How To Hold A Slider Baseball?
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How to Hold a Slider Baseball? The slider is one of the most difficult pitches for a hitter to pick up. If you can master the slider, you will be well on your way to becoming a successful pitcher.
What is a slider?
A slider is a type of fastball that is thrown with a spin so that it breaks or “slides” as it crosses the plate. It is one of the most difficult pitches to hit, and it is often used as a strikeout pitch. Sliders are usually thrown with a grip that causes the ball to spin clockwise when viewed from the pitcher’s perspective (see Figure 1). This is the opposite of a curveball, which has backward spin.
Why do pitchers use a slider?
The slider is a very effective pitch because it comes in to the batter looking like a fastball but breaks late and downward, making it very hard to hit. It is also difficult to predict for the batter. The key to throwing a good slider is to keep your arm and wrist loose as you release the ball; if you grip the ball too tightly, it will not spin correctly and will not break as sharply.
How to hold a slider baseball?
The slider is one of the most popular pitches in baseball, and it can be a great way to get batters out. But if you don’t know how to properly hold a slider, it can be tough to throw it correctly. In this article, we’ll show you how to hold a slider baseball so that you can throw it with precision.
Step One: The Grip
The best grip for a slider is the same as a two-seam fastball grip. Place your middle finger and index finger across the wide seams of the baseball. Try to get a good feel for the laces as you grip the ball. Your thumb should be placed on the back side of the baseball in the bottom hand, directly under your middle finger. For most slider pitchers, the bottom hand is just along for the ride. The velocity and movement on the pitch comes from arm action and snap of the wrist.
Step Two: The Wrist Position
Sliders spin on an axis from the pitcher’s hand to the center of the baseball. When thrown correctly, the spin will appear like a tight spiral as it approaches the batter. A good slider will dash across the plate without wobbling, appearing to rise slightly as it nears the hitter. If you have trouble throwing a slider with consistent velocity and movement, check your wrist position. To throw a slider, cock your wrist about 45 degrees toward the thumb side of your hand when you grip the ball — Tom Glavine, a Hall of Fame pitcher who threw a couple of good sliders during his career, cocked his wrist at close to a 90-degree angle.
Step Three: The Release Point
Therelease point is the most important part of throwing a slider. It’s also the hardest to master. The release point is the last part of the throw where your fingers are in contact with the ball.
How you release the ball will determine how much spin is put on it, and how fast it will travel. There are two main types of slider grips: the standard grip and the pronated grip.
The standard grip is when you hold the ball with your index and middle finger across the seams. This grip puts more spin on the ball and makes it move side to side more.
The pronated grip is when you hold the ball with your index and middle finger perpendicular to the seams. This grip makes the ball spin less and move more up and down.
Most pitchers use a standard grip, but some use a pronated grip depending on what kind of movement they want on their slider. Experiment with both grips to see what works best for you.
