By: Ron Bing, Puritas Little League, Cleveland, Ohio
So you have shown all of your players how to throw with a four seam grip, and they are all paired off and practicing it. How do they know that they are throwing it correctly? You hit ground balls to your infielders, fly balls to your outfielders, and they all yell, "Yea coach, I am using the right grip," as they throw it in. How do you know? Take a ball and wrap a strip of black electrical tape around the center of the ball, across the four seams. If properly placed around the ball, the boys will grip the ball with the tape between their middle and index fingers. If properly thrown, the black tape will look like it is spinning top to bottom as it approaches its target. If not properly thrown, the tape will wobble all over the place. Now when you hit a ground ball to short, you won't have to ask him if he had the proper grip, and he won't wonder whether or not he gripped it correctly. The proof will be in the pudding!!
Date: March 25, 1998 at 19:12