Okay, so I spent some time today just getting back to basics with the baseball. You know, actually feeling the grip. Sometimes you get caught up in throwing hard or whatever, and forget the simple stuff.
I picked up a ball, one that’s seen better days, a bit worn, which I actually prefer. You can feel the seams better. First thing I did was just hold it, get the feel of the leather, the stitching under my fingertips. It sounds dumb, but sometimes you just need to reconnect with the object itself.
Focusing on the Four-Seam First
Alright, the four-seam. This is usually the go-to. I spread my index and middle fingers across the wide part of the seams, where they run perpendicular. Thumb tucked underneath, kinda balancing it out. I tried to make sure I was gripping with my fingertips, not my palm. You gotta have that space between the ball and your palm, right? Threw a couple easy ones into my glove just to feel the release. Felt okay, pretty standard.
- Placed index and middle finger across the horseshoe seam.
- Thumb directly underneath for support.
- Kept a little air between the ball and my palm. Crucial bit, that.
- Focused on fingertip pressure.
Then Moved to the Two-Seam
Next up, the two-seamer. I shifted my fingers, lining them up along the narrow seams. Same basic idea, thumb underneath, gripping with the pads of the fingers. It definitely feels different. Less stable, maybe? Or maybe that’s just me today. The idea is it should move more, but just holding it, it feels a bit looser in the hand. I spent a good few minutes just switching back and forth between the four-seam and two-seam, feeling the subtle shift in balance and pressure points.
Didn’t bother much with curveball grips or anything fancy today. Honestly, just getting the feel right for the basic fastballs was the goal. It’s amazing how you can think you know how to hold a ball, but then when you slow down and actually pay attention, you find little inconsistencies. Like maybe pressing too hard with one finger, or letting it slip too deep into the palm.
So yeah, that was the session. Just holding the ball, focusing on the grip. Felt productive. It’s like tuning an instrument. Gotta do it regularly, otherwise things just get sloppy. Definitely needed that reminder today.
