knucklemaster333
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| posted on 6-28-2004 at 02:48 PM |
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Splitter Question
i have a few questions about thrwoing a splitter first off does a splitter=a forkball? i've heard they are virtually the same pitch
also how exactly do you throw a splitter i've heard there's a trick with the thumb to get forward topspin on the ball
and lastly out of anyone whos thrown it, did you ever expierence arm troubles because of it?
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Taylor
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| posted on 6-28-2004 at 05:40 PM |
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quote:
i have a few questions about thrwoing a splitter first off does a splitter=a forkball? i've heard they are virtually the same pitch
yes they are virtually the same pitch, some will argue a forkball is when your fingers are spread further, but i throw a "forkball" but
i've always called it a splitter, to each his own, its virtually the same pitch
quote:
also how exactly do you throw a splitter i've heard there's a trick with the thumb to get forward topspin on the ball
i take my index and middle finger and spread them as wide as i can across the ball...I release it with my hand almost infront of the ball if that
makes since, so it gets that tumbling rotation, I dont even have my thumb on the ball at any point. I'm sure many people do use their thumb tho,
its just mine works without having to use my thumb....I also throw it slightly slower then my fastball 9 times out of 10, barely slower, but just a
little slower
quote:
and lastly out of anyone whos thrown it, did you ever expierence arm troubles because of it?
nope, the only pitch that ever makes my arm feel funny is when i throw a fastball, but i release it like a screwball to try to get it tailing in,
occasionally that will make my arm feel bad
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knucklemaster333
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| posted on 6-29-2004 at 02:38 PM |
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well thanks for answering my questions i've always wanted to learn a splitter but i never knew how you're supposed to get topspin thx alot
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LerewFan
Hall of Famer  
Posts 922
Registered 6-25-2004 Location Drifting in a euphoria Member Is Offline Mood: Ready.
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| posted on 6-29-2004 at 03:03 PM |
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Sometimes I throw a forkball and I get nasty last secound movement on it making it almost impossible to hit. But the only ball that I get it to work
with is a ball i got for the dollar store (yeah I know) that shows how to grip a slider, forkball, and four seamer. I cant get it to work on a
regular game ball. I think its cause of the cheap seams and leather. Or...plastic if you will, tha gets it to work on that ball from the dollar
store.
[Edited on 6-29-2004 by LerewFan]
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knucklemaster333
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| posted on 6-29-2004 at 03:07 PM |
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actually i think i have that ball lol it is pretty cheap i threw it against the wall 1 time and it became all lobsided i think i still have it i think
the grips are color coded they are green,red, and blue but i don't nomally shop in the dollar store for baseballs either my parents got me it
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Taylor
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| posted on 6-29-2004 at 04:50 PM |
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the ball is lighter and since alot of splitters rotate like a knuckle ball, with about 2 rotations of top spin the air can do tricks with it
that would just be my assumption of why your better with that
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LerewFan
Hall of Famer
Posts 922
Registered 6-25-2004 Location Drifting in a euphoria Member Is Offline Mood: Ready.
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| posted on 6-29-2004 at 05:15 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by knucklemaster333
actually i think i have that ball lol it is pretty cheap i threw it against the wall 1 time and it became all lobsided i think i still have it i think
the grips are color coded they are green,red, and blue but i don't nomally shop in the dollar store for baseballs either my parents got me it
quote:
Originally posted by Taylor
the ball is lighter and since alot of splitters rotate like a knuckle ball, with about 2 rotations of top spin the air can do tricks with it
Yes, they pitches are color coded and my parents also got me mine too. lol.
And Taylor, that is probably why the ball moves so much.
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knucklemaster333
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| posted on 6-30-2004 at 02:37 PM |
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hmmm i tried it but i wasn't getting topspin i can throw it were i get a little backspin though
[Edited on 6-30-2004 by knucklemaster333]
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Scientist
Journeyman 
Posts 33
Registered 6-19-2004 Location Dublin, Oh Member Is Offline Mood: skankin
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| posted on 6-30-2004 at 09:02 PM |
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a splitter/forkball has been the only pitch with downward movement ive been able to throw except a cicle changeup im working on.
**i throw sidearm so this might be different for you** I spread my fingers as wide as i can in between the two seams. I throw it without my thumb
even touching the ball. I just kinda tuck it in. I can always get it to sink and occasionally it'll dance because it feels like it. I just have
trouble controlling it, thats why im working on a sinking changeup.
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Devils #37
Superstar 
Posts 119
Registered 4-26-2004 Location Edinburgh, Scotland Member Is Offline Mood: Slider
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| posted on 6-30-2004 at 10:04 PM |
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That's good that you can get it to work through a sidearm motion. I throw with a low three quarters arm angle and i've experimented with
splitters and forkballs before and found it hard to get the sink.
Scientist... keep working on the circle change, it tends to work real well with a three quarters or sidearm delivery.
