3 Ways To Throw A Cut Fastball - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Throw a Cut Fastball PDF download Download Article Co-authored by Jim Price

Last Updated: June 13, 2025 Approved

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  • Two-Seam Cut Fastball Grip
    • |
  • Four-Seam Cut Fastball Grip
    • |
  • Delivering the Pitch
    • |
  • Q&A
    • |
  • Tips
|Show more |Show less X

This article was co-authored by Jim Price. Jim Price is a Baseball Coach and the Founder of Bash Sports Academy based in Chicago, IL. Jim has over 20 years of baseball coaching experience and specializes in hitting, defense, and mental game management. Prior to founding Bash Sports Academy, Jim served on the Board of Directors of Welles Park Youth Baseball, the largest youth baseball organization in the city of Chicago. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 95% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 220,646 times.

The cut fastball, or cutter, is a variation of either a two- or four-seam fastball. When thrown as a right-handed pitch, it moves from right to left, almost like a curveball, but with later, less severe break. The mechanics of the pitch, however, are still pure fastball, so you won't have to throw the pitch like a curveball. When thrown correctly, the cutter is a devastating pitch, designed to draw off-balance contact.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 3:

Two-Seam Cut Fastball Grip

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  1. Step 1 Start off by gripping the ball as you would a two-seam fastball. 1 Start off by gripping the ball as you would a two-seam fastball. A two-seam fastball is gripped with the index and middle fingers on the two narrow seams of the baseball.
  2. Step 2 Instead of leaving your fingers there, move your two fingers over to the right. 2 Instead of leaving your fingers there, move your two fingers over to the right. Make sure your fingers are relatively close together. Your fingers can either be positioned so that your middle finger runs along the seam, or so that the seam runs directly in the middle of both fingers. Experiment with what works best for you.[1] Advertisement
  3. Step 3 Move your thumb over so that it's diametrically opposed to your top two fingers. 3 Move your thumb over so that it's diametrically opposed to your top two fingers. Diametrically opposed just means that if you extended both fingers in the same direction, they would eventually form a perfect circle.
    • Think of the ball like a clock. If your thumb on a normal two-seam grip is at 6 o'clock, your thumb now should be at a 4 o'clock or 5 o'clock position.
  4. Step 4 Turn in your wrist slightly in the direction of your thumb. 4 Turn in your wrist slightly in the direction of your thumb. For right-handed pitchers, this means turning your wrist slightly to the left. For left-handed pitchers, this means turning your wrist slightly to the right.
  5. Step 5 Lead with the middle finger. 5 Lead with the middle finger. When throwing a two-seam fastball,[2] put extra pressure on your middle finger. This will create a natural spin on the ball that will help it cut.
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Method 2 Method 2 of 3:

Four-Seam Cut Fastball Grip

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  1. Step 1 Start off by gripping the ball as would a four-seam fastball. 1 Start off by gripping the ball as would a four-seam fastball. A four-seam fastball is gripped with the index and middle fingers going perpendicular across the U-shaped seams. Your two fingers should touch the seams of the baseball in four places: the bottom of both fingers and the top.
  2. Step 2 Move your two fingers together and slightly to the right, placing extra pressure on your middle finger. 2 Move your two fingers together and slightly to the right, placing extra pressure on your middle finger. This will help create the cut in your fastball, as the last finger that touches the ball will be the middle finger.
  3. Step 3 Keep your thumb in the bottom position, or perhaps up on the inside of the ball, anchoring. 3 Keep your thumb in the bottom position, or perhaps up on the inside of the ball, anchoring. Your thumb and your top fingers may not be exactly diametrically opposed, but they should be pretty comfortable.
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Method 3 Method 3 of 3:

