How Do You Throw And Grip A Split-Finger Fastball?
This pitching article will help you throw an effective split-finger fastball. The split-finger, also known as the splitter, is deceiving because it appears to be a fastball; however it drops or fades down at the last second as it nears the plate. The splitter is 4-7 mph slower than your fastball. A common misconception about this pitch is that it is a fastball; it’s a changeup. The hardest part about this pitch is the grip, simply because it is one of the only pitches you throw when the thumb and middle finger don’t split the baseball in half. To grip the split-finger place the index and middle finger on different sides of the two seams; “splitting” your two fingers. The V in the split takes the place of the middle finger. The further you split your fingers, the slower the ball goes. The pitch is thrown just like a fastball. The split-finger is not meant to be thrown for a strike, but to upset the batters timing or prompt a swing and miss. Therefore, it is best to throw this pitch when
