Throwing a slider
The slider is usually a third pitch in someone's aresenal and is relatively easy to throw and is very effective. However,if not thrown properly it can create added stress on the elbow. It is a very deceptive pitch and appears to be a fastball until the last moment. What makes it so effective is the difficulty picking up the spin and the speed, as it appears until the last moment to be a fastball. At the last second, it breaks sharply down and away from the hitter. Unlike the curveball, it only breaks a short distance, just enough to cause the hitter to miss the pitch, pop it up, or ground out. It is a highly effective pitch. There are different ways to throw this pitch and we will look at them. The first way that some pitchers like to throw it is with the ball held off center with the middle finger on the seam. If you were to look at it from behind you would see the index and middle finger off center. 
When the pitch is thrown the wrist stays fairly stiff. The arm action is the same as the fastball and the pitch is thrown the same as the fastball, however, since the ball is held off center, it creates a spin that causes the ball to dart away and down. This a front view.
It only darts a few inches but is enough to reak havoc on the opposing hitter.The other way to throw it is to apply finger pressure with the middle finger. You hold the ball the same as above but you apply finger pressure to the middle finger as you release the ball. This causes the ball to spin in a slider motion. The slider from a right handed pitcher can be used against a right handed batter to dart away and down. Against a left handed hitter, it can be used to break into the handle of the bat causing a weak and feeble ground out or pop up. At any rate, the slider is a very good tool in the arsenal of a pithcer. When thrown properly, it is a very good pitch to get a strike out when needed. You can come back to this page by clicking on the 'throwing a slider' link whenever you see it or click on the other links to learn about other pitches. And to take you back to the main page or for more navigational options, just click on this link: Baseball drills and baseball equipment-this is where everything starts! Throwing a slider curveball fastball baseball pitches change-up forkball |