Baseball Pitches 

Baseball has game techniques that players will always depend on to make some shots or score against each other. For instance, the rules for every game must, however, be followed by the players. While other games have the rules of starting a game, then the pitch in baseball is such an act to start it. Let us know about ‘Baseball Pitches’.

Baseball pitches include several playing techniques that every baseball player should have, such as curveball throw, four-seam, or two-seam ways of throwing the baseball. There are 12 baseball pitches, each with a different and specific identity. Some pitches will have a rule of making it faster, while others will only include slow throws. 

Are you a baseball player? Do you know all the baseball pitches? Here are details on some pitches you will likely encounter while playing baseball. 

Common Pitches on Baseball

Baseball playing has 12 standard pitches you can use to throw the ball. These techniques have different categories and identities. 

For example, the pitches are categorized as below:

• Breaking balls; slider pitch, screwball pitching, curveball, and slurve. 
• Fastballs; the cutter pitch, two-seam, the four-seam, forkball pitch, and the splitter pitch 
• Changeup pitch category; palm ball pitching, changeup pitch, and circle changeup pitching. 

The identity of a single pitch will have different considerations. The consideration would include;

• The speed 
• A break; generally, this will include the direction in which the baseball  will move
•  movement; this includes the abrupt change of the direction the of the ball

The following are the 12 pitching techniques of a baseball. 

Fastball, Four-Seam

Four-seam pitch is among the 12 pitching techniques one can use to handle the ball. With this pitch, the ball will move at around 85 to 100mph velocity. Also, this pitch is categorized as a fastball since the ball’s movement is more swift than other pitches. 

For this pitch also, the ball will go in a very straight motion. Furthermore, the identity for this pitch will be a little movement, or to some point, no movement identity will be experienced. 

Fastball, Two-Seam

While the four-seam is the fastest pitch in a baseball game, the two-seam pitch falls in the category. For a two-seam pitch, a ball will have a speed range between 80 and 90 mph. 

The two-seam pitch has the other name, sinker. This comes from the movement identity the ball will make. For instance, the ball in a two-seam pitch will move downward. This proper movement will depend on the release of the ball. Otherwise, the ball may move to the hitter on the right or the Right Handed Hitter (RHH). 

Cutter Pitch

Cutter pitch is a fastballs category of pitching styles. For instance, a cutter pitch occurs when the ball comes from the Right Handed Hitter (RHH). So, the ball will break away on this pitch while it heads to the plate.

Although a cutter is a fastball movement pitch, the ball will tend to have a more significant movement here. The speed for a ball at this pitch is around 80 and 95 mp. 

The Splitter Pitch

The splitter pitch is where a ball moves down. This will happen before the ball reaches the plate. For this pitch, the speed of the ball will be about 80 to 90 mph. Also, the splitter is a fastball pitch category. 

Forkball

The forkball pitch is the last fastball pitch category. For this pitch, a ball will experience a speed ranging from 75 to 85 mph. 

This pitch is less dramatic while it moves downward like the splitter pitch. However, a ball’s movement in this pitch will be more gradual than a splitter pitching. 

Curveball

A curveball or the 12-6 curveball pitching is a breaking ball category that has the ball move from top to bottom. Curveball is also a 12 to 6 since it corresponds to a click and will have a hand at 12 and 6. 

The speed of a curveball pitching will have the ball travel at 70 to 80 mph. 

Slider

A slider pitch may occur when the ball breaks from the Right Handed Hitter (RHH). This makes a movement which is between a curve and a fastball. For this pitch, a ball moves downward and always from the RHH. The ball here will have 80 to 90mph speed. 

Slurve

 A slurve pitch is a breaking ball category of pitching. This pitch is similar to curve pitching, but a slurve has a more lateral movement. Pitching a ball in a slurve will get the ball to speed with 70 to 80 mph.  

Screwball

The last breaking balls pitch category is the screwball. For this case, a ball will have movement’s takeover different to slurve pitch. A ball in this pitch will move at 65 to 75 mph.  

Change Up

Change-up makes the ball travels at speed between 70 to 85 mph. for this case, a ball will have to be thrown with a similar arm movement to get the slower speed of a fastball. The ball will have a slower speed since it is changing up pitching. 

Palmball

Another changeup category of pitch throw is palm ball. For this one, a ball will gain 65 to 75 mph and will need to hold the ball tightly. Also, you will need to throw the ball with the same arm movement as a fastball. 

Circle Changeup

A circle changeup pitch gives the ball a 70 to 80-mph speed. The movement takeover is similar to a screwball pitch. 

Conclusion

There are numerous playing methods and styles in baseball. The act of starting a game in baseball is what is referred to as a pitch. The pitch has different categories: Breaking balls, Fastballs, and the Changeups pitch category. So these are playing techniques that a single player may not use, but everyone has the one they use from the list. The above pitches are standard while taking a baseball game. 

FAQs

Is a pitch tough to make in baseball?

Making a pitch is not a tricky thing. As a pitcher, you should start with a semi-circular of breaking your arms in a downward motion. Following this will require you to make the front arm stay closed while the front elbow is at a proper and comfortable angle; this may be in the 45 to 90 degrees.  

How does one pitch rightly?

This is the start of a perfect pitching takeover. Proper pitching will start with a grip on the right of the baseball. So, if you master this technique, throwing the baseball in a pitch will be very easy.