The best grip for throwing a baseball accurately

Comment by Les Edgerton on November 2, 2012 at 2:18pm

This is Baseball 101, but I'm continually amazed at the kids who aren't taught this the first LL practice. Johnny Bench revealed no one had taught him this when he first came up to the Reds and his position coach was amazed and told him that if he didn't master it, he wouldn't make the league. To his credit, he got out his catcher's glove, went to a movie, and spent the whole time throwing the ball into the mitt and getting it until he could get it in a nanosecond. Should have been taught that when he was six or seven... I know I taught my son when he was six. In a day or two, he could grab it blind and get to a 4-seam grip within a split second. Went nuts coaching a LL team when found out the previous coach didn't have a clue. It's the ONLY grip that doesn't sail, curve or break. Every single fielder should have that grip before they ever throw the ball to any base. Sad thing is, I watched the recent W.S. and on several throws it was evident the fielder didn't get the right grip to throw and when it hit the ground it broke "funny" or broke in the air. Makes the 1st baseman look bad and it isn't his fault at all. There is absolutely no excuse to not always get a 4-seam grip. A player who's been trained to do so doesn't even think about it nor does it take any time at all to get it. Wherever you grab the ball, you're only a quarter turn to get a 4-seamer. Like a lot of things in baseball, there are too many "coaches" in youth baseball who are more "daddy-ball" coaches than guys who know anything about the fundamentals. To see a professional player not get it is just showing a guy who's never had a decent coach or who hasn't bothered to learn the fundamentals on his own. There. Rant over. It just makes me mad when I see kids who didn't learn what should have been one of the first things they were taught on the first day of baseball.

Comment by Tom Schwindy on November 2, 2012 at 2:49pm

Les COULDN'T AGREE ANY MORE WITH YOU!  I have found many times throughout the years; Fathers / coaches of the local LL teams ALL GOOD men but don't know baseballs little ins & outs BUT they are the ones taking the time to "teach / coach" baseball to our youth. It's not their faults but yet again like in the video, any and all ball players should be able to do this blind folded or at least with your eyes closed.

Nice piece Doug keep it SIMPLE! SIMPLE is EASY, EASY is FUN!

Comment by Michael Kuebler on November 2, 2012 at 4:11pm

Les and Thomas...I am so on the same page.  That is why sites like this are great for youth baseball.   I am a high school varsity baseball coach and I am amazed at how so many kids that come through high school pick up the ball with the wrong grip and essentially throw sliders across the diamond...too much side spin and not enough back spin.  The first lesson I teach very spring and fall season is the proper grip.  I love the video from PBI but I would like to add one more thing...your middle and index fingers should be "pinkie" width apart.  I see some kids that were taught the 4-seam grip but their fingers are too far apart and that actually slows the ball down due to friction kind of like a change up.  Here is a link to an article from my website that I wrote which has pictures of the correct and incorrect way to hold the ball.  http://www.colonialbaseballinstruction.com/Baseball_Resources.html#...

Comment by HENRY MUNEVAR on November 2, 2012 at 5:01pm

SO FAR U ARE RIGHT BUT U DID NOT FINNISH WHAT ABOUT THE PLACEMENT OF THE THUM UNDERNEATH AND NOT TO THE SIDE.  AND HAVING THE BALL CENTERED I UR HAND AS IT WAS SHOWN TO ME BY DENNIS ECKERSLEY!

Comment by Michael Kuebler on November 2, 2012 at 5:33pm

Yes! A lot of my players that come up have that thumb to the side.  It cocks their wrist a bit and makes them get under the ball and creates that side spin...instead of getting on top of the ball.  Check out Dizzy Dean below. 

Comment by Doug Bernier on November 3, 2012 at 5:38pm

Les, I totally agree with you, and I saw a few times in the World Series as well that it looked like the infielder didn't have a 4 seam grip.  Its a scary thing when that happens because you have no idea what the ball is going to do.  This should be baseball 101 but I only had one coach in my lifetime that made me get a 4 seam grip.  Quite amazing.  

Comment by Doug Bernier on November 3, 2012 at 5:41pm

Michael, I really like the point of keeping your fingers "pinkie" width apart on the baseball.  That is very important and I have also seen the same thing with younger players getting their fingers too far apart.  The thumb underneath the baseball is another thing I should have mentioned, thanks again for the comments, I appreciate them.  

Comment by Doug Bernier on November 3, 2012 at 5:44pm

Thanks Thomas I agree simple is good.  Even though there is so much analyzing that can go into baseball, it is still a very simple game at its core.  My favorite coaches were the ones who didn't try to over coach.  It kept the game fun.  

Comment by Tom Schwindy on November 3, 2012 at 10:57pm

Doug:

I can't take credit for the quote; "Keep it simple because simple is easy and easy is fun" Had a GREAT COACH who said those words to me and I was barley a ball player. I was playing biddy ball and some of us had issues with hitting the ball. The coach broke out a wiffle ball and that LONG YELLOW BAT and that was practice for the whole night! Parents who stayed LOVE IT and those who came to pick up the kids when the two hour practice was to be over, they found US ALL STILL PLAYING on an almost dark field! I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT SPRING NIGHT!

So, I try to remember that night from a LONG, LONG TIME A GO *** *** LESSON WELL LEARNED and I add it into my teachings when I can. The best for me is; I AM NOT A FULL TIME COACH, so when I show up (when asked and I can make it) I am able to be goofy and still get my points across and have a little fun. I am not teaching at any high level as of yet, BUT sometimes I think it's a great time just to be around the kids who love the game and are young enough to listen and still have fun! When they get older; then explain & analyzing into ALL THE GOOD STUFF! & Believe me I love the game inside the game as much as anyone. Especially from behind the plate calling pitches and working with a pitcher who trust you when your calling for the heat with two strikes and no balls because he just K'd the last guy with a killer change up and the B has yet to see it except from the on deck circle. 

 

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