Terms of UseHow to Throw a Ball Faster Co-authored by Isaac Hess
Last Updated: January 23, 2026 References
Getting into a Stance
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Beginning the Throw
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Releasing the Ball
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Expert Q&A
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Tips
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This article was co-authored by Isaac Hess. Isaac Hess is a Baseball Coach, Instructor, and the Founder of MADE Baseball Development and Champion Mindset Training Program, a baseball training program based in Los Angeles, California. Isaac has over 14 years of experience coaching baseball and specializes in private lessons and tournaments. He has played baseball for both professional and collegiate leagues including Washington State University and the University of Arizona. Isaac was ranked as one of Baseball America's top 10 prospects for 2007 and 2008. He earned a BS in Regional Development from the University of Arizona in 2007. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 13,449 times.
In several ball-based sports—including baseball, softball, and dodgeball—the speed of the throw is important. But throwing a ball quickly is about more than just whipping your arm forward. If you’d like to throw a ball faster—even if it’s just for a fun game of catch, not related to any organized sport—you’ll need to perfect your stance and body positioning, and use your wrist and fingers to put an extra burst of speed on the ball as you release it.
Steps
Part 1 Part 1 of 3:
Getting into a Stance
1 Hold your hands together at chest height. If you’re playing baseball or softball, this will be a familiar position. To begin a fast throw, cup your glove (if applicable) around the ball and hold both directly in front of your sternum.
2 Hold a baseball or softball with your index finger, middle finger, and thumb. With the ball in your glove, use these 3 fingers to keep a tight grip on the ball. You’ll use these 3 fingers to throw the ball as well. It might feel tempting to hold the ball with all 5 fingers, but the extra fingers will only slow down the throw.[1]XResearch source
If you're playing with a larger ball, such as a dodgeball, you can use all 5 fingers to hold the ball.
Hold the ball in your dominant hand.
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3 Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart. Move your feet until they’re 2–3 feet (0.61–0.91 m) apart. Standing with your feet shoulder-width apart will allow you to use your lower body strength to accelerate the speed of your throw.[2]XResearch source
This stance will also give you plenty of mobility, so you can move if necessary without losing your balance.
4 Stand sideways, perpendicular to your target. Your shoulders should be pointing at your target, with your dominant arm further away from the target. Standing sideways to your target will allow your arm a fuller range of motion than if you were facing your target. It also allows you to bring your legs into the pitch and use their strength to throw the ball faster. Your shoulders and leading elbow should both point in the direction you want to throw the ball.[3]XResearch source
Look down at your feet before you throw: they should be pointing ahead of you, perpendicular to the direction of your shoulders.
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Part 2 Part 2 of 3:
Beginning the Throw
1 Draw your arm back and keep the ball facing the ground. As you start to wind up for a pitch, pull the ball out of your glove (if applicable) and extend your arm back behind you. Keep your 3-fingered grip on the ball, and make sure that your index and middle fingers stay on top. Your thumb and the bottom of the ball should face the ground.[4]XResearch source
This will maximize your range of motion, which in turn maximizes the amount of speed you can give the throw.
Keep your front elbow close to your torso, with the glove extended about 1 foot (30 cm) in front of you.
If you're throwing a dodgeball, you'll need all 5 fingers to grip it.
2 Hold the ball behind you, at the same height as your shoulder. Wind up for the pitch by drawing your arm back behind you. Your arm should be fully outstretched at this point, and the ball should be at the same height as your shoulders. Keep your index and middle fingers on top of the ball the entire time.[5]XResearch source
When your arm is extended, hold the ball so that your thumb, index, and middle fingers are pointing away from you. Do not hold the ball so that your fingers point back towards your head.
3 Lean your torso forward. For added force, use your rear leg to push the weight of your body forward so most of your weight rests on your front leg. As you move forward, your hips will start to rotate as well. This is good; opening up your hips and generating torque with your torso will help you throw a fast ball.[6]XResearch source
As you lean forward, your throwing arm will start to come around. Let your elbow bend at about a 90° angle, and keep the ball facing the direction you want to throw.
