A Chart Of All The Different Baseball Pitches
Baseball is a sport loved by many people around the world. It requires a lot of skill and knowledge to play, especially when it comes to pitching. Pitching is one of the most important aspects of baseball, and there are many different types of pitches that pitchers can use to try and fool the batter. In this article, we will take a look at a chart of all the different baseball pitches that exist.
Fastball
The fastball is the most common pitch in baseball. It is a pitch that is thrown with maximum velocity and is meant to go straight towards the catcher's glove. The fastball can be thrown with a four-seam grip or a two-seam grip, which will affect the movement of the pitch. Pitchers can also use a cut fastball, which will have a slight movement towards the opposite side of their throwing arm.
Curveball
The curveball is a pitch that is thrown with a lot of spin, which causes the ball to break downwards as it approaches the batter. This pitch can be difficult to hit because of the sudden drop in the ball's trajectory. Pitchers can use different grips and arm angles to create different types of curveballs, such as a 12-6 curveball, which breaks vertically, or a sweeping curveball, which breaks horizontally.
Slider
The slider is a pitch that is thrown with a similar motion to a fastball, but with a different grip that causes the ball to break laterally as it approaches the batter. This pitch can be difficult to hit because of the movement and speed of the ball. Pitchers can use different grips and arm angles to create different types of sliders, such as a sweeping slider, which breaks horizontally, or a sharp slider, which breaks sharply downwards.
Changeup
The changeup is a pitch that is thrown with the same motion as a fastball, but with a different grip that causes the ball to come out of the pitcher's hand slower than expected. This pitch can be difficult to hit because of the change in speed and timing. Pitchers can use different grips and arm angles to create different types of changeups, such as a circle changeup, which has a circle grip, or a palmball, which is held in the palm of the hand.
Sinker
The sinker is a pitch that is thrown with a similar motion to a fastball, but with a different grip that causes the ball to sink as it approaches the batter. This pitch can be difficult to hit because of the movement and speed of the ball. Pitchers can use different grips and arm angles to create different types of sinkers, such as a two-seam sinker, which has more movement, or a four-seam sinker, which has less movement.
Cutter
The cutter is a pitch that is thrown with a similar motion to a fastball, but with a different grip that causes the ball to cut towards the opposite side of the pitcher's throwing arm. This pitch can be difficult to hit because of the movement and speed of the ball. Pitchers can use different grips and arm angles to create different types of cutters, such as a hard cutter, which has more movement, or a soft cutter, which has less movement.
Forkball
The forkball is a pitch that is thrown with a similar motion to a fastball, but with a different grip that causes the ball to drop sharply as it approaches the batter. This pitch can be difficult to hit because of the sudden drop in the ball's trajectory. Pitchers can use different grips and arm angles to create different types of forkballs, such as a split-finger fastball, which has a split-finger grip, or a knuckleball, which has a knuckle grip.
Knuckleball
The knuckleball is a pitch that is thrown with a grip that causes the ball to spin very little as it approaches the batter, which causes it to move unpredictably in the air. This pitch can be very difficult to hit because of the unpredictable movement of the ball. Pitchers can use different grips and arm angles to create different types of knuckleballs, such as a traditional knuckleball, which is held with the fingertips, or a butterfly knuckleball, which is held with the fingernails.
Conclusion
There are many different types of baseball pitches that pitchers can use to try and fool the batter. Each pitch requires a different grip and arm angle to create the desired movement, which makes pitching a very technical and skillful aspect of the game. Whether you are a pitcher or a batter, understanding the different types of baseball pitches is essential for success on the field.