Alright, folks, let’s talk about throwing a riser. I’ve been messing around with this pitch for a while, and I finally feel like I’ve got something to share. It’s not perfect, but it’s working for me, and maybe it’ll help some of you out there.
Getting Started
First things first, I grabbed a baseball and headed out to my backyard. No fancy mound, just me, the ball, and a makeshift target I’d set up against the fence. I started by just warming up my arm, you know, the usual stuff. No need to hurt myself before even starting.
The Grip
The grip is different. I played with a few variations before, and finally found what worked for me.
- Fingers: I put my index and middle fingers close together, right on top of the seams.
- Thumb:The thumb goes underneath, providing support, kind of pinching the ball.
- Pressure: It’s a firm grip. You want to feel like you’re really controlling the ball.
I spent a good 15 minutes just getting used to the feel of it. I tossed the ball up and down, getting a sense of the grip’s pressure.
The Motion
Next, I started working on my throwing motion. This took a lot more time.
- Windup: I used my regular windup, nothing special there.
- Arm Slot:Keep a higher arm angle.
- Release:The release, I focused on snapping my wrist downwards, I imagine I throw the ball to the ground when releasing.
My first few throws were all over the place. Some went high, some went low, some went sideways. I wasn’t getting frustrated, I knew it would take practice.
Adjusting and Refining
I kept throwing, making small adjustments as I went.I paid attention to:
- Wrist Snap: Really emphasized that downward snap, trying to get the ball to spin backward.
- Release Point: I tried to visualize where I wanted the ball to end up and adjusted my release accordingly.
- Body Mechanics: Made sure I was using my whole body, not just my arm, to generate power.
Slowly but surely, I started to see some improvement. The ball was starting to rise, though not consistently. Some throws were still flat, others were actually rising!
Finally Some Rise!
After about an hour of solid practice, I finally started to get a consistent riser. It wasn’t jumping a crazy amount, but it was definitely moving upwards. It felt great! I was getting that satisfying feeling of the ball “hopping” out of my hand.
Keeping at It
I’m not stopping here. I’m going to keep practicing this pitch, refining my technique, and trying to get more movement on the ball. It’s a process, and I’m enjoying the journey. I hope this helps anyone trying to throw a rise ball!
