Gripping the Ball

• 1). Put the middle finger on the long seam of the ball.
  
  
• 2). Put the thumb under the ball. Wrap the thumb and middle finger around the ball. Make sure the inside ridge of the thumb is touching the ball.
  
  
• 3). Make sure the ball is not being gripped too high in the hand. This means that you should keep the ball close to the palm, and not high in the fingertips.
  
  
• 4). Leave a space in between the thumb and first finger.
  
  
• 5). Grip the ball with the middle finger, the first two joints of the ring finger and the thumb while the first finger is resting alongside the middle finger.
  
  
• 6). Grip the ball securely, but try to keep the wrist and forearm muscles relaxed.
  
  

Throwing the Ball

• 1). Cock your arm as if you're going to throw a fastball. Make sure the body remains square to home plate while your arm and elbow make an "L" shape and your hand is facing in toward your body.
  
  
• 2). Throw the ball at an angle rather than straight up and down to get the spin on the ball needed to make it break.
  
  
• 3). Make sure the elbow is at an angle no greater than 90 degrees.
  
  
• 4). Release the ball close to the body. Make sure the wrist hooks and the hand goes down in the front of the body. The wrist makes a breaking or snapping motion as you release the ball.