| Before a pitcher even thinks about throwing any | | | | mound. |
| off speed pitch like a curveball, he must | | | | Success with any pitch has a lot to do with your |
| understand the basic mechanics of throwing a | | | | wrist and forearm angle from pulling the pitch |
| fastball. You have to understand that at the | | | | from you glove to release of the baseball. The |
| release of any pitch the ball should be released | | | | latest research, done by Tom House and The |
| out in front of the landing foot. As a pitcher, you | | | | National Pitching Association in San Diego California, |
| are also only as strong as your weakest link. That | | | | reveals that the wrist and forearm snap straight |
| is why it is imperative to work on your strength, | | | | at the release point on all pitches. There are only |
| flexibility, pitching mechanics and nutrition to handle | | | | two exceptions: the split-finger fastball and the |
| the workload of throwing a variety of pitches as | | | | forkball grips. All other pitches that are thrown, |
| each one is unique as it pertains to release of the | | | | the thumb and middle finger split the baseball in |
| baseball. | | | | half. |
| Once a pitcher can grasp the basic fundamentals | | | | Curveball release: Wrist and forearm angle are in a |
| of pitching mechanics and can apply them; learning | | | | "karate chop". |
| how to throw any pitch is easier than you may | | | | Fastball release: Palm facing the catcher at release. |
| think. It is necessary to have movement, change | | | | Circle change release: Circle is thrown at the |
| of speed and control to be a success on the | | | | catcher. |