Cut fastball: Difference between revisions

In [[baseball]], a '''cut fastball''' or '''cutter''' is a type of [[fastball]] that breaks toward the [[pitcher]]'s glove-hand side, as it reaches [[home plate]].<ref name=ThisIsGameChanger>{{cite web|first=Albert|last=Chen|title=This Is The Game Changer|date=June 13, 2011|work=[[Sports Illustrated]]|url=https://www.si.com/vault/2011/06/13/106077823/this-is-the-game-changer|accessdate=2015-08-01}}</ref> This pitch is somewhere between a [[Slider (baseball)|slider]] and a [[four-seam fastball]], as it is usually thrown faster than a slider but with more motionmovement than a typical fastball.<ref name=ThisIsGameChanger/> Some pitchers use a cutter to prevent hitters from expecting their regular fastballs. A common technique for throwing a cutter is to use a four-seam fastball grip with the baseball set slightly off center in the hand.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.thecompletepitcher.com/pitching_grips.htm | title = Pitching Grips | publisher = TheCompletePitcher.com | first = Steven | last = Ellis | authorlink = Steven Ellis (baseball)}}</ref> A batter hitting a cutter pitch often achieves only soft contact and an easy out due to the pitch's movement keeping the ball away from the bat's [[Sweet spot (sports)|sweet spot]]. The cutter is typically 2–5&nbsp;mph slower than a pitcher's four-seam fastball. In 2010, the average pitch classified as a cutter by [[PITCHf/x]] thrown by a right-handed pitcher was 88.6&nbsp;mph; the average two-seamer was 90.97&nbsp;mph.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.com/league-averages.php|title=League Average PITCHf/x Data – TexasLeaguers.com|publisher=Texas Leaguers|accessdate=29 May 2012}}</ref>