When it comes to pitching, one of the most well liked questions that's frequently asked is how to throw a slider properly.
There are 2 elemental parts to each pitch, and just like with each pitch, when learning how to throw a slider, you've first got to understand the proper grip, and then understand the right release.
Most commonly, a slider is gripped with the index finger and middle finger touching and the middle finger pressed against the seams of the baseball at one of the two, huge cupped ends. Your ring finger and pinky should be off on the side and not making any contact with the baseball. Although your index finger is making contact with the baseball, there should be clearly more pressure placed on the ball by your middle finger and your thumb.
The slider is considered a speed pitch, and is thrown using your fast ball arm speed. For the purpose of demonstrating the right release point, I might point to 2 different positions. The first is a palm down hand position, which is the traditional release point for a fastball. The second is often referred to as a karate chop position, and is the traditional release point for a curveball.
When teaching someone how to throw a slider, I love to describe the correct release point as being the midpoint of the palm down fastball release point and the full karate chop release point of a normal curveball. With the natural outside-in action that this arm angle produces, The middle finger applying force on the seam produces a cutting revolution through the center of the ball which is exactly consistent with the angle of the forearm, wrist, and hand. The best mistake to make on this pitch is not staying on top of the ball all of the way through release, or said an alternative way, coming back to palm down position before release, junking the effect created by the angle of the forearm, wrist, and hand.
A slider, when thrown properly by a right-handed pitcher, will cut away from a right handed batter and cut in on a left-handed batter. The opposite effect is true for a left-handed pitcher throwing a slider. A good rule of thumb for the average anticipated movement of a good slider is six inches across and six inches down. When teaching somebody how to throw a slider, the best pitching coaches will ordinarily recommend the slider be anywhere from 9-12 mph slower than one's best fastball.
One final caution and it relates to youth pitchers. A slider is perhaps one of the most wearing pitches on anyones arm and shouldn't even be introduced till age 13 at the earliest. Coaches will typically be asked by players younger than this how to throw a slider, and they should all be clear about its long-term risks and discourage its use.
Keith Whitten is a youth baseball coach who specializes in training young pitchers in the proper techniques for long term pitching success. Whether its questions like how to throw a curveball or how to throw a slider, or something more intricate like baseball pitching speeds and strategies, you will find Keith knowledgeable and engaging
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Keith Whitten is a youth baseball coach who specializes in training young pitchers in the proper techniques for long term pitching success, including the proper techniques for how to throw a slider. Whether its questions like how to throw a curveball or how to throw a slider, or something more intricate like baseball pitching speeds and strategies, you will find Keith knowledgeable and engaging
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