One thing i found really useful with the circle change was if you position your grip so that your middle finger lies between the two narrowest seams,
it minimises rotation on the ball and gives you some extra drop, especially if you're coming from sidearm or three quarters.
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Scientist
Journeyman
Posts 33
Registered 6-19-2004 Location Dublin, Oh Member Is Offline Mood: skankin
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| posted on 7-1-2004 at 12:08 AM |
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very interesting. right now i've been throwing it where my middle fingers have been spread over the closet seams intersecting perpendicular
oppsed to parallel like you descrived it. I think ill try your grip.
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Taylor
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| posted on 7-1-2004 at 02:36 AM |
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the biggest secret to a splitter, is lead with your hand, don't throw it exactly like a fastball throw it more like a changeup, where your hand
is sorta in front of the ball if that makes sense...when you let go the ball needs to be sorta behind where your hand is
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knucklemaster333
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| posted on 7-1-2004 at 02:05 PM |
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hmm i thought about that when i was throwing it but i still can't get topspin on the ball it always has backspin
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Southpaw16
Prospect
Posts 24
Registered 6-7-2004 Location Hannibal, Missouri Member Is Offline Mood: info-junkie
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| posted on 7-2-2004 at 04:15 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by knucklemaster333
hmm i thought about that when i was throwing it but i still can't get topspin on the ball it always has backspin
Try putting your thumb on the ball on a seam. Then as u release, kinda run your thumb up between your two fingers that are holding the ball. Ive
just started working on a splitter, but this seems to help it work better for me.
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knucklemaster333
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| posted on 7-2-2004 at 01:47 PM |
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thanks i'll try that i had to face a kid with a splitter yesterday i was confused because his fastball had so much sink too it and i was
wondering how he was getting it but when i saw one of my teamates swing threw a pitch and i saw it drop off the table i knew he was throwing a
splitter it's a sweet pitch
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Panther11
Veteran 
Posts 76
Registered 7-1-2004 Member Is Offline Mood:
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 posted on 7-2-2004 at 04:39 PM |
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That same lil color coded ball...
I'm glad to kno that i'm not the only person who stayed up many nights setting and wandering why i could throw a fork ball with that cheap
color coded ball and not a real baseball. I finally figured out the cheap ball was lighter, and to this day i still can't throw a fork ball
with a reg. baseball 
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knucklemaster333
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| posted on 7-3-2004 at 01:48 PM |
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jeez i've tried that and i still can't achieve topspin i still can't figure out how your supposed to throw this pitch
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Raymond
Rookie
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Registered 2-28-2004 Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 7-4-2004 at 01:36 AM |
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i grip my spliter along the two seams as wide as i can and i throw it as hard as i can and its suposed to have no side spin at all and if thrown
correctly it will break down and to the right/left
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hawk11
Veteran 
Posts 56
Registered 7-2-2004 Member Is Offline Mood: alright
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| posted on 7-4-2004 at 01:48 AM |
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a
I have been having trouble with my knuckleball lately cuz all its been doing is having top spin on it, so i suggest trying to throw a knuckleball and
maybe you will achieve top spin
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knucklemaster333
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| posted on 7-4-2004 at 02:21 PM |
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i actually tried that before if i grip the ball a little higher than usual i can get a splitter-like topspin on the ball and some drop it's the
easiest way i found to get topspin so far
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BeeBopper
Superstar
Posts 185
Registered 7-10-2004 Member Is Offline Mood:
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 posted on 7-10-2004 at 10:46 PM |
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Difference between SPlitter and FOrkball
My first post – Difference between a forkball and splitter
Rmoretti23 got it about right, I believe.
1) The grip is different – Watch Contreras. I watched him closely early this year and changed my grip to approximate his. One reason I believe he can
throw the forkball harder is that he splits the ball right down the middle, puts it back in the web between his index and middle finger, but rotates
the ball in his hand so that each finger (index and middle) grips just above and on a lace for nearly the entire length of the finger. The split is
wider than a splitter (which does not necessarily bisect the ball). (I spent three years jamming a softball between my fingers until I can easily
approximate the Contreras grip. My hand is slightly larger than average.)
2) Grip – the position of the fingertips is important and at this moment I cannot say precisely where they should be – on the laces or curled over
them. I think curled over. I find that if I think of the inside bones on the first knuckle of each finger as opposing each other I get a better
release.
3) Thumb – The splitter, I believe, needs to have the thumb hooked on the lower (nearer?) of the two laces at their closest part of the ball. It
seems to assist in imparting the necessary tumbling. With the forkball, as thrown by Contreras, the thumb is on the side and right near the end of
the index finger and there is pressure on the thumb. It is necessary, I believe, to apply this pressure in opposition to the middle finger, which is
stronger and longer than the index finger. I have found that the worst spin (sidespin), which is occasionally put on the ball, can come from the
middle finger.
