How to throw a cutter like Mariano Rivera

How to throw a cutter: Usually you hold it like a fastball. The grip is a little bit off of center. Throwing it is like a fastball, and right here at about the release point, turn over your wrist.

The idea is, it's got fastball rotation, and at about 59 feet, it cuts into a righthander for a lefthanded pitcher. For a righthanded pitcher it cuts into a lefthander.

Why is Mariano Rivera's cutter so good? Because it's so late and so quick, and the rotation has such good fastball rotation. It looks fastball to a hitter because you can't see the rotation.

Comments

[Will Marcal]

If that is how Mo throws his cut fastball why in the picture is he throwing it with a different grip

[Will Marcal]

If that is how Mo throws his cut fastball why in the picture is he throwing it with a different grip

[matt risoy]

maybe thats not a cutter

[JohnnyV]

the top picture is a different way to hold a cutter but the picture with Mo in it,is "his" way to throw his cutter

[Anthony]

yeahh i tried throwing this pitch holding the ball like the picture above, and it actully has good movement. it tails away nicely

[vijay pathak]

would the cutter move more if I added any pressure with my fingers?

[cmac]

mariano's grip is more like a regular fastball than a cutter, he just throws it so well that it breaks like a slider, yet goes 95mph.

[cubs guy]

i hold it like this and it gets a quick sharp movement
but when i hold it along the horseshoe it goes just as fast but it sweeps

[Esbar]

Once, I was trying to throw the four-seam fastball to my brother who was catching me, but what I threw was the cutter. Then I said: "Hey, that Mariano story IS true." Afterwards, I tried to throw the cutter and what I threw was the slider.