Learning the fastball, a.k.a. "heater", and mechanics of throwing a baseball are not easy to do. But from an early age, we develop the skills of throwing. From tee ball on up to the big leagues.And the first thing we learn how to do is to throw the heater.

Whether for pitching or throwing into the infield. It remains the same. But in this instance, we are talking about pitching.

From the pitching standpoint, the fastball is thrown many different ways. The most common is the four seam . And for all intents and purposes, we will start off with the four seam.

To understand what a four seam means, you must first understand the baseball and it's seams. If you hold up the baseball and grip the ball across the seams, you will notice that the ball when thrown will be rotating with four seams hitting the air. The air strikes the seams and helps with the ball rotating through the air. You will often hear people say that the ball appeared to have risen up when it was thrown. This is a four seamer and gives that illusion.

It is thrown from on top of the baseball. With the arm action and wrist on top of the baseball. You will almost feel like you are applying pressure with your fingertips directly on top of the ball and pulling straight down.

Now I'm sure you've heard of the two seamer. When you grip the ball, instead of holding across the seams , you hold it with the seams. When you do this you will notice that there are only two seams hitting the air. And the ball will not have the rise effect. Practice gripping both ways.

The advantages of a two seam fastball are great. You can create movement with a two seamer. You can cause the ball to sink into a hitter,or cut away from a hitter.By using finger pressure and holding the ball slightly off center, you can cause the ball to sink or cut.

When you throw the two seam, slightly off center, you use the same motion as you would a four seam. The fact that you are slightly off center on the grip will cause the ball to sink naturally.

Both methods of throwing the baseball are effective. You can use the two seam to sink and to cut and than come back with a high four seamer that appears to rise. All good pitchers have a good command of their main pitch. It's the foundation for good pitching. Learn how to pitch with it, and the rest will come.