Right now, Major League pitchers still have 2 more weeks of spring training.  Their primary focus in the beginning of camp is commanding the fastball and building arm strength. Nonetheless, no pitcher is sleeping on his own secondary pitches. Those are the big money makers. Obviously, one can’t hit what eludes the barrel of the bat. Needless to say, with 162 exciting games yet to be played and pitchers looking to make 30 some starts over some 200 innings, they all have one common goal. To play in October. Which can mean up to 50 more innings in the chase of winning a ring. Since no competitor would pass on that opportunity, efficiency and durability are key. Separate yourself, fellow Dominator! It’s survival of the fittest. So in coordination with that, here is how to get a feel for your Slider early on in the season.

How to Get a Feel
for Your Slider
Having a Catch

Simply put, Baseball is a game of catch.  Pitching is an advanced game of catch. Just ask Steve Carlton.  Getting a feel for the Slider is as basic as the rest of this great game. The key to throwing the Slider effectively and consistently is a matter of feeling it roll off your fingers. This is where the initial repetitions commence.  

During the release of the Slider, as your fingers cut through the ball, it will roll off the middle finger, then the index finger. Opposite that of a fastball. In addition to that, your thumb will change spots with your middle finger as your wrist gimmicks turning a door knob. The pressure placed on the middle finger is what will give the sharp downward break.  

The correct release of the Slider dictates how efficient the pitch will be. This is where the 3 essential keys to throwing the Slider correctly will come into play.  Stay Behind the Baseball, Release it out in Front, and Throw it Downhill.

How to Get a Feel
for Your Slider
1 Bounce Drill

Finding the correct release point on the Slider can be as simple as bouncing it into a net, off a wall, or off your catcher. The good backstops will appreciate and thank you for including them into their blocking drills. Bouncing the Slider out in front of the plate over exaggerates the release.  This makes it easier to scale your release point back and find the proper spot. Just like and infielder with his glove, it is easier to work your way up rather than down.

This drill also begins your process and mindset to throwing the Slider Downhill. If you haven’t tried the 1 Bounce Drill yet, I highly recommend utilizing it. You will see some instant results.

 

How to Get a Feel
for Your Slider
Bullpen Sessions

When you have built up your arm strength to get on the mound with the Slider, it is time to focus on locating. The biggest thing to keep in mind when throwing the Slider off the mound is:

Know where you want it to start out,
and where you want it to end up.  

So focus on an area within the zone where you are comfortable locating the Slider for the inevitable deception. Most notably, where the hitter thinks he is getting a hittable fastball. Silly Hitters!

I was always most comfortable with throwing the Slider to the outer half, down in the zone.  From there, it would break down and away from the zone, roughly along the lines of a 45 degree angle.  

In bullpen sessions, this is where you refine your mechanics to position you to execute the 3 key points to throwing the Slider consistently.  When you know where you want the Slider to go and properly execute the 3 keys, you will soon notice, how the pitch takes care of itself, and those crybaby hitters! 

 

How to Get a Feel for Your Slider
VS Hitters

Whether it is Live BP, a Simulated Game, or an Inter-squad, facing hitters is a whole different dynamic of pitching. Beneficially, for the Slider, it is an enhancement. As a hitter stands in the box, you have the better gauge of where to start the pitch so he can’t reach the Slider. This is based off of the varying stances and tendencies of a hitter. In addition to that, the adrenaline is flowing, the competitive juices are pumping. Therefore, you don’t want to fail. As a result, you will become more apt to throwing the Slider with a purpose. Thus, your conviction builds.

Hitters provide the best feedback. A hanging Slider in a bullpen session doesn’t look all that bad because there are no repercussions. Make the same mistake to a hitter, and you will know right away what you did wrong. Baseball is a game of constant adjustments. The best in the game, can make the necessary adjustment from pitch to pitch. The next tier of players make the fix from inning to inning, and so on down the line.  

Beat me once, You won’t beat me again.

Where do you want to be?

 

How to Get a Feel
for Your Slider
Putting It All Into Action

As you work your way to throwing the Slider in games, you can always fall back on these points to make the adjustments when necessary.  Pitchers, much like hitters, will go through Slumps. It’s a part of the game. The only difference, is hitters have to wait their turn 8 more spots when the outcome doesn’t go their way. They can even go into the cage and iron something out in between at bats.

Pitchers stay on the mound until the manager thinks otherwise.  Therefore, you have to keep making pitches. Regardless, of whether something doesn’t feel right. You may even have to bounce a Slider or 2 in the game until you get the feel back for your Dominant pitch. Working with your catcher is vital. Trust yourself, trust the process, and trust your battery mate. Above all, never stop competing! As always…

 

Keep Dominating!!!