Delivering the Pitch

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  1. Step 1 Hide the cut grip in your glove going into the windup. 1 Hide the cut grip in your glove going into the windup. You don't want to telegraph your pitch until the exact moment you release the baseball. Tipping the hitter off early could ruin the surprise of the pitch.[3]
  2. Step 2 Think "fastball" all the way. 2 Think "fastball" all the way. The cutter is a fastball, after all.[4] You want a simple up-and-down motion with your hand, not delivering any spin with your wrist.
    • Make sure your arm-speed is similar to your fastball arm-speed.
    • Extend your arm fully as you deliver the pitch.
  3. Step 3 Follow through, and snap your wrist down while applying slight pressure with your middle finger for slight spin. 3 Follow through, and snap your wrist down while applying slight pressure with your middle finger for slight spin.[5] This will cause the ball to move away from a right handed batter and in on a left handed batter.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question Is it okay to throw a cutter if I'm a youth pitcher? (I'm 11.) Community Answer Community Answer Yes. Throwing a cutter will not torque your wrist or violently turn your thumb and fingers, both of which stress the tendons. A fastball/cutter is a clean throw. Your arm will last longer if you continue to pitch as you age. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 31
  • Question Will throwing like this help me to throw faster? Community Answer Community Answer No, this is just a pitch that curves inside or outside depending on what arm you throw with. Throwing this way will give you a tactical advantage but your speed will stay the same. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 9 Helpful 18
  • Question How do I throw a knuckle curve? Community Answer Community Answer For the grip its just a regular curve ball, but you put your middle finger's knuckle against the ball. For the delivery, it's a fastball delivery, but experiment and figure out which is best for you. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 12 Helpful 17
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Tips

  • To add a lot of cut to this pitch, apply more pressure with your middle finger. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • This pitch is best used in a righty vs. lefty or lefty vs. righty match up as it will ride in on their hands and the bat handle. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Start this pitch on the inside of a right handed batter and the outside of a left handed batter. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FA83LhMHaxw&t=74s
  2. ↑ http://www.baseball-pitching-tips.com/two-seam.html
  3. ↑ https://baseball.epicsports.com/baseball-pitching-styles.html
  4. ↑ http://www.helpful-baseball-drills.com/howtothrowafastball.html
  5. ↑ http://www.helpful-baseball-drills.com/howtothrowacutter.html
  6. http://www.thecompletepitcher.com/how_to_throw_cutter.htm

About This Article

Jim Price Co-authored by: Jim Price Baseball Coach This article was co-authored by Jim Price. Jim Price is a Baseball Coach and the Founder of Bash Sports Academy based in Chicago, IL. Jim has over 20 years of baseball coaching experience and specializes in hitting, defense, and mental game management. Prior to founding Bash Sports Academy, Jim served on the Board of Directors of Welles Park Youth Baseball, the largest youth baseball organization in the city of Chicago. This article has been viewed 220,646 times. 20 votes - 95% Co-authors: 40 Updated: June 13, 2025 Views: 220,646 Categories: Pitching Article SummaryX

To throw a cut fastball, start by gripping the ball with your index and middle fingers on the two narrow seams of the baseball. Next, move your two fingers over to the right, keeping them relatively close together, so that your middle finger runs along the seam. Then, turn your wrist slightly in the direction of your thumb and snap your wrist down with your middle finger to create spin that will help the ball cut as you release it. For tips on different kinds of grips, read on! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • Anonymous

    Anonymous

    Apr 5, 2018

    "I had already known how to throw a cutter, but this article made my cutter good enough to take me to the all-stars."
More reader stories Hide reader stories Share your story

Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Jim Price Co-authored by: Jim Price Baseball Coach Co-authors: 40 Updated: June 13, 2025 Views: 220,646 95% of readers found this article helpful. 20 votes - 95% Click a star to add your vote Anonymous

Anonymous

Apr 5, 2018

"I had already known how to throw a cutter, but this article made my cutter good enough to take me to the all-stars." Solon

Solon

Oct 8, 2021

"I am 8 years, I played against another team with twelve year olds and I got 4 strikeouts!" Brady Schwartzberg

Brady Schwartzberg

May 11, 2016

"I learned how to grip and throw a cut fastball properly in the article." Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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Tag » How To Throw A Cutter