Different Softball Pitching Grips

Effective softball pitchers throw a variety of pitches--fastballs, change-ups, risers and knuckleballs--to confuse hitters. To produce the different spins, speeds and movements of these pitches, players need to grip the ball and snap their wrist in particular ways. Experienced pitchers develop their own particular grips in accordance with the size of their hand, their unique wrist action and comfort considerations. That said, there are a few basic grips that developing pitchers should learn.

  1. Four Seam

    • The four-seam grip is one of the first grips taught to a new softball pitcher. For this grip, all four fingers are laid across the seams of the ball (across the "U" or horseshoe pattern of stitches). This grip produces a top-to-bottom rotation on the ball. With the right amount of whip and wrist action, you produce a straight fastball with no movement, often called a “four-seam fastball.”

    Three Finger

    • A three-finger grip can help you get more velocity on your fastball than a traditional four-seam grip. Place your index finger and your ring finger along the seams of the ball where the seams are closest together (the "narrows"), and put your middle finger between them on the leather of the ball. According to three-time All-America pitcher Cheri Kempf, the three-finger grip can help you eliminate the types of lateral spins that slow down a fastball.

    Horseshoe

    • This grip is common for throwing change-ups, a pitch that is noticeably slower than other pitches. For this grip, place your index finger and your thumb along the seams of the ball around the "U" pattern. To produce a slower pitch, throw the ball as if you were handing a glass of water to batter with the top of your "U" pointing toward the plate as you release the ball.

    Palm

    • To throw a knuckleball--a pitch with little to no spin that moves sporadically in the air--many pitchers will hold the ball deep in their palms. The placement of the fingers can vary, but many pitchers use the horseshoe grip. The key to producing an effective pitch with this grip is to release the ball with all fingers simultaneously; you’re almost popping it out of your hand. If one finger is the last to touch the ball a spin will be produced.

    Knuckle

    • The traditional way of throwing a knuckleball in baseball is by gripping the ball with your knuckles, however it takes big hands to perform this grip. Dig the knuckles of your first two or three fingers into the ball against its stitches (on the side of the 'u'). Place your thumb under the ball and leave your pinkie off it.