Slow pitch softball is usually a hitter's game. The pitcher is not trying to strike out the batter. He is trying to induce fly balls, pop-ups and ground balls with various pitches in excellent locations. Pitchers have to work on their grip and release to have a chance to win the battle and control the outcome of the confrontation with the batter. Effective pitchers know how to make the ball curve and break in slow pitch softball.
Step 1
Hold the ball across the seams when you want to throw a pitch with precise control. This grip is the same way you would throw a fastball in baseball. You will not get much action or curve on the ball, but a solid windup, delivery and follow-through should allow you to throw this pitch over the plate when you need a strike.
Step 2
Place your index and middle fingers along the seams when you want to throw a curve ball. As you deliver the ball, twist your wrist toward your opposite arm to make it curve. If you are right-handed, your right index finger will come over the top of the ball and will be pointing at your left wrist. This will make the ball move away from a right handed batter and into the hands of the left-handed batter.
Step 3
Grip the ball solidly with your middle and fourth fingers to throw a changeup. You will throw with the same motion that you did when throwing a curve, but changing the grip will make this pitch break more and also go slower. This is a difficult pitch to throw over the plate, but many hitters will have a difficult time letting this pitch go. Instead, they will swing and just get a piece of it instead of hitting the ball solidly
Step 4
Dig your right index finger's knuckle into the ball and place your middle finger on the seam to throw a knuckle curve. This pitch will usually drift slowly toward the plate but late movement will make it difficult for the batter to hit squarely. Twist your wrist as if you were throwing a curve to throw an effective knuckle curve.
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