Zac Gallen's Pitch Grips! #mlb

Pitching Ninja
10 Mar 202405:05
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this engaging conversation, baseball player Zach Gallen discusses his pitching techniques and strategies. He shares insights into his four-seam fastball, emphasizing the importance of leverage and the 'clicking' of the seams. Gallen also delves into his curveball, which he admits was lacking depth last year, attributing it to too much involvement of his index finger. He describes his grip and release for both the curveball and the changeup, highlighting the need for stability and minimal ball exposure. Gallen's detailed explanations provide a unique perspective on the art of pitching, revealing his process for refining each pitch to maximize effectiveness and deceive batters.

Takeaways
  • 🏀 Zach G's favorite pitch is the curveball, which he considers one of his best and has been working on to regain its depth and effectiveness.
  • 👌 Zach emphasizes the importance of feeling leverage when throwing a four-seam fastball, aiming for a 'clicking' sensation that indicates proper grip and release.
  • 🎯 He noticed a tendency to be under and on the side of the ball last year, which affected the spin and trajectory of his pitches, and he's working on correcting this.
  • 🤔 Zach can feel and see when his pitching mechanics are off, and he uses pitch tracking data to confirm and make adjustments.
  • 🔄 He experimented with cutting his fastball last year, which was a departure from his usual style, but he's now focusing on staying on top of the ball for better command.
  • 👆 The index finger's involvement in releasing the curveball was causing it to lose depth, so Zach is adjusting his grip to rely less on the index finger.
  • 👁 Zach's grip on the changeup is light, akin to holding an egg, allowing for minimal ball exposure to the hitter while maintaining control.
  • 👐 His changeup grip involves the thumb and pinky for support, with the ball resting primarily on the fingers for a quick release.
  • 🏆 Zach's changeup technique is sometimes referred to as a 'trophy change' due to the way he turns the ball over with his thumb, avoiding a circular motion.
  • 🤝 There was a playful discussion about the term 'slutter' for a pitch, which was coined by a friend and has gained some popularity.
  • 🎲 Zach's go-to pitch can vary; sometimes it's the changeup, fastball, or curveball, depending on what he's working on and feeling comfortable with at the moment.
Q & A

  • What is the main topic of discussion in the transcript?

    -The main topic of discussion in the transcript is the pitching mechanics and techniques of baseball player Zach Gall, specifically focusing on his four-seam fastball, curveball, and changeup.

  • How does Zach describe his ideal grip on the four-seam fastball?

    -Zach describes his ideal grip on the four-seam fastball as feeling leverage and 'clicking the seams'. He mentions pulling off the seams and avoiding being under the ball or on the side of it.

  • What issue did Zach notice with his fastball last year?

    -Zach noticed that he was cutting a little bit last year with his fastball, which wasn't necessarily bad but wasn't commanding it to his eye and it appeared to cut to the hitters.

  • What adjustments did Zach make to his curveball grip?

    -Zach made adjustments to his curveball grip by ensuring his index finger was less involved and his thumb was on the side of the ball, using a 75% grip for stability without choking the ball.

  • How does Zach describe the feeling of releasing his curveball?

    -Zach describes the feeling of releasing his curveball as guiding it with his hand, similar to how a guide hand would work when shooting a basketball, to prevent the ball from popping out.

  • What is Zach's grip on his changeup?

    -Zach's grip on his changeup is described as holding the ball like an egg, not choking it, and having it way out in his fingers for less friction and a deceptive release.

  • What analogy does Zach use to describe the motion of his changeup?

    -Zach uses the analogy of turning a radio knob to describe the motion of his changeup, emphasizing that it's not a circular motion but more of a turning action.

  • What term was mistakenly used by some people for Zach's pitch?

    -The term 'slutter' was mistakenly used by some people for Zach's pitch after a video where the term was discussed, but it was not the correct term for his pitch.

  • What is the correct term for the pitch that some people mistakenly called 'slutter'?

    -The correct term for the pitch is a 'cutter', as clarified by Zach and his discussion with his buddy Chris who came up with the term 'slutter'.

  • Which pitch does Zach feel most comfortable with, and why?

    -Zach feels most comfortable with the pitch he is currently working on and has a good feel for, as it helps him reset and ensures he is doing the right things mechanically.

Outlines
00:00
🥎 Pitching Techniques and Grips

In this paragraph, a baseball player named Zach discusses his pitching techniques and grips. He talks about his preference for feeling leverage and 'clicking the seams' when throwing a four-seam fastball. He mentions that he was previously under the ball, causing it to cut less, and he's working on staying on top of the ball for better command. Zach also describes his curveball, which he loves and considers one of his favorites. He notes that it lost some depth last year, possibly due to too much involvement of his index finger. He explains his grip on the curveball, emphasizing the role of his thumb for stability without choking the ball. The paragraph concludes with Zach's approach to throwing a changeup, which he likens to holding an egg, with a focus on using his thumb to turn the seam over, avoiding a circular motion.

