Learn to Throw the Thumb Splitter

Learn to Throw the Thumb Splitter

Originally Published in the ABCA's Coaching Digest

The original splitter made famous by Bruce Sutter has since been utilized by many pitchers on every level. Unfortunately, it has also attributed to many elbow injuries along the way. Perfecting the pitch and avoiding injury has been a double-edged sword. Command of the pitch and the avoidance of injury are still amongst the biggest problems with the splitter. For years, I have been teaching my own variation of the splitter. I call it the "thumb splitter." It is far easier to learn and master, and I have never had one injury associated with throwing the pitch. Unlike the original splitter that is held between the index and the middle fingers, the thumb splitter is cradled between the thumb, index and middle fingers.

Whereas the splitter requires a large hand to accommodate holding the ball, the thumb splitter does not. It is much easier to hold, control and vary the velocity of the pitch by changing the release point. In the early 90's, I first taught this pitch while serving as pitching coach at Biola University. One day before a big game, our starting pitcher was having difficulty controlling his curve ball during his pre-game warm-up. He was very upset and concerned after losing the feel and release point for the pitch. After calming him down, I introduced this pitcher to the grip and the mechanics of the thumb splitter. If released correctly, the action of the thumb splitter produces a 12/6 spin comparable to a curve ball without any danger of rotation or stress in the elbow. After five minutes of experimenting with the pitch, he gained enough confidence to take the pitch into the game and get seven outs with the thumb splitter. He never threw a traditional curve ball again. In throwing the thumb splitter, he discovered that he got a later break and feel than with his curve ball. Although the break may not have been as great, it definitely broke later. The late plane changing break caused many swings and misses and became his out pitch.

The thumb splitter is far easier to teach and easier on the arm than the curve or slider. In addition, the pitch may be repeated over and over with no adverse effects on the arm. Anytime a pitcher has problems with or not having a curve, introduce the thumb splitter as an alternative. The pitch is thrown with a no-seam grip. The ball is held deep in the palm of the hand and gripped across the label of the ball just behind the horseshoe of the laces on the smooth surface of the ball. When released with a hard downward wrist snap, this grip produces a tumbling action on the ball. If the ball is released properly with the fingers ending straight down by the force of the wrist snap, the hitter should never see a red dot that is associated with breaking balls. If the pitcher releases the ball and his hand turns slightly, the rotation of the seams causes the red dot to appear, and that is enough to tip off the experienced hitter that the pitch is a breaking or off- speed pitch. If released properly, the ball's rotation will look just like a fastball until it drops as it approaches the hitting area. The key to getting the 12/6 break is arm speed, wrist snap, and the release point being out in front of the body. As the ball is released, the wrist is snapped on a downward plane, and the fingers end up pointing toward the ground. The action of the wrist snap is comparable to a tennis serve. There is no rotation in the elbow, just an extension of the hand and arm out toward the hitter.

The deception of the pitch is predicated on arm speed. The pitch must be thrown hard with maximum arm speed. The arm speed and release point looks just like that of a fastball. Because the ball is held deep in the palm of the hand, velocity will automatically be reduced. The accelerated arm action should make the hitter thinking fastball, which in turn causes his timing to be thrown off. The hitter reading fastball by the arm speed commits early and is deceived by the change of plane by the pitch. With practice, the pitcher can experiment with various release points that vary the pitch velocity. If the pitcher perfects the ability to release the ball behind his head, without slowing down his arm speed, the result is a very slow breaking ball. The accelerated arm speed should have the hitter way out on his front foot. With practice, varying speeds may be perfected. It is recommended that the majority of the time the pitch be thrown as hard as possible with the release point out in front for optimum results.

Key Coaching Points:

• No seam grip.

• Cradle the ball deep in the palm of the hand.

• The ball is held with the thumb, index, and middle fingers.

• Maximum arm speed at all times is essential.

• Release the ball when the arm is fully extended in front of the face.

• Pull down hard with a strong wrist snap.

• No rotation in the hand or wrist.

• Fingers end up pointed at the ground.