What is "split-finger fastball"

alt. (context baseball English) A moderate rotation speed backspin pitch thrown with a ball gripped between the index finger and middle finger; it has good velocity, may have a precessing spin, and sinks as it approaches the plate. n. (context baseball English) A moderate rotation speed backspin pitch thrown with a ball gripped between the index finger and middle finger; it has good velocity, may have a precessing spin, and sinks as it approaches the plate.

A split-finger fastball or splitter is a pitch in baseball derived from the forkball. It is named after the technique of putting the index and middle finger on different sides of the ball, or "splitting" them. When thrown hard, it appears to be a fastball to the batter, but appears to the batter and observers to suddenly "drop off the table" towards home plate—that is, it appears to suddenly move downwards, towards the batter's knees. Despite the use of the word fastball, it is used as an off-speed pitch.