By looking at your profile, I am guessing you to be rather young. First, if you are just looking to throw a sinker for fun, the answers above are great. However, if you are a pitcher and are looking to add weapons to your arsenal, just learning a sinker isn't the best way to go about it. So, if you are interested in sharpening your pitching skills, read on my friend. First, for description's sake, for the rest of my answer a "sinker" will be a pitch that has drop in one way or another. Not necessarily what is described in the answer above. It is very important to keep your age and playing level in mind. If you are 12 and your fastball blows'em away. Then throw nothing but heaters. However, if your fastball is not so dominate, then anything off-speed will be a great asset. Set yourself up for success with practicing 4-seam fastballs high in the zone. Do not throw a 2-seam unless your a high school level player. The 4-seam fastball drops slower than any other pitch. Then use a change-up as your sinker. A circle-change is a good way to start and easy to learn. Make a circle with thumb and index finger, put the ball in your hand keeping the "circle" on the side of the ball. Throw just like a fastball, remember to "sell" the pitch, it has to make the batter think it is a fastball. This pitch should be thrown at the middle and lower half of the strike zone. A batter will swing to soon and over the pitch. Also, another pitch to learn is the split-finger or forkball (same pitch). Simply spread your index and middle finger as wide as possible and place the ball to where you can hold it in place with your thumb on the bottom. This pitch must be thrown low and hard. There is an old saying that "catchers don't catch high splitters; fans catch them" because it is about the easiest pitch to hit. Be sure to keep this one down. Also, you can stretch your fingers anytime, just place a ball down in between them while watching TV or something. Until you get to the Varsity level, a fastball and change up will serve you very well. Remeber that hitting is timing and pitching is messing up that timing. Hitting is also three dimensional, not just two. There is up and down in the strike zone; inside and outside in the zone and before and after the strike zone. I once caught a guy who gave up a 400 foot foul to every other batter, but had an era of just over 2.00. I have many other simple to learn tips I could tell you about the game I love. Email me if you want more info and good luck!
H.E. G - Nice to see someone type their OWN answer and actually know what they are talking about, I appreciate it.
A sinker as it is thrown in the higher levels is usually a two-seam fastball (index and middle fingers along and over the narrow seams, thumb underneath on the horseshoe seam). To get good sink, you have to throw it hard and low in the zone with a good downward angle (if you get under the ball at release, it won't sink). Some pitchers move one or both fingers slightly inward from the seams to get more sinking action. One version, which some people call the "Little League sinker," actually has the fingers together in the middle of the smooth cover between the narrow seams. This pitch usually drops sharply but is slow and difficult to control. If you have good arm action, the basic two-seam grip should give you all the sink you need. Just a few of inches of sink on a two-seamer will yield many ground balls. Experiment with variations on the basic two-seam fastball grip and see what works for you.
A sinker as it is thrown in the higher levels is usually a two-seam fastball (index and middle fingers along and over the narrow seams, thumb underneath on the horseshoe seam). To get good sink, you have to throw it hard and low in the zone with a good downward angle (if you get under the ball at release, it won't sink). Some pitchers move one or both fingers slightly inward from the seams to get more sinking action. One version, which some people call the "Little League sinker," actually has the fingers together in the middle of the smooth cover between the narrow seams. This pitch usually drops sharply but is slow and difficult to control. If you have good arm action, the basic two-seam grip should give you all the sink you need. Just a few of inches of sink on a two-seamer will yield many ground balls. Experiment with variations on the basic two-seam fastball grip and see what works for you.
It's easier than you might think. (overhand delivery)
1)Hold the ball with the seams instead of across them
2)Apply a little pressure to the bottom of the ball with your thumb
This will reduce the 6-12 spin. Also, be aware that using your thumb will reduce velocity a little, but that's ok. If you use the same arm speed as your fastball, the difference in speed will be negligible and the drop will be just enough to get your double play ball.
Going further. Take a little off of it. You now have a terrific off-speed pitch that sinks alot more. You'll get some K's out of it, but you'll get a ton of weak ground balls to 3rd base
Also, as the guy just before me said, spreading the top two fingers, any amount more than your regular fastball will also reduce 6-12 spin
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At the risk of giving a different answer...
