Video Project #2

Different Types of Pitches

There are many different types of baseball pitches that are used today in the professional baseball league. There are roughly around 12 different types of pitches and below you will learn what they are and they move when thrown correctly.

There is the Four-seam Fastball, Two-seam Fastball, Cutter, Splitter, Forkball, Curveball, Slider, Slurve, Screwball, Changeup, Palmball, and lastly the Circle Changeup. Below is a list of what each pitch does individually and how they are used to strike batters out in the game.

Four-seam fastball - Maximum velocity and should have best command. This is the most important pitch because everything else works off of it.

Two-seam fastball (a.k.a. sinker) - This fastball does just that, it sinks. A very good pitch for inducing ground balls.

Cut-fastball - Holding the ball slightly off center, it will run away from the arm side. Usually a few mph slower than a four-seam fastball. Good for jamming hitters.

Split-finger fastball - Strictly an out pitch. Dives down hard at home plate, many times getting missed swings.

Change-up - Slower than a fastball, but thrown with the same arm action. The arm speed is very important in getting the maximum effectiveness. This pitch helps control bat speed.

Curveball - Most often a strikeout pitch. Dives down as it gets to home plate. Many times the velocity is as effective as the movement, because it's usually much slower than a fastball.

Slider - In between a fastball and a curveball. It's harder than a curveball with less downward action. The slider has a smaller break with a tighter spin. Many times you can see a small dot in the baseball as it's coming toward you.

Knuckleball - A pitch that has very little or no spin. It's very difficult to control and catch. No one knows what it will do usually, which makes it also hard to hit. A very hard pitch to throw.

Forkball - Thrown hard while held between the index and middle fingers at varying depths. Usually tumbles and drops violently, often diagonally. Known as an out pitch, but also can be hard on the arm.

Now that you have learned each and every individual pitch, its time to go outside and give it a try, before you know it you might be good enough to join the professional baseball league. Thanks for reading!