How to Pitch Pitches

Coaches teach children the basics of pitching soon after they begin playing organized baseball. This starts with proper delivery and release, ensuring the health of the pitching arm. Over time, pitchers refine their skills and begin adding different pitches to their repertoire. While a child may start by just throwing fastballs, a teenager may work in a curveball, changeup or slider. Learning how to throw a variety of pitches helps pitchers gain an advantage over hitters.

Things You'll Need

  • Baseball
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Instructions

  1. The Delivery

    • 1

      Stand on the pitching mound with feet together and toes pointed toward home plate. Your arms should be up in front of your chest. Hold the ball inside your mitt with your throwing hand. This keeps the grip hidden and prevents hitters from knowing the pitch.

    • 2

      Start your delivery by taking a small step to the side with your stride leg, or the leg opposite of your throwing arm. Pivot your plant foot so that it lies parallel to the pitching mound.

    • 3

      Bring the knee of your stride leg up so that it is next to your plant leg. Right-handed pitchers will be facing third base while lefties will be facing first base.

    • 4

      Push off the mound with your plant foot and glide your stride leg toward the catcher. At the same time, bring the baseball up into a throwing motion, preparing to deliver the pitch.

    • 5

      Release the ball as your stride foot hits the ground. Finish up in a position that makes fielding a batted ball possible.

    Pitches

    • 6

      Grip the ball with your index and middle fingers along the two seams for a fastball. In a fastball grip, your thumb lies underneath the ball. Upon release, the middle finger pushes toward the plate and the thumb ends up pointing down.

    • 7

      Grip the ball with your middle finger along the outside seam and your index finger right next to it for a curveball. Again, your thumb sits underneath the baseball. Upon release, roll your middle and index fingers over the top of the baseball. The thumb will finish pointing upward.

    • 8

      Grip the ball deep in your palm with all fingers on the ball for a changeup. The release of a changeup should mirror that of a fastball with all fingers releasing the ball.

    • 9

      Grip the ball the same way you grip a curveball in order to throw a slider. Upon release, the hand doesn't go over the top quite as much as with a curveball, but the thumb still ends up pointing upward. The break is not as pronounced as with the curveball.