How to Hold a Softball to Throw a Drop Ball

A softball pitcher has several pitches in her arsenal. From the fastball to the change-up and the curveball to the rise ball, a pitcher can throw off batters just by gripping and holding the ball correctly. A drop ball is also a type of pitch and will drop right before the plate, causing batter to swing and miss. There are two types of drop balls--snapover and peel--each with a different grip but similar in mechanics.

Instructions

  1. Snapover Drop

    • 1

      Grip the ball where the seams are closest together, usually called the “narrows” of the ball. With a two-grip hold, the index and middle finger should hold each seam of the ball in the narrows. These two fingers should be placed in the same direction as the seams. Your thumb should be under the ball.

    • 2

      Point your hand away from your body and bend your wrist back, before release.

    • 3

      Spin your hand quickly over the top of the ball as you release. Your pinky finger should be pointing up and your thumb finger should be facing down. Your palm should be facing outward, away from your body.

    Peel Drop

    • 4

      Grip the ball by putting your index, middle, ring and pinky fingers on the stitches on the side of the horseshoe of the ball. Each pad of the four fingers should be across these stitches. The thumb should be underneath the ball.

    • 5

      Point the inside of your wrist toward the catcher before release.

    • 6

      Pull up with your fingertips as you release the ball. Do this quickly like your peeling your fingers quickly from the ball. Your pinky should face away from your body and thumb should face towards your body after the release.