The sinker ball is one of the most difficult pitches in all of baseball to hit. The downward movement of the baseball is impossible to read accurately and getting a good piece of the ball is nearly impossible. Thrown correctly, the sinker will likely yield only strikeouts and ground balls. Learning this pitch is relatively easy, but mastering it is very difficult. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to throw the sinker in the game of baseball.
Throwing the perfect sinker begins with the proper grip of the baseball. To throw a sinker, you will place your fingers over the seams where they are closest together. Some people grip the seams across, and some grip the seams in a parallel fashion. Whichever one is most comfortable is best. Experiment with both grips to find what works for you. Your thumb should grip the seam at the bottom of the baseball. The other fingers should be tucked in or along the side of the baseball.
To throw the sinker, you will need to take a look at your delivery. If you throw the ball from over the top, you will snap your wrist downward to get the top spin the ball needs to drop. The more spin you get on the ball, the more extreme the drop on the ball. Throwing the ball sidearm will require you to adjust slightly. If you do not adjust, the ball will likely be more of a sweeping curveball instead of a sinker. Play with the various arm positions and spins to find the most effective sinker position.
As for the sinker position, the best place is to have the ball start low in the strike zone and then drop low and outside. The reason for this is because the hitter will only be able to drive the ball into the dirt. This will produce a lot of ground ball outs and misses. The higher you start the baseball, the more likely a hitter will drive the ball hard. The sinker is very effective when it is thrown low. Many pitchers actually want the ball to hit the dirt. The sinker ball is considered an “out” pitch. That is, it is not designed to necessarily end up in the strike zone. It is therefore very effective when thrown with two strikes. The hitters will often chase the baseball.
The sinker ball is a great pitch, but it is not a pitch for the youngsters to learn early. The pitch can mess up an otherwise healthy young arm. Once the pitcher has his arm strength built, it can easily be learned later. Do not rush learning this and other pitches. Instead, work on control and speed.
The sinker is one of the best pitches in baseball. With practice and proper technique a pitcher can learn this pitch in no time flat.
