The Pitching Academy

I can remember being twelve years old on the mound and wanting my catcher to call the knuckle-curve-slider-up. He never did, but I was convinced that I had invented a new pitch, one that would deceive even the best hitter. Didn’t matter. The fastball or curveball for a strike 60% of the time would trump that invented pitch any day. Not because my fastball or curveball pitching grip was unique, it just worked efficiently most of the time. As I continued my career I noticed that many of the pitchers we played against had 3 pitches with different baseball pitching grips that they could command in most counts. Those pitchers, who only had two pitches they could throw for strikes sporadically, often got hit hard by good hitters.

So what makes Pedro Martinez, Greg Maddux, and Mariano Rivera so effective as pitchers? They change speeds, angles, and create movement on most all of their pitches. They have worked long and hard at mastering not only different baseball pitching grips, but the speed of those pitches as well.

You don't need a blistering fastball to compete as a pitcher. You do, however, need to create the illusion of a blistering fastball by keeping hitters off balance. Learn two other pitches well (60% strike percentage) including a good change up; it will be one of the best investments of time you make as a pitcher.

If you are looking for some help in the area of baseball pitching grips, The Pitching Academy has an ebook just for you. Come check out Baseball Pitching Grips 101.