How to Throw a Sinker

A sinker is a baseball pitch that will drop the ball toward the ground just as it’s approaching the batter. While only a slight movement toward the end of the throw, this can easily throw the batter off their game and give your team an easy groundball. By knowing the right grip, stance, and way to release the ball, you can perfect your sinker and leave batters whiffing over and over.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Finding the Right Grip

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    Place the ball in your dominant hand. A sinker relies a lot on having a tight grip, so place the ball comfortably in your dominant hand. Keep the part of the ball where the seam narrows together facing outwards, as this will be used to help hold the ball. Both sets of seams should be visible.[1]
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    Hook your index finger over the closest seam. The seam along the baseball will give you a little more traction when holding the ball, which will help create the right type of spin when you throw it. Wrap your index finger along the seam closest to it.[2]
    • If you’re right-handed, hook your index finger along the right seam. If you’re left-handed, it should be along the left seam.
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    Place your middle finger alongside your index finger. Your middle finger will be the main point of pressure when pitching, so it should sit near the middle of the ball. Press your middle finger beside your index finger and hook it around the ball.[3]
    • Your middle finger should always be kept along the top of the ball in order to get the best leverage.[4]
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    Hook the bottom of the ball with your thumb. Wrap your thumb around the bottom of the ball to get a firm grip. Your thumb should line up vertically with your index finger, helping keep the ball balanced in your hand.[5]
    • Feel free to adjust your own grip as you get more familiar with it. While this is theoretically the best grip, the best grip for you will be one that feels comfortable. Move your fingers around until you find a placement that works for you.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Getting into Position

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    Stand in a normal pitching stance. A sinker is essentially a fastball with a slight twist at the end, so you should stand in a normal pitching stance. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, keeping your knees bent and upper body relaxed. Line your body up with the batter, so that your non-throwing arm is pointed toward the batting plate.[6]
    • Make sure the ball and your grip on it are hidden until you wind up to throw it. Seeing your grip may tip the batter off and take away the surprise needed for an effective sinker.
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    Aim for the batter’s belt. The sinker should look like it’ll be an easier ball to hit until the last second when it begins to quickly drop toward the ground. Aim at the batter’s waist or belt area when throwing the ball to give it enough room to sink without hitting the ground.[7]
    • As with any pitch, try not to make it obvious where you’re aiming the ball. This can cause you to end up feeding the batter an easy run.
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    Start winding up. Take a small step to the side and shift your weight onto your back foot as you bring your front knee up for balance. Quickly lean forward, transferring your weight from the back leg onto your front leg as you shift toward the batter.[8]
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    Pivot your torso toward the batter. Pivoting your torso and following through with your chest will give your pitch a lot more power. As you go to throw the ball, pivot so that your torso faces the batter. Keep your eyes locked on your target as you release the ball and follow through.[9]
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Perfecting Your Throw

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    Throw the pitch over the top. As you bring your arm forward to throw the ball, rotate your arm high and bring it down until you release it. This will help position your arm to increase the spin on the ball after you throw it.[10]
    • Be careful when throwing the ball like this, as too much rotation in your shoulder or arm can cause injury. If you feel pain anywhere along your throwing arm, take a few days off throwing a sinker.
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    Keep a firm grip on the ball. It’s important to maintain control of the ball right up until the moment you throw it. Keeping a firm grip will give you a lot of control, as well as giving the ball more spin when you release it.[11]
    • While you should hold the ball tightly in your hand, do so only with your fingers and thumb. If you press the ball against your palm too much, you risk increasing the friction on the ball and reducing the amount of spin you can get.
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    Apply pressure with your middle finger. Unlike a a fastball where the pressure comes from your index finger, a sinker should get its final direction from your middle finger. Keep your middle finger on the top of the ball as you throw it, and make sure the ball leaves your hand along your middle finger rather than the thumb or index.[12]
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    4
    Twist your hand slightly as you release the ball. To get the best topspin on your sinker, rotate your hand slightly as you release. This is called pronation and should look as if you are pouring something out of the ball between your index finger and thumb.[13]
    • As you try and keep your middle finger directly on top of the ball, you should get pronation with the natural rotation of your hand. Make these two moves work together to get the best throw.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    When is the best time to throw it?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    When the batter is least expecting it, or if the batter likes the ball high. You should throw a sinker to trick the batter.
  • Question
    How do I get horizontal movement?
    Trevor Gentry
    Trevor Gentry
    Community Answer
    More sidespin. You may also want to work on your release point. Try leading your pitch with your thumb forward like a circle change.
  • Question
    What pitch best sets up the sinker?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    The fastball.
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Warnings

  • Be careful when practicing not to pull or damage your arm or shoulders. If you feel pain at any point during the pitch, stop immediately.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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References

  1. ↑ http://www.helpful-baseball-drills.com/howtothrowasinker.html
  2. ↑ https://youtu.be/6iFwahr_3mo?t=1m10s
  3. ↑ https://youtu.be/6iFwahr_3mo?t=1m25s
  4. ↑ http://www.helpful-baseball-drills.com/howtothrowasinker.html
  5. ↑ https://youtu.be/zgPG1fHK228?t=12s
  6. ↑ https://youtu.be/kJ7YIR6bY1M?t=50s
  7. ↑ https://sportsaspire.com/how-to-throw-sinker
  8. ↑ https://youtu.be/kJ7YIR6bY1M?t=1m1s
  9. ↑ https://youtu.be/kJ7YIR6bY1M?t=1m34s
  1. ↑ http://www.helpful-baseball-drills.com/howtothrowasinker.html
  2. ↑ http://www.helpful-baseball-drills.com/howtothrowasinker.html
  3. ↑ http://www.helpful-baseball-drills.com/howtothrowasinker.html
  4. ↑ https://youtu.be/6fTykSiL1Q8?t=14s

About This Article

Jim Price
Co-authored by:
Jim Price
Baseball Coach
This article was co-authored by Jim Price. Jim Price is a Baseball Coach and the Founder of Bash Sports Academy based in Chicago, IL. Jim has over 20 years of baseball coaching experience and specializes in hitting, defense, and mental game management. Prior to founding Bash Sports Academy, Jim served on the Board of Directors of Welles Park Youth Baseball, the largest youth baseball organization in the city of Chicago. This article has been viewed 399,536 times.
1 votes - 80%
Co-authors: 55
Updated: September 29, 2022
Views: 399,536
Categories: Pitching
Article SummaryX

To pitch a sinker, grip the ball in your dominant hand with the narrow part of the seem facing up, and hook your index finger over the seam closest to you. Place your middle finger next to your index finger along the top of the ball, and hook your thumb around the bottom of the ball. When you're ready to pitch, get in your normal stance and aim for the batter's belt area. As you wind up, begin to pivot your body toward the batter, and bring your arm up high and push down, gripping the ball until you release it while twisting your hand. For tips on perfecting your throw and getting more control, scroll down!

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