Baseball Grips for Pitching - How to throw a Cutter and 2 seam

In this video I talk about some baseball grips for pitching and specifically how to throw a cutter and how to throw a 2 seam fastball. First, let's talk about how to grip a cutter. A cutter is a type of fastball that will move to the glove side of the pitcher. I prefer pitchers throw a natural cutter which is gripped on the horseshoe hanging down with only the middle finger on the lace. The pointer finger should not be on the laces. All you're trying to do is to get some good backspin on the ball with a very slight tilt or axis at your release point. This will help the baseball move in the direction that you want your cutter to go. For the 2 seam fastball, I like to grip it between the skinny part of the seams with my pointer and middle fingers together with my pointer finger hooked on the seam. This pitch should be thrown with a slight tilt or axis in the opposite direction as the cutter and will move arm side if thrown correctly. These two baseball grips for pitching are great to use together because they compliment each other very well. If you have a good 2 seam and a good cutter, you're a force to be reckoned with.

1:14 How to throw a 2 seam fastball
2:55 How to throw a Cutter

I hope you liked this video about baseball grips for pitching. If you liked this video, check out some of these pitching links below:

Pitching Drills

Pitching Mechanics

Pitching Grips

If you haven't already, please subscribe, like, share, and leave a comment below so we can talk more about baseball grips for pitching!

[bryansimmonshayes]

The 2-seam is definitely my favorite and most trusty pitch. It has a lot of tail to it but also dips a lot like the sinker. Can't wait to add this cutter to my repertoire.

[ChiliblockTrading]

Thank you sir for taking the time to teach. My son made the 11u little league all star team this year. He is learning his 2 seam and cutter from your video. Well done Mr. Madden

[michaelbensimon]

love your co-host!

i think the fact that you are so natural in front of the camera, really makes your instructions easy to understand for us.

keep up the good work

mica
montreal

[austinmueller]

How do u get ur dog to stay like that for that long!?

[Oneofakind]

Thank you for this! In my opinion, I like the 2-seam fastball. Works for any hitter and has nasty tailing action when thrown right.

[ErichLRuehs]

Dude, you really know your pitching. And, your dog is awesome, too! Jersey Girl could basically be a professional actor.

[coachsal]

Your dog cracks me up!!! Interesting take on the cutter... I think it is great that you show young athletes that there is not just one way to do things. In my opinion, that shows just how much you know. I am a pitching coach and I use you as a point of reference quite often when I'm trying to breakthrough with my younger students. I really appreciate you John, and here's to many future years of friendship!

[cbl]

Always wanted to learn how to pitch. I'm 37 and I played baseball not pitch but outfield. But iv always been amazed how pitchers make the ball move. It's beyond rediculous because I have never seen it and actually payed attention to the ball split or whatever. Just amazing I know that was jibberish but that's how exciting it is

[ClickWasd]

Great video, everything was explained clearly. I really wish this video was out maybe 8 years ago, I never develop a good 2 seam and your method seems it would have gone well with how I pitched.
I pitched a lot of cutters and 4 seams and I'll explain how I pitched my cutter, it worked for me and maybe your student will find it comfortable as well.
1. Hold your 4-seam naturally, proceed to move and rest your index next to your middle finger. The grip does not vary too much from my 4-seam so it gives me more confidence because I know I can hit the zone with my 4-seam. Your middle finger should apply pressure to the ball.
2. When you release the pitch just close your wrist slightly so that your index and middle finger is pointed more towards the 1st base side if you are a righty. Kind of like the mirror of 2:21 in this video. Do not snap or twist your wrist, you'll just hurt yourself and end up throwing a slider in the dirt.
3. Arm action is identical to your 4-seam

Play around with the release point, I found that by releasing the ball earlier I can get it to cut more horizontally and by releasing later I can get it to make a tight dive at the end.

[datboiyoda]

Been watching this guy for the longest time and he's helped a lot with getting my pitches down and working on mechanics

[Inspextz]

as a 14 yo, i throw 2 and 4 seem, sinker, knucklecurve, change up, and having a very successful road to throwing a cutter thanks to your video, thank you for teaching me how to throw this awesome pitch

[gilbertoherrera]

Great Vid! First game i threw a natural cutter was freshman year of high school. I struck out the first 16 or 17 hitters or something like that. Got a huge blister on my middle finger. Oh btw, i did not intentionally threw it...it’s just what my arm was doing that day and I went with it.

[MrPhillinholes]

Thank you for posting this John! Who's your favorite team in MLB?

[josiahsmaw]

Can’t wait to add these to my repertoire!

[SS-fyhk]

My 4 seam has that natural cutter movement. I don't know what I do and I don't try to throw one but my fastball just moves like a cutter on its own. I just went with it and stuck with it as my main pitch and that was honestly the best decision I've ever made.

[gabekliemann]

Hello my name is Gabe (Gobay) kliemann and I'm close to being 12 years old and my Pitching Arsenal is a 4 seam, 2 seam, circle and regular changeup, knuckleball, gyroball, split finger and palm ball .(I do know how to throw a curve ball but I chose not to because of i have no intentions to hurt my arm). I will update more of my pitches once I learn them from you!

[midforty]

Great break down on his to throw these pitches. Helps in developing my 10 yrs old son to throw effective fastball type pitches.

[acrcondorii]

I have to agree with the 2-seam fastball honestly, it sounds and looks better just from the way how you hold it. It gives me a visualization of how it would work when I'm throwing one of those in the bullpin, since most pitchers grip the baseball with your index on the left seam and middle finger on the right seam, your fingers would be far apart from each other and when you throw it, the ball either lands in the catchers glove with accuracy or either goes over the fence. And the most part I hate about throwing the fastball I just described, I throw like that but now that I'm introduced to the 2-seamed fastball I feel like I'll get better accuracy and I'll have a better chance of hitting batters in game since I only get two batters and I'm done for the rest of the game.

[TheMitmit]

I love this video it helped my understand better how to throw a 2 seam and a cutter and the differences in the spin

[Pogichamp]

Im working my main fastball being a two seamer. Location and movement are my key to getting hitters out. my offspeed stuff are a spilt change up, and working on slider, as well as spliter. Lots of pitches but, I cant throw 95 plus, so, got to make do with what I got. Ever since I changed my training and been working on my mechanics, Ive topped out at 87mph on my four seam thus far. My goal is to play independent ball to start out or go to Japan and try things over there. I got alot of work to do....