Every good baseball pitcher has at least a few different pitches in his arsenal. The fastball is standard for just about every pitcher, and other pitch selections depend on skills, experience and overall pitching strategy. The curve ball and slider are two pitches that often accompany the fastball, as are the cut fastball or cutter, and the circle change up. A cutter is designed to move slightly right or left so the hitter can't hit it with the barrel of the bat, and a circle change is an effective off-speed pitch.
Cutter
Step 1
Grip the baseball in a four-seam fastball grip. Place your index and middle fingers perpendicular to the seams near where they curve in a horseshoe pattern. Place your thumb underneath the ball.
Step 2
Move your fingers slightly to the right or left, and leave your thumb underneath the ball. For a right-handed pitcher, move your fingers to the right if you want the ball to cut to the left, and to the left for it to cut right.
Step 3
Throw the ball as you would a regular fastball. Spin the ball straight with your fingers, rather than with a doorknob action like a slider.
Circle Change Up
Step 1
Make a circle with your thumb and index finger, like the "OK" sign.
Step 2
Place the ball in your hand against the circle, centered on the other three fingers.
Step 3
Throw the circle change with the exact same arm motion as your fastball. Turn your hand slightly as you release the ball, so your thumb is pointed at the ground. Some coaches compare this to giving someone a "thumbs down" signal.
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