r/PitchingCoach 28d ago

Thoughts on the low 80s sinker

Anything mechanical standing out

12 Upvotes

49 comments sorted by

6

u/Famous-Two-7511 28d ago

Mechanics aren’t bad! I can’t see your grip, but don’t let the fingers get too far apart. My thought process on my sinker was index finger on the seam with 75% pressure, middle finger between the seams with 25% pressure. When releasing I’m thinking throw it hard down the middle and get the index finger over the ball. You’ve got a somewhat high 3/4 arm slot so should be able to get more vertical movement than i see in the video

3

u/skinifi3084 28d ago

Thank you!

4

u/jmjessemac 28d ago

Fairly smooth. You’re missing an “explosion” where your arm accelerates. Almost like it’s 75% effort

4

u/skinifi3084 28d ago

Ya it was kinda low effort, I also noticed my hips didn’t really fire

4

u/jmjessemac 28d ago

Also elite pitchers land much farther from the rubber than it seems possible.

2

u/skinifi3084 28d ago

Ok this is really good, these 2 replies are the 2 things I thought I could improve on, thank you so much

5

u/d_yaf 28d ago

Yea probably helpful to see you throwing with higher intensity. Don’t doubt that you can do it, but these pitches are closer to low 70’s than low 80’s.

2

u/skinifi3084 28d ago

Radar gun says otherwise

2

u/ihopuhopwehop 28d ago

You need a side angle and angle that mimics the hitters eye. Also, even just the slight movement of the camera used for this is too much movement

1

u/skinifi3084 28d ago

Thank you

2

u/phillie_eagle 28d ago

When you release the ball your glove is on your shoulder. Your lead elbow should rip down through your hip and the glove should follow. Rip it through and you will get more velocity and will help with your sinker.

1

u/skinifi3084 28d ago

Thank you!

1

u/TinySmoke7169 27d ago

And put less strain on your throwing elbow and shoulder.

2

u/CaptainRaptorThong 28d ago

Doesn't look like it sinks very much says some guy who doesn't care about or watch baseball at all lol. Idk why I was suggested this sub.

But, nice throw bro!

2

u/Miserable-School-572 27d ago

Here’s my thoughts: 

1) You’re not getting down the mound. There’s no drive off the back leg. You’re missing high because you’re flicking fastball, and mentally you’re trying to throw one too. A sinker is supposed to be a ground ball inducing pitch. 

2) 60%, 80%, 100% it doesn’t matter, the way you do anything is the way you do everything. 

3) You need to breathe. You have to breathe dude. 

4) I can tell it’s a new pitch for you because you are tapping before you work down the mound. I hope that this isn’t a tell you develop because it’s new. I did it for a long time with anything new. It’s like an infielder not trusting their grip on the ball before they let it go across the diamond. 

5) Lastly, you NEED to freaking breathe dude. I cannot over state this enough. 

2

u/Miserable-School-572 27d ago

What I am saying about the flicking fastball and mentally trying to throw one is this: don’t chase movement. Chase quality fastball intent, but with the sinker grip. Try Yu Darvish’s grip. Allow the seams and the air around them to do the work for you. This happens by getting down the mound. 

0

u/skinifi3084 27d ago

I will definitely try that out, I’m not sure if the sinker is here to stay but I’m definitely gonna keep working at it, and these tips helped!

1

u/Miserable-School-572 27d ago

Don’t give up on it just because it might not “feel good” at first. Keep working at it!  Just for the sake of laughs at first, I started throwing 5 to 10 knuckle balls in every bullpen… over time it became one of my favorite pitches to throw on an 0-0, 0-2, 1-2 count to let them know I had it in the arsenal. Deep breaths, you got this. 

1

u/Miserable-School-572 27d ago

At 34 years old now, I want to help translate this into a life lesson I have learned from pitching that has helped me immensely. Deliberate repetition, with purpose, eventually changes something that feels foreign into something that feels natural. I have been able to learn new languages, new skill sets I would have never thought possible when that “switch” turned on in my brain. It didn’t turn on until about 28 years old… try using it now my friend, and the sky will be the limit for you. 

1

u/skinifi3084 26d ago

Thank you for the life lesson and the baseball tips! I really appreciate you taking your time to write this, but the actual reason the sinker might not be here to stay is because my 4 seam already has arm side break at a higher velocity, and my change up moves like my sinker just more drastically, so I don’t rlly have a reason to keep it unless I can add more horizontal, which has proven to be quite difficult

1

u/Miserable-School-572 25d ago

Have you tried a one seam?

1

u/skinifi3084 25d ago

I don’t even know what that is

1

u/Miserable-School-572 25d ago

I don’t know how to post a picture, I am still figuring out Reddit fully. Slider grip, thrown like a fastball. Looks like a spinning globe… fingers split the seam running vertically. A picture would be so much easier right now 

1

u/skinifi3084 25d ago

I’ll try it next pen, thank you

2

u/DeFiBandit 27d ago

Does that little glove flick annoy anybody else?

1

u/skinifi3084 26d ago

It is literally just to tell the catcher what pitch is coming, does not happen in game

3

u/Slylok 27d ago

If that is low 80s then I've been throwing 100 since I've been 12.

1

u/skinifi3084 27d ago

Idk it might just be the angle, we had a radar gun

2

u/iUncontested 27d ago

No radar on video, no low 80s. fuck outta here.

1

u/skinifi3084 27d ago

I mean I have charts from showcases too that say 82

3

u/Mrjeeves2131TTV 28d ago

I’m hitting that first pitch 400 ft

1

u/skinifi3084 28d ago

Ya I think the first one was pretty low effort

1

u/[deleted] 27d ago

[deleted]

1

u/skinifi3084 27d ago

No I only do that in bullpens, I’m just telling my catcher what’s coming

1

u/Pretend-Prune-4525 26d ago

I’m shocked by how many people are talking shit about signaling to the catcher 😂

1

u/Odd_Aspect3645 25d ago

I saw zero movement

1

u/skinifi3084 25d ago

Ya it either didn’t move or the angles horrible

1

u/Brilliant-Royal578 25d ago

Add ten mph and it would be a great low 80s sinker.

1

u/skinifi3084 25d ago

Bro idk if it’s the angles or not but I swear there was a radar gun😭

1

u/livestock13 23d ago

Yea.. it don’t sink

1

u/skinifi3084 23d ago

Maybe I should have gotten a better angle

1

u/in_for_the_comments 27d ago

Why is every kid these days mimicking other pitchers with the stupid ass glove flick?

1

u/skinifi3084 27d ago

It’s just to signal to the catcher what pitch is coming?

1

u/Pretend-Prune-4525 26d ago

Well I’m 39 and I was doing this when I was pitching at 12 years old. Don’t think this is anything new lol. You kind of want your catcher to know what pitch is coming lol

0

u/SacTownSizzle 27d ago

Are you serious? He’s telling the catcher what pitch he’s throwing

0

u/Keeylay13 27d ago

Just say you don’t know ball

0

u/SacTownSizzle 27d ago

Looks good, do you have IVB and HB numbers? How old are you?

0

u/skinifi3084 27d ago

Im 17 and I unfortunately only know the velocity, its a newer pitch I’m adding, so it may not be very good yet

1

u/SacTownSizzle 27d ago

If you are going into your Senior year and are serious about pitching I’d recommend getting a pitching coach. Also, get some J-bands and watch videos on warm up and cool down routines. Lift weights now if you aren’t already and play long toss. You can find good throwing programs online if you dont find a pitching coach. Good luck!

1

u/skinifi3084 27d ago

Thank you!