1. Get a Good Grip
Gripping a baseball correctly can take some practice. The seams of a baseball should line up horizontally under the forefinger and the middle finger of the throwing hand. The thumb should grip the baseball directly opposite the other two fingers. Only these three fingers make contact with the baseball. Grips should remain loose, holding the baseball with just the pads of each finger. Beginners often hold the ball deep inside the palm, but a grip with the tip of the fingers allows for controlled throws and greater accuracy.
2. Bend Your Wrist to Improve Your Toss
Stiff-armed throws, those made without bending the wrist, lack power and accuracy. When a fielder brings his arm back to throw, the wrist should naturally bend back slightly. This cocking motion adds strength to the throw when the arm comes forward and the wrist follows through with the fingers on the release.
3. Move Your Arm in a Circular Motion
Moving the throwing arm in a circular motion is a natural way to release the ball powerfully with minimal damage to the throwing arm despite prolonged use. Short throws require a smaller circle, while long throws need a bigger circular motion. With a long throw, the throwing hand should collect a fielded ball from the player's mitt and should reach from knee level around to the throwing position. Short throws should start just below shoulder level and come over the top to the same release point. All throws should begin with a player pointing his opposite shoulder toward the target to improve accuracy.
4. Face Your Target
The thrower should face the target before throwing a baseball. The foot on the opposite side of the body from the throwing arm should step forward toward the target as the ball comes around the top of the throw. The rear foot should move forward to end at the same spot as the forward foot on completion of the throw, when the throwing arm moves across the front of the thrower's body.
5. The Game Can Be Underhanded
Underhand throws should stay low rather than rising in a high arc. A thrower can point with his gloved hand at the target as he stays low and releases the ball. Underhand throws tend to be gentler and easier to catch, an ideal alternative for youngsters learning the game.
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