How To Throw A Baseball, Part 1: The 4 Seam Grip

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Getting a good grip every time is the first step to being an accurate and strong thrower.
How to throw a baseball using a four seam gripWhat a four seam grip looks like. How to throw a baseballproper throwing techniqueThe proper grip for a baseball throw

The ideal hold for a strong, straight throw is a 4-seam grip.

This is achieved by taking your middle and index fingers of your throwing hand, and placing it perpendicular to the horseshoe of the seams on the baseball.

The 4 seam grip

In this grip, your fingers will be in their best position to use the seams to pull down and hopefully get maximum backward rotation. Also, the seams are in a position where the ball will spin very true and straight.

If you were to place your fingers parallel with the horseshoe the seams when they spin backwards are in a position to catch the wind resistance and shoot left or right.

Every Time.

After we field the ball and it is in our hand, we are holding it differently every time.  We need to work on our feel of the baseball so we can take any hold we initially have and change it to a 4 seam grip every time.

Easier than you think.

Question:  So, what do you think is the most you would have to turn a baseball (no matter how you grab it), to make sure you have an ideal 4 seam grip for throwing across the infield or from the outfield?

Answer:  No matter how the ball is in your hand, you have no more than a quarter turn any direction to get a 4-seam grip.

Practice Drill

EVERY fielder should practice this drill until they are comfortable finding the four seam grip.

This is something you can practice just sitting around your house by throwing the ball up catching it… being sure find the proper 4seam grip as quickly as possible.

I hope this article helps you to throw harder and more accurately by getting the proper hold on the ball.  Next I will talk more about the mechanics of the throw.  I invite you to comment or ask questions below.  Play Hard!

Read More Articles on How to Throw a Baseball:

  • Throwing a Baseball Part 2: Mechanics of Throwing
  • Throwing a Baseball Part 3: Feet Position, Upper Body and Feel
  • Return to all baseball instruction

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