By looking at your profile, I am guessing you to be rather young. First, if you are just looking to throw a sinker for fun, the answers above are great. However, if you are a pitcher and are looking to add weapons to your arsenal, just learning a sinker isn't the best way to go about it. So, if you are interested in sharpening your pitching skills, read on my friend. First, for description's sake, for the rest of my answer a "sinker" will be a pitch that has drop in one way or another. Not necessarily what is described in the answer above. It is very important to keep your age and playing level in mind. If you are 12 and your fastball blows'em away. Then throw nothing but heaters. However, if your fastball is not so dominate, then anything off-speed will be a great asset. Set yourself up for success with practicing 4-seam fastballs high in the zone. Do not throw a 2-seam unless your a high school level player. The 4-seam fastball drops slower than any other pitch. Then use a change-up as your sinker. A circle-change is a good way to start and easy to learn. Make a circle with thumb and index finger, put the ball in your hand keeping the "circle" on the side of the ball. Throw just like a fastball, remember to "sell" the pitch, it has to make the batter think it is a fastball. This pitch should be thrown at the middle and lower half of the strike zone. A batter will swing to soon and over the pitch. Also, another pitch to learn is the split-finger or forkball (same pitch). Simply spread your index and middle finger as wide as possible and place the ball to where you can hold it in place with your thumb on the bottom. This pitch must be thrown low and hard. There is an old saying that "catchers don't catch high splitters; fans catch them" because it is about the easiest pitch to hit. Be sure to keep this one down. Also, you can stretch your fingers anytime, just place a ball down in between them while watching TV or something. Until you get to the Varsity level, a fastball and change up will serve you very well. Remeber that hitting is timing and pitching is messing up that timing. Hitting is also three dimensional, not just two. There is up and down in the strike zone; inside and outside in the zone and before and after the strike zone. I once caught a guy who gave up a 400 foot foul to every other batter, but had an era of just over 2.00. I have many other simple to learn tips I could tell you about the game I love. Email me if you want more info and good luck!
H.E. G - Nice to see someone type their OWN answer and actually know what they are talking about, I appreciate it.
A sinker as it is thrown in the higher levels is usually a two-seam fastball (index and middle fingers along and over the narrow seams, thumb underneath on the horseshoe seam). To get good sink, you have to throw it hard and low in the zone with a good downward angle (if you get under the ball at release, it won't sink). Some pitchers move one or both fingers slightly inward from the seams to get more sinking action. One version, which some people call the "Little League sinker," actually has the fingers together in the middle of the smooth cover between the narrow seams. This pitch usually drops sharply but is slow and difficult to control. If you have good arm action, the basic two-seam grip should give you all the sink you need. Just a few of inches of sink on a two-seamer will yield many ground balls. Experiment with variations on the basic two-seam fastball grip and see what works for you.
A sinker as it is thrown in the higher levels is usually a two-seam fastball (index and middle fingers along and over the narrow seams, thumb underneath on the horseshoe seam). To get good sink, you have to throw it hard and low in the zone with a good downward angle (if you get under the ball at release, it won't sink). Some pitchers move one or both fingers slightly inward from the seams to get more sinking action. One version, which some people call the "Little League sinker," actually has the fingers together in the middle of the smooth cover between the narrow seams. This pitch usually drops sharply but is slow and difficult to control. If you have good arm action, the basic two-seam grip should give you all the sink you need. Just a few of inches of sink on a two-seamer will yield many ground balls. Experiment with variations on the basic two-seam fastball grip and see what works for you.
It's easier than you might think. (overhand delivery)
1)Hold the ball with the seams instead of across them
2)Apply a little pressure to the bottom of the ball with your thumb
This will reduce the 6-12 spin. Also, be aware that using your thumb will reduce velocity a little, but that's ok. If you use the same arm speed as your fastball, the difference in speed will be negligible and the drop will be just enough to get your double play ball.
Going further. Take a little off of it. You now have a terrific off-speed pitch that sinks alot more. You'll get some K's out of it, but you'll get a ton of weak ground balls to 3rd base
Also, as the guy just before me said, spreading the top two fingers, any amount more than your regular fastball will also reduce 6-12 spin