How to Throw an Off-Speed Pitch

An off-speed pitch is a pitch thrown in baseball that is slower than a fastball. Most off-speed pitches are disguised to look like fastballs, and are thus designed to fool a batter into swinging early. You can throw an off-speed pitch by simply throwing your fastball at a lower velocity, but your batters could quickly catch on. The best way to throw an off-speed pitch is to grip the baseball in a specific way that increases the friction between the ball and your hand.

Instructions

  1. Throwing a Changeup

    • 1

      Place the ring, middle and index fingers of your throwing hand on top of the baseball to throw a three-finger changeup, according to Steven Ellis, a former baseball pro. These fingers should be spaced evenly.

    • 2

      Place the thumb and pinky finger of your throwing hand on the bottom of the baseball directly underneath your ring, middle and index fingers. Your thumb and pinky finger should be touching.

    • 3

      Hold the ball in the deepest part of your palm.

    • 4

      Throw the ball in the same way you would a fastball. Do not slow down your arm speed, as your grip will create friction between the ball and your hand, and thus slow down the ball's velocity.

    Throwing a Breaking Ball

    • 5

      Grip the ball tightly with your index and middle fingers along the inner side of a seam. Try to wrap your fingers around the entire ball.

    • 6

      Relax your thumb. Your thumb should be resting against the bottom of the ball.

    • 7

      Place your ring and pinky fingers to the side of the ball. Don't squeeze too hard with these fingers. You should essentially be holding on to the ball with your index and middle fingers.

    • 8

      Wind up and complete your normal arm motion as you move through the pitch. Just before you release the ball snap your wrist clockwise if you're a right-handed thrower or counter-clockwise if you're a left-handed thrower. This snapping action is what will decrease the ball's velocity and allow it to curve.