Pitching Grips - How To Throw A Palmball

By Steven Ellis, former pitcher in the Chicago Cubs organization

The palm ball (sometimes called a "palm ball" or "four-finger changeup") is one of two or three variations of the changeup. It's an off-speed pitch.

A palmball is is gripped by essentially choking the baseball deep in your hand and wrapping all of your fingers around the baseball. It's essentially a four-fingered change-up where the baseball is centered in your hand between your middle and ring fingers.

The index and ring fingers are placed on either side of the baseball for balance, and the thumb is placed directly below the baseball. At its release point, try to turn the ball over a little to get more movement. The deeper the grip, the more friction that is created on the ball, which takes off velocity.

However, as with all off-speed pitches, the arm speed and mechanics of your pitching delivery have to be the same as your fastball.

How do you throw your pitches? Post pictures of your pitching grips on my baseball pitching discussion forums.