05:00
🎯 Trusting the Curveball as a Reliable Pitch

The second paragraph continues the conversation about pitching, with a focus on the curveball. Zach shares that he feels most comfortable and confident when his curveball is performing well, as it sets the tone for the rest of his pitches. He admits that sometimes the changeup or fastball might be his go-to pitch, but currently, he's working on and feels a strong connection with his curveball. This pitch is a key part of his repertoire, and when it's right, he knows he's executing his pitching mechanics correctly.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Four-seam fastball
A four-seam fastball is a type of pitch in baseball characterized by its straight trajectory and high velocity. It is thrown by gripping the baseball with the index and middle fingers placed across the seams. In the video, Zach Gallin discusses feeling the leverage and 'clicking the seams' when throwing this pitch, emphasizing the importance of staying on top of the ball to create an effective pitch.
💡Leverage
In the context of pitching, leverage refers to the mechanical advantage or force that a pitcher generates when throwing the ball. Zach Gallin mentions feeling leverage when the ball comes off his hand, aiming for a snapping sensation that indicates proper form and maximum control. This concept is crucial for achieving desired pitch movement and velocity.
💡Curveball
A curveball is a type of breaking pitch that has a downward and lateral movement due to the spin applied by the pitcher. Gallin talks about his struggle with the curveball, specifically how it was losing depth and becoming more vertical, which affected its effectiveness. He explains his grip and the technique he uses to improve its movement, highlighting the adjustments needed for better performance.
💡Knuckle curve
The knuckle curve is a variation of the curveball where the pitcher grips the ball with one or more knuckles on the seams to create a sharper break. Zach Gallin describes this pitch as one of his favorites, noting that it wasn't performing as well last year because it lost some depth. His explanation of adjusting his grip and release points illustrates the precision required for this pitch.
💡TrackMan
TrackMan is a technology used in baseball to measure detailed aspects of a pitch, including spin rate, trajectory, and velocity. Gallin refers to checking TrackMan data to confirm his observations about his pitches, such as noticing when he was cutting the ball unintentionally. This tool helps pitchers make data-driven adjustments to improve their performance.
💡Changeup
A changeup is a type of off-speed pitch that is thrown with the same arm action as a fastball but at a lower velocity, intended to disrupt the timing of the batter. Gallin explains his grip for the changeup, comparing it to holding an egg to avoid excessive friction. He emphasizes the importance of a light grip and the technique of turning the ball over like a radio knob to achieve the desired effect.
💡Cutter
A cutter, or cut fastball, is a type of fastball that has a late, sharp movement towards the pitcher's glove side. Gallin discusses the difference between a cutter and a 'slutter' (a slider-cutter hybrid), and his approach to throwing it by focusing on the pitch's path to the catcher's target. The goal is to create a deceptive pitch that appears like a fastball but breaks unexpectedly.
💡Spin rate
Spin rate refers to the number of rotations a baseball makes per minute when it is pitched. Higher spin rates can increase the effectiveness of pitches like fastballs and breaking balls. Gallin mentions using TrackMan to monitor his spin rate, which helps him understand and refine his pitching mechanics. Proper spin rate can influence the movement and deception of the pitch.
💡Release point
The release point is the position where the pitcher releases the ball during the delivery. It significantly affects the pitch's velocity, movement, and accuracy. Gallin talks about his release point, particularly with his curveball, and how adjusting it can improve the pitch's effectiveness. Consistent release points are crucial for maintaining control and achieving the desired pitch outcome.
💡Grip
The grip refers to how a pitcher holds the baseball, which influences the pitch's movement and speed. Different grips are used for various pitches, such as the four-seam fastball, curveball, and changeup. Gallin provides detailed descriptions of his grips for different pitches, explaining how slight changes can alter the pitch's behavior and effectiveness.
Highlights

Zach Gall talks about his four-seam fastball and the feeling of leverage and clicking the seams.

Gall mentions his tendency to be under the ball and on the side of it, and how he felt and saw this issue.

He discusses the importance of creating leverage and staying on top of the ball for a true and angled pitch.

Zach explains how his pitch can appear to cut due to his slot, which can be deceptive to hitters.

Gall describes his curveball and how it has evolved, including the adjustments he made to regain depth.

He talks about the role of his index finger and how it was too involved in the release, affecting the pitch.

Zach explains his grip on the curveball, emphasizing stability without too much choke.

He compares his guide hand in throwing the curveball to shooting a basketball.

Gall discusses his changeup grip, which he likens to holding an egg without choking it.

He explains the evolution of his grip from throwing a two-seam fastball as a kid to his current method.

Zach describes the turning motion of his changeup, comparing it to turning a radio knob.

He mentions the term 'trophy change' used by some to describe his changeup grip.

Gall talks about the benefits of having his thumb in a specific position to help with pronation.

He discusses the importance of keeping the label of the ball in his hand to avoid giving hints to hitters.

Zach shares his thoughts on which pitch he feels most comfortable with, mentioning the changeup and fastball.

Gall emphasizes the importance of having a good feel for his curveball and using it as a reset pitch.

Transcripts

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BaseballInterviewPitchingZach GallenTechniquesInsightsMLBSportsCurveballChangeupFastballTraining