How to Throw a Gyro Pitch

The gyro ball is a pitch that was invented and perfected by Japanese baseball players. It came to the United States and Major League Baseball when the Boston Red Sox acquired Daisuke Matsuzaka, who throws the gryo ball. Unlike many pitches where the point of release occurs when the arm is moving toward the pitcher's body, the ball is actually released when the arm is moving away. This changes the point of axis on the baseball, causing a tight spin on the baseball. The spin can cause the gyro ball to break late and sideways across the strike zone up to 3 feet.

Things You'll Need

  • Baseball
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Instructions

    • 1

      Grip the baseball as you would a four-seam fastball. Using your pitching hand, grip the baseball so your middle and index fingers rest perpendicularly across the seams. Your thumb will be slightly bent resting on the side of the baseball, while your ring finger will be bent and guiding the other side of the baseball.

    • 2

      Go into your normal overhand pitching motion. Whether you are pitching from the full wind-up or the stretch, keep the same mechanics with your knees, hips and shoulders for the gyro pitch. As your throwing hand comes back, your front arm, front knee and front shoulder all should face home plate. Keeping the pitching motion the same will help disguise the gyro pitch to the batter, so he cannot discern it from any other pitches in your arsenal. Note that the gyro ball cannot be thrown from the three-quarter, sidearm or submarine pitching position.

    • 3

      Release the gyro ball when your pitching forearm is perpendicular to the ground. Every pitcher will have a slightly different release point for the overhand position. However, for an overhand pitcher, the release point occurs when the arm is just about perpendicular to the ground and the elbow and forearm form about a 90-degree angle. Additionally, as your arm reaches the release point, flick your wrist so that the back of your hand is facing you and your thumb is pointing down. This is the exact opposite of the curveball motion, where your wrist snaps and your palm faces toward you. Note that your arm will pronate forward.

    • 4

      Complete your pitching motion. After you have released the gyro pitch, your back leg will come forward and land in front of your other leg. Your pitching arm will finish diagonally across your body. At this moment, both knees will be slightly bent and your upper body will be at about 45 degrees in relation to your legs and you will be facing the batter. Turn both hands over so both your glove and palm of your pitching hand are facing up in the ready position to field. This will place you in the position to field a ball if it is hit back to you.