2 seam VS 4 seam fastballs/disadvantage?

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Oct 16, 2014
333
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My DD only throws 2 seamers.
At some point she just made the switch and now that's all she throws. is there a disadvantage to this? I asked her why and she just replied " I like it better". She's 11. on the small side. doesn't throw very fast, cruising speed is 43-45. her forte is placement,working corners, nice fastball with movement, screwball and drop(she throws these as 2 seamers as well) change up is ok . she knows how to throw it like 4 different ways, she has small hands so getting one that's just right is always evolving. she works hard on her IR/Brush/spin ... when it's on it's really on. Sometimes she doesn't get it just right. wondering if she tried 4 seam it would be easier? looking for feedback
 

shaker1

Softball Junkie
Dec 4, 2014
894
18
On a bucket
Definitely an advantage if your getting movement with that 2 seamer. I would think you'd get better bite with the 4 seam drop. If she can control the movement, or place the ball using the movement, why would you want anything else?
 

sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,132
113
Dallas, Texas
She's 11. on the small side. doesn't throw very fast, cruising speed is 43-45. her forte is placement,working corners, nice fastball with movement, screwball and drop(she throws these as 2 seamers as well) change up is ok . she knows how to throw it like 4 different ways, she has small hands so getting one that's just right is always evolving.

Good pitchers have decent speed, excellent control, change speeds and have a good movement pitch. Your post says that your DD has good speed, good control and has a good movement pitch. What your DD is missing is the ability to change speeds. Wouldn't it be smarter to work on the changeup rather than yet another new pitch?
 
Last edited:

SB45

Dad, Coach, Chauffeur
Sep 2, 2016
150
28
Western NY
Advantages 2seam vs 4 seam?? My understanding/opinions after reading a ton of posts on here... 4 seam is the standard grip, may lead to a little bit more spin, ball is more of a moving blur...2 seam spin is a little more visible to the batter and movement on the pitch is less predictable. I'm not convinced one grip or the other generates more or less speed. I do think there are gurus who feel strongly that you can generate more spin with a 4 seam grip and spin is huge. Personally, I like the 2 seam as another tool in the box...an extra...play around with it and see what it does. A 2 seam fastball on the inside edge of the plate that tails into right handed hitters could be a handy tool to have when you need it. But if you could generate more spin with a 4seam grip, your standard fastball would likely drop a little more. Both have advantages and I think they are stronger when you use both rather than one or the other.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
I do not know of anyone on the upper end that throws both a 2 seam and 4 seam. They find the one that works for them and that usually ends up as their go-to pitch. As to which one has more spin - it really should not matter. Spin is spin the only thing you are changing is the orientation of the ball at release. Conventional wisdom and applied physics should tell us that all things equal a 4 seam would have more movement (greater resistance) and the 2 seam should be a tad faster (less resistance). However, the 2 seam can generate some wicked, and at times unpredictable movement. In pitching unpredictability is a good thing, so long as it does not get to the point of chaos. That type of unpredictability in movement is often inaccurately described as being effectively wild. To the point earlier, changing speeds is critical and cannot be over emphasized. Unfortunately a 2 seam is not a pitch I have seen successfully thrown at various speeds. Believe me we tried with my DD. It is a power pitch and you need to throw it very hard to be effective. Changing speeds with a 4 seam is very effective as you not only change speeds but often the resulting movement. Find which one works for your DD.
 
Jan 4, 2012
3,852
38
OH-IO
The2Seam utilizes the ~MagnusEffect~

4Seam helps with control, just like you tell a third baseman to grip 4 seams when throwing to 1st.... so your not throwing 1st basemen curves.

Thinking ??? 4Seam puts more drag, so might be slower???

Have heard 2Seam easier to see. I see that as good... causing batter to commit faster & or harder, but being surprised ...just like the pitcher is when it completes its path. JMHO :cool:
 
Last edited:
Jul 30, 2014
12
1
My right handed 10yr old pitches both. The 4 seam is faster than the 2 seam. But the 2 seam has more movement, tailing away from a right handed batter. The spin is so much different between the two. The four seam is spinning like a small fast bullet and the 2 seam is like a fat slow bullet with crazy movement.
 
Oct 16, 2014
333
0
Good pitchers have decent speed, excellent control, change speeds and have a good movement pitch. Your post says that your DD has good speed, good control and has a good movement pitch. What your DD is missing is the ability to change speeds. Wouldn't it be smarter to work on the changeup rather than yet another new pitch?

Thanks. Yes the change up is the one pitch we still need to work on. I mean, she throws it just fine. it's just that it's only like 6mph slower than her fastball. We are trying to figure out how to either slow her changeup more, or make her fastball faster (fastball could always be faster , wouldn't that be a great way for her to change speeds lol). was curious if 2 seam/4seam made a difference

I do not know of anyone on the upper end that throws both a 2 seam and 4 seam. They find the one that works for them and that usually ends up as their go-to pitch. As to which one has more spin - it really should not matter. Spin is spin the only thing you are changing is the orientation of the ball at release. Conventional wisdom and applied physics should tell us that all things equal a 4 seam would have more movement (greater resistance) and the 2 seam should be a tad faster (less resistance). However, the 2 seam can generate some wicked, and at times unpredictable movement. In pitching unpredictability is a good thing, so long as it does not get to the point of chaos. That type of unpredictability in movement is often inaccurately described as being effectively wild. To the point earlier, changing speeds is critical and cannot be over emphasized. Unfortunately a 2 seam is not a pitch I have seen successfully thrown at various speeds. Believe me we tried with my DD. It is a power pitch and you need to throw it very hard to be effective. Changing speeds with a 4 seam is very effective as you not only change speeds but often the resulting movement. Find which one works for your DD.

good points, thank you

My right handed 10yr old pitches both. The 4 seam is faster than the 2 seam. But the 2 seam has more movement, tailing away from a right handed batter. The spin is so much different between the two. The four seam is spinning like a small fast bullet and the 2 seam is like a fat slow bullet with crazy movement.

sounds just like my DD, but she never throws her 4 seam anymore:p

Definitely an advantage if your getting movement with that 2 seamer. I would think you'd get better bite with the 4 seam drop. If she can control the movement, or place the ball using the movement, why would you want anything else?

good points thanks. She is definitely getting movement, nothing crazy but it is unpredictable enough for the batter, she places it well. Which I think is something she has going for her right now. She is on a 12U A team where the teams fastest pitcher is low - mid 50's. So DD needs to fill a certain niche, she's not blowing past batters with her fastball. Her drop is actually pretty good, and her changeup, albeit not a hug drop in speed from her fastball, also has a drop to it so it works pretty well.


thanks everyone this has been helpful :)
 
Last edited:

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
My DD throws both. Her 2 seam has more movement and her 4 seam is more controlled. She will only throw a 4 seam on a 3 ball count to a batter she would rather let hit the ball vs. walking her.
 

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