How to tail Fastball/Dropball

I was wondering if you fine folks would please share your best tips and techniques on how to get a FB/DB to tail in or away from a batter. I've seen some discussion in other threads but I was hoping for a more comprehensive thread on the subject. The more detail the better for us rookies.

Thanks!

I have been wanting to ask this as well. My daughter can run it away from a right handed batter but doesn't know the why or how & is often told her curve ball is great. She needs to learn the in.

riseball said:

Understand that the reason that you apply (or reduce) finger pressure is to manipulate which finger comes off the ball last. That said the the last finger to come off the ball needs to be on the opposite side of the ball from direction you want it to move. You need to experiment with different pressures and grips to find what works best. As with all pitches you need to develop a feeling for which finger comes off less and get a good pull with that finger.

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https://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-pitching/12797-cutter-14-yr-old-righty-2.html

You can see a few posts down in the thread Ken linked how [MENTION=10413]riseball[/MENTION]'s DD changed up her grip a little. This is exactly what I have discussed numerous times. If you played baseball this is the kind of stuff we would do as kids all the time while playing catch during warmups just goofing around.

But instead of goofing around I would take a slightly more methodical approach. I think it is also good to point out you are not going to get consistent results if you do not have a solid mechanical foundation to begin with that involves a consistent release point along with good command.

You can experiment with several different things starting with your fingers position on the ball in relation to the seams, then how many fingers are contacting the ball and the seams, then focus on finger pressure (trying to feeling like the ball is rolling off your index finger then have it roll off your middle finger) the actual point of release off the finger may or may not change but the focus on pressure should result in slightly different rotation. In the end this is all going to be a trial and error process and should be done in addition to her normal workout/practice maybe spend five or ten minutes with catcher after session and see how the little differences feel, can you still pitch with control and is the ball doing anything different in terms of movement or speed. It will probably take a few months before she can find something that feels good that she can control and actually is different in some aspect, then it becomes a matter of consistency and when does it make sense to use that pitch in game situations.

https://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-pitching/11576-screwball-video-18.html#post294880

The simplest way to think of it for me and my dd has been to think of where her fingers are at release. Fingers outside the ball (towards 3rd base for a righty) will generally result in tailing away from a right-handed batter. Fingers inside the ball (between her thigh and the ball, more like a screwball) should tail in to a right-handed batter. She throws a peel drop both ways and is beginning to have good success with them, particularly the one tailing down and away from a lefty.

mmeece said:

The simplest way to think of it for me and my dd has been to think of where her fingers are at release. Fingers outside the ball (towards 3rd base for a righty) will generally result in tailing away from a right-handed batter. Fingers inside the ball (between her thigh and the ball, more like a screwball) should tail in to a right-handed batter. She throws a peel drop both ways and is beginning to have good success with them, particularly the one tailing down and away from a lefty.

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It is truly that simple.