The riser can be a very effective pitch in any pitcher's repertoire. It is also one of the most difficult pitches to learn. A riser appears to be a fastball to most batters. At the last instant, the pitch appears to take off or rise in the strike zone. As a result many hitters swing and miss at this pitch or barely touch the bottom of the ball, resulting in weak popups.
Grip
Use a two-finger grip when throwing the rise pitch. Your second and third fingers should be placed on the seam of the ball. The most effective rise ball pitchers will place those fingers on the spot where the seams are closest together. Your middle finger should run along the seam but you should bend your forefinger and dig the tip of it into the side of the ball.
Delivering Ball
You want your rise pitch to look like a fastball to the batter. Use a fast windmill delivery, just as you would a fastball. As you finish your downswing and prepare to release the ball, turn your fingers so they are on top of the ball. Also, make sure you have a very low release point. You want the ball to be at knee level or slightly below when you release it.
Pull Back And Follow Through
To get the maximum rise and break on your pitch, pull back with your shoulder and push back with your stride leg as you release the ball. Bring your pitching arm up to shoulder height to finish the pitch. This is a rather awkward movement for most pitchers. It will feel as if you are going to fall backward when you release the ball. However, when thrown effectively the rise ball will jump 3 to 6 inches just before it reaches the plate.
Learning Pitch
The rise pitch is not an easy pitch to learn, nor is it for beginners. The key to throwing an effective riser is to have enough speed on it so that the spin you impart on it will make the ball jump just before reaching the strike zone. You need to have a fastball that is thrown at 55 miles per hour or better if you are going to add a riser to your pitching arsenal. If you don't throw hard enough, the spin you impart will make the ball sit up high in the strike zone. Instead of jumping, the ball will stay on the same plane and make it easier for the batter to hit.
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