1. Get a Grip
The two primary fastball grips are the four-seam and two-seam grips. The four-seam grip is when you place the index and middle fingers on the "horseshoe seam" of the baseball. Then put your thumb directly beneath the baseball on the middle of the opposite "horseshoe seam" for support. With the two-seam grip, you place the index and middle fingers on the skinny or narrowest seam on the baseball and place the thumb in the middle of the narrow seam on the opposite side of the baseball. For both grips place the other two remaining finger to the side for grip support. Finally, the tension of the grip should be a loose handshake with baseball. The grip for the two-seamer is slightly tighter than the four-seamer. If you grip it too tightly, you will overthrow and lose control of the fastball.
2. Movement on the Fastball
You always want the fastball to move as it heads toward the batter. Movement is important because it can cause the hitter to swing over or under the pitch. If the fastball stays at the same height the entire time, the hitter can pick up the pitch better and hit it easier. The four-seam fastball is a pitch that tends to rise, whereas the two-seam pitch will sink. The use of finger pressure with the index finger can change the fastball movement. The more pressure the more exaggerated the movement.
3. Baseball Pitching Motion
Almost every pitcher will use a different windup to prepare to throw a fastball, but most will end a fastball motion with the same arm movement. As the pitcher releases the fastball, he almost feels as if he is throwing the pitch into the ground. The arm will come straight down just as the player lets go of the baseball. The fingertips on the index and middle fingers should be the last contact point as the pitcher releases the fastball.
4. Don't Overthrow
Most pitchers believe that the more violent and sudden their movements toward the plate the faster the fastball moves. This is not true. The velocity comes from proper mechanics, leg and arm strength, and smooth movement to the plate. So don't think about "muscling" the fastball to the plate and concentrate on technique and leg drive to get the necessary velocity when pitching the fastball.
5. Locating the Fastball
Every single player in baseball has a flaw or hole in his swing, and this includes Hall of Fame players--they just have smaller flaws. Because of these flaws or holes, a pitcher must know how and where to locate the fastball pitch for that particular hitter. You can't just throw it down the middle of the plate, because no matter how fast the pitch is a batter will eventually catch up to a fastball that is located poorly. Since each hitter hits differently, it takes time to understand where the holes are in each hitter's swing.
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