Intermediate
Drop Ball
A drop ball is a fast-pitch pitch thrown with topspin so it sinks sharply as it reaches the plate, inducing ground balls and swings over the top.
The mirror image of the rise ball, the drop uses forward spin to make the ball fall faster than gravity alone, diving out of the hitting zone late. It is a workhorse pitch for inducing weak grounders and double plays. Hitters counter it by staying on top of the ball and not committing early to its starting height.
Example
A drop ball starts belt-high and dives to the knees; the hitter swings over it and chops a grounder to short.
Related terms
- Rise BallA rise ball is a fast-pitch pitch thrown with backspin so it appears to climb as it nears the plate, tempting hitters to swing under it.
- WindmillThe windmill is the underhand fast-pitch delivery in which the arm makes a full circle before release, generating the velocity that defines the game.
- ChangeupA changeup is an off-speed pitch thrown with the same windmill motion as the fastball but much slower, disrupting the hitter’s timing so they swing early.
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