Teaching how to properly hold a softball...

[Byron]

Just out of curiosity do you have some showing they aren’t..that’s fair right?

Simple google search for images of players throwing makes it obvious, as does reviewing film of games at whatever level you choose. I just watched OK vs TX and seam orientation was random. It's really pretty obvious that players aren't doing this. I find it quite comical that anyone here thinks they are.

Note also that it's on the one making an extraordinary claim to provide the evidence.

 

[_MIA_]

Simple google search for images of players throwing makes it obvious, as does reviewing film of games at whatever level you choose. I just watched OK vs TX and seam orientation was random. It's really pretty obvious that players aren't doing this. I find it quite comical that anyone here thinks they are.

Post one. Not necessarily disagreeing (for the reasons I have already mentioned) but I would like to see it.

 

[RADcatcher]

No, because throwing with 4 seams is part of holding the ball correctly.

That's fine each to their own opinion.
I definitely know that it is not necessary to utilize certain seams.

Care to share about if it takes longer to produce doing that? Since JD isn't around to answer a few questions I'll toss them to you.

 

[Byron]

Post one.

It's really not hard to google "fastpitch player throwing ball" or to find any game film you like online.

 

[_MIA_]

It's really not hard to google "fastpitch player throwing ball" or to find any game film you like online.

Don’t be a patronizing dick.

 

[Byron]

Don’t be a patronizing dick.

That would be you with "Post one". Again, I'm not the one making the extraordinary claim.

 

[_MIA_]

That would be you with "Post one". Again, I'm not the one making the extraordinary claim.

That was being a dick without the patronizing part.

 

[Byron]

That was being a dick without the patronizing part.

And I was being neither.

Since you edited, I will also: https://www.google.com/search?sca_e...iw=1920&bih=1127&dpr=1.5#imgrc=jAJsJ_9NbrVw3M

 

[ArmWhip]

My original point was that spin isn't the only factor in ball movement..

If you're thinking seam orientation makes a difference as in 4 seam fastball vs 2 seam fastball here is what Alan Nathan says:

On why two-seam fastballs sink and four-seam fastballs don‘t: “It has to do with how the spin axis is oriented. With a four-seam fastball, the ball has almost perfect backspin, and maybe a little bit of sidespin that makes the ball tail. With a two-seam fastball, the spin axis is tilted in such a way that there’s more sidespin, so there’s more tail on it, less backspin, and therefore it sinks. It sinks because there’s less backspin.

“It’s not because of the seams per se. I think it has to do with the finger action of the pitcher’s hand on the ball that orients that spin axis the way it does. I don’t know exactly how they do it, but I do not believe it’s the seams that are causing that ball to move differently, It really has to do with how the pitcher applies pressure with his middle and forefinger, which are the last two fingers to touch the ball as he releases it to orient that spin axis.

“Once again, I’m relying on laboratory experiments that seems to show that all other things being equal, a four-seam pitch and a two-seam pitch, if the spin axis were oriented exactly the same, would break exactly the same.”

I remember when you were supposed to face the ball behind you when the arm was fully loaded to throw.

 

[Byron]

I remember when you were supposed to face the ball behind you when the arm was fully loaded to throw.

Exactly - this conversation is like the old-school thought that 'wrist snap' was a real thing in throwing a softball with power.

(Although the original question is still a good one - how to hold the ball for an effective throw)