Pitching Tips RSS
Slower 1 1/4 Turn Grip
By changing your thumb position on the 1 1/4 side you can slow your turn down and give it a little wobble at the same time. I currently use this grip for my 1 1/4 turn. Since over the last 30 years most of the time I pitched a 1 3/4 turn I had to find a way to slow my 1 1/4 down otherwise it also seemed to want to overturn. This seems to have solved the problem and I am very happy with how the horseshoe rotates in the air. For me I look for two things in...
Quicker 3/4 & 1 3/4 Turn Grip
By changing your thumb position on the 3/4 and 1 3/4 side the rotation will be quicker. Try this if your turn is just a tad to slow. For me when I use this grip the horseshoe will wobble allot more. I recommend using the thumb position as a fine tuner. Every varying degree of movement from straight across from the index finger like the pictures above to this extreme move will have a slightly different reaction.
1 1/4 Turn Grip
This is the 1 1/4 turn grip. The rotation of the horseshoe in flight will be a smooth flat rotating turn with a very slight wobble. To get more wobble and a slower turn move down to the open end of the horseshoe resting your baby finger against the lug while moving more to the closed end will cause you turn to be even flatter and quicker but the horseshoe will have a tendency to nose dive (stand up) because you will be gripping the horseshoe in an out of balance position. In the picture to the left my thumb...
3/4 & 1 3/4 Turn Grip
This is the typical grip for a 3/4 & 1 3/4 turn. The rotation of the horseshoe is clockwise. When gripping here your horseshoe will have a slight wobble with a smooth flight. To get more wobble in the turn you would move towards the closed end of the horseshoe while moving towards the open end will give you a flatter rotation and quicker turning action. A wobble (fluttering) in the air is a good thing. Most all world class pitchers have a wobble in their 1 3/4 or 1 1/4 turns.
Baby Finger Support
This view is to show how the baby finger supports the horseshoe for almost all grips. On occasion to garner extra support some people use the ring finger along with the baby finger which leaves only two fingers wrapped around the horseshoe and two underneath. If you are just learning it will take you a little while for your baby finger to gain enough strength to support the horseshoe so be patient it will come.