plate with your forward hip leading the way. As you release all of the energy built during the windup, the hips should move toward the plate first. The front leg follows the hip for the stride. Leading with the leg means not using your body's momentum during the pitch and a slower fastball will result.

    • 6

      Lengthen your stride while maintaining balance. A pitchers stride is the step she or he takes toward home plate when delivering a pitch. The length of the stride should equal the pitchers height to maximize your ability to throw hard. Any distance shorter than the pitcher's height will leave valuable torque behind--you will not throw as hard as you are capable of throwing.