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Part 3 Part 3 of 3:
Releasing the Ball
1 Whip your throwing arm forward. As you continue to lean forward, use your shoulder muscles and bicep to whip your arm forward. Lean your body into the pitch, and let your arm fully extend itself.
Even after the ball has left your hand, it’s important to continue this forward momentum. This will help you follow through on the pitch.
2 Snap your wrist forward as the ball moves past your face. Your wrist can add a great deal of speed to the ball as you throw it. Begin the snap when your arm is about 2/3 through the pitching motion. At this point, the ball should be roughly 8 inches (20 cm) in front of your face.[7]XResearch source
Figuring out exactly when to snap your wrist will take some practice. If you snap your wrist forward too early, the ball will fly down towards the ground. Too late, and the snap will be ineffective.
Your wrist and fingers can also make fine-tuning adjustments to the direction the ball is heading.
3 Pull down on the ball with your fingers as you release. Release the ball when your arm is parallel to the ground and fully extended in front of you. Your fingers play an important role in a pitch: they can add an extra boost of speed to the ball before you release it from your hand. To add a little extra speed, press your fingers down on the ball at the exact moment of release.
The added pressure will propel the ball slightly faster than it would’ve gone otherwise.
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Expert Q&A
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Question What are some exercises you would suggest for somebody who wants to develop arm strength for baseball? Isaac Hess Baseball Coach & Instructor Isaac Hess is a Baseball Coach, Instructor, and the Founder of MADE Baseball Development and Champion Mindset Training Program, a baseball training program based in Los Angeles, California. Isaac has over 14 years of experience coaching baseball and specializes in private lessons and tournaments. He has played baseball for both professional and collegiate leagues including Washington State University and the University of Arizona. Isaac was ranked as one of Baseball America's top 10 prospects for 2007 and 2008. He earned a BS in Regional Development from the University of Arizona in 2007. Isaac Hess Baseball Coach & Instructor Expert Answer For the younger guys, push-ups and consistent throwing over time. Push-ups are great because while they don't directly make you throw harder, they do help your overall upper body to be stronger. As you become more advanced, then add basic dumbbell exercises using lightweight dumbbells and doing front-shoulder raises and side-shoulder raises. Anything that uses resistance is also good. 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 0 Helpful 5
Question Does the power of a throw affect the speed? If so, will these instructions help that? Community Answer Yes the power and the speed you swing your arm to throw will enhance the speed of the ball. Yes, follow the instructions to improve your throwing speed. 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 2 Helpful 4
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Tips
Learning to improve the speed of your throw takes time. Don’t give up if you don’t notice greater speed on your throws at first. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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Co-authored by: Isaac Hess Baseball Coach & Instructor This article was co-authored by Isaac Hess. Isaac Hess is a Baseball Coach, Instructor, and the Founder of MADE Baseball Development and Champion Mindset Training Program, a baseball training program based in Los Angeles, California. Isaac has over 14 years of experience coaching baseball and specializes in private lessons and tournaments. He has played baseball for both professional and collegiate leagues including Washington State University and the University of Arizona. Isaac was ranked as one of Baseball America's top 10 prospects for 2007 and 2008. He earned a BS in Regional Development from the University of Arizona in 2007. This article has been viewed 13,449 times. 29 votes - 62% Co-authors: 4Updated: January 23, 2026 Views: 13,449Article SummaryX
To throw a ball faster, whip your throwing arm forward when you throw the ball so you're following through on the pitch. You can also snap your wrist forward when you release the ball, which will give it more momentum. Additionally, pull down on the ball with your fingers as you release it to give it more power and speed. To learn how to stand when throwing a ball faster, keep reading!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Co-authored by: Isaac Hess Baseball Coach & Instructor This article was co-authored by Isaac Hess. Isaac Hess is a Baseball Coach, Instructor, and the Founder of MADE Baseball Development and Champion Mindset Training Program, a baseball training program based in Los Angeles, California. Isaac has over 14 years of experience coaching baseball and specializes in private lessons and tournaments. He has played baseball for both professional and collegiate leagues including Washington State University and the University of Arizona. Isaac was ranked as one of Baseball America's top 10 prospects for 2007 and 2008. He earned a BS in Regional Development from the University of Arizona in 2007. This article has been viewed 13,449 times. 29 votes - 62% Co-authors: 4 Updated: January 23, 2026 Views: 13,449 Article SummaryX
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1 Hold your hands together at chest height. If you’re playing baseball or softball, this will be a familiar position. To begin a fast throw, cup your glove (if applicable) around the ball and hold both directly in front of your sternum. 
