Expert: John Priest - 10/24/2008

Question
I would like to know more about a pitch that I have seen at the 11 and 12 year old level. Some boys are throwing what is being called a football slider. it seems to work real well and with no stress on the elbow. the pitcher basically throws the baseball like he would a football. it makes the ball spin and dive down. there seems to be no twisting of the hand or wrist.can you tell me more about this pitch...

Answer
Ed,
I teach this pitch to some little league players.  If a curveball is thrown correctly you will pull down on the front of the baseball and their is little to no snapping of the wrist.  By having a little leaguer hold the baseball like a football, it will pit their fingers on top of the baseball and the thumb underneath.  When the ball is thrown the fingers will go over the top of the baseball and pull down on the front.  This gives too baseball top spin.  If the spin is tight and in the right direction the ball will curve down.  This grip is a transitional grip to the official curve ball grip.  I like to teach the transitional or football grip to younger players because they can relate to throwing a football and it minimizes the snapping of the wrist.  This grip also helps in going to the official curveball grip because it uses the same arm action.

Thank You,
John Priest