4) Release – Straight overhand and, at the moment of release, squeeze the fingers – a little "bite". I believe that this makes the ball
pop out without spin. This pitch either has no spin or one or two rotations if released properly.
I am going to pitch a game right now against a great hitting team. I will report of the effectiveness of the forkball.
I have returned and our team did well. I went all nine. At first I used a fastball primarily but once through the order, I used the forkball more.
I find that as I get tired the forkball works better. I threw five in a row to the last hitter. I gave up no hits off the pitch, but it is
unpredictable. For every great one I had another that bounced in front of the plate. I think that one of the other benefits of this pitch as opposed
to the knuckleball is that the mechanics are the same so the batter does not get the benefit of an obvious change in mechanics. I used to throw a
knuckleball. I learned it from Jim Bouton. In the last two years I have completely lost the feeling. I mean really lost it. I no longer even try.
The Contreras forkball is now my slow-rotating pitch.
For anyone who finds this interesting, let me know if my suggestions are helpful and particularly if you have anything to add.
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rmoretti23
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| posted on 7-11-2004 at 01:46 AM |
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Cool
I got it kinda right? Sweet! Thanks, BeeBopper.
A screwball is not a fastball in any way, shape, or form.
<--The Evil Empire Strikes Back
There never was a curse. The Red Sox just sucked for 86 years. Reverse that.
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Taylor
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| posted on 7-11-2004 at 02:54 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by BeeBopper
3) Thumb – The splitter, I believe, needs to have the thumb hooked on the lower (nearer?) of the two laces at their closest part of the ball. It
seems to assist in imparting the necessary tumbling. With the forkball, as thrown by Contreras, the thumb is on the side and right near the end of
the index finger and there is pressure on the thumb. It is necessary, I believe, to apply this pressure in opposition to the middle finger, which is
stronger and longer than the index finger. I have found that the worst spin (sidespin), which is occasionally put on the ball, can come from the
middle finger.
4) Release – Straight overhand and, at the moment of release, squeeze the fingers – a little "bite". I believe that this makes the ball
pop out without spin. This pitch either has no spin or one or two rotations if released properly.
I throw by your definition a forkball, but i call it a splitter...I dont like the name forkball
I throw it without my thumb touching the ball whatsoever, and i throw it 3 quarters....Every pitch i throw is 3 quarters
and my splitter is by far my nastiest pitch..
Only reason I'm responding is i think unless you throw completely overhand normally you should NOT throw overhand with this pitch...say you
throw 3 quarters, you shouldn't throw this pitch over hand you should throw it 3/4.....as you get older batters pick up what you throw easy if
you throw from different arm slots
So i'm just saying I wouldn't practice throwing pitches from different arm slows...to any pitcher, try throwing every single pitch you
throw from the same exact slot, therefore its more difficult for the hitter to pick up....
maybe if your 13 or 14 it won't matter yet, but once you get into high school ball, you need to try to make all your pitching motions look
identical
i have seen lots of people with a sidearm fastball and a sidearm curve....I guess if you have two or three pitches from each slot, it would work out
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rmoretti23
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| posted on 7-11-2004 at 01:31 PM |
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It's OK
The whole splitter-forkball thing still isn't completely solved. Contreras throws a forkball, though he calls it a splitter. Actually, after his
last outing, Jorge Posada was asked how Contreras' FORKBALL was working. Here's an idea: combine both pitches into the same family and
call it the "splorker" or "splorkball"
A screwball is not a fastball in any way, shape, or form.
<--The Evil Empire Strikes Back
There never was a curse. The Red Sox just sucked for 86 years. Reverse that.
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thesalminator
Hall of Famer 
Posts 602
Registered 5-13-2004 Location San Antonio, TX Member Is Offline Mood: 85 percent read
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 posted on 7-13-2004 at 06:15 AM |
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why not ask the master of the forkball
quote:
Originally posted by rmoretti23
The whole splitter-forkball thing still isn't completely solved. Contreras throws a forkball, though he calls it a splitter. Actually, after his
last outing, Jorge Posada was asked how Contreras' FORKBALL was working. Here's an idea: combine both pitches into the same family and
call it the "splorker" or "splorkball"
yes peers i am the only one with the opinion that will proove that both pitches differ.
personally i throw both split and fork ball
the splitfinger is when you grab it with the fingers inched apart and throw in like a regular fast ball it can vary my splitters go from 75-85
and the Fork Ball is having the fingers inched but, but, the THUMB thats right the Thumb does not have to be placed anywere special the trick is to
have the thumb push up on the ball upon release the force of the thumb can determine the great drop of the fork if no thumb pressure is applied the
ball might float like a knuckle. the fork is alot slowwer than its brother the splitter mine differ from 50-75 with a huge drop if it goes slower. i
have made it drop off a Six Feet Two iches guy from his Belly Button is where i aimed it and it ended half way of his shin. best of all if the drop
doesnt get them the speed will. upon release it looks like a fastball.
Good Day
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