2 Hold a baseball or softball with your index finger, middle finger, and thumb. With the ball in your glove, use these 3 fingers to keep a tight grip on the ball. You’ll use these 3 fingers to throw the ball as well. It might feel tempting to hold the ball with all 5 fingers, but the extra fingers will only slow down the throw.[1] 
3 Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart. Move your feet until they’re 2–3 feet (0.61–0.91 m) apart. Standing with your feet shoulder-width apart will allow you to use your lower body strength to accelerate the speed of your throw.[2] 
4 Stand sideways, perpendicular to your target. Your shoulders should be pointing at your target, with your dominant arm further away from the target. Standing sideways to your target will allow your arm a fuller range of motion than if you were facing your target. It also allows you to bring your legs into the pitch and use their strength to throw the ball faster. Your shoulders and leading elbow should both point in the direction you want to throw the ball.[3] 
1 Draw your arm back and keep the ball facing the ground. As you start to wind up for a pitch, pull the ball out of your glove (if applicable) and extend your arm back behind you. Keep your 3-fingered grip on the ball, and make sure that your index and middle fingers stay on top. Your thumb and the bottom of the ball should face the ground.[4] 
2 Hold the ball behind you, at the same height as your shoulder. Wind up for the pitch by drawing your arm back behind you. Your arm should be fully outstretched at this point, and the ball should be at the same height as your shoulders. Keep your index and middle fingers on top of the ball the entire time.[5] 
3 Lean your torso forward. For added force, use your rear leg to push the weight of your body forward so most of your weight rests on your front leg. As you move forward, your hips will start to rotate as well. This is good; opening up your hips and generating torque with your torso will help you throw a fast ball.[6] 
1 Whip your throwing arm forward. As you continue to lean forward, use your shoulder muscles and bicep to whip your arm forward. Lean your body into the pitch, and let your arm fully extend itself. 
2 Snap your wrist forward as the ball moves past your face. Your wrist can add a great deal of speed to the ball as you throw it. Begin the snap when your arm is about 2/3 through the pitching motion. At this point, the ball should be roughly 8 inches (20 cm) in front of your face.[7] 
3 Pull down on the ball with your fingers as you release. Release the ball when your arm is parallel to the ground and fully extended in front of you. Your fingers play an important role in a pitch: they can add an extra boost of speed to the ball before you release it from your hand. To add a little extra speed, press your fingers down on the ball at the exact moment of release. 
Isaac Hess Baseball Coach & Instructor Isaac Hess is a Baseball Coach, Instructor, and the Founder of MADE Baseball Development and Champion Mindset Training Program, a baseball training program based in Los Angeles, California. Isaac has over 14 years of experience coaching baseball and specializes in private lessons and tournaments. He has played baseball for both professional and collegiate leagues including Washington State University and the University of Arizona. Isaac was ranked as one of Baseball America's top 10 prospects for 2007 and 2008. He earned a BS in Regional Development from the University of Arizona in 2007. 
Community Answer Yes the power and the speed you swing your arm to throw will enhance the speed of the ball. Yes, follow the instructions to improve your throwing speed. 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 2 Helpful 4 
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