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A two-seam fastball is a pitch in baseball and a variant of the straight fastball. It is similar to the sinker. The pitch has the speed of a fastball, but the general movement of a screwball.

[edit] Throwing mechanics

The pitcher grabs a baseball and finds the area on it where the seams are closest together. Then, the baseball is thrown like a 4 seam fastball, with the index and middle fingers on each of those seams. The fingers can also be placed across the two seams.

Each finger should be touching the seam from the closest to the palm of each finger. The thumb should rest underneath the ball in between the index and middle fingers, finding the apex of the horseshoe part of the seam. The thumb needs to rest on that seam from the side to the middle of its pad.

[edit] Effectiveness

The two-seam fastball is designed to have more movement than a four-seam fastball, but can be more difficult to master and control. This pitch will sink down and in depending on the dominant throwing side of the pitcher--right-handed pitchers will sink down and to the right, left-handed pitchers will sink down and to the left. This ball will tend to move for the pitcher depending on velocity, arm slot angle and pressure points of the fingers.

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