Editing Split-finger fastball (section)

==Purpose and technique==
The main purpose of the split-fingered pitch is for the pitcher to make the batter believe it will be a fastball in the strike zone. Then, at the last second, the pitch dips down, which causes the batter to either swing over the pitch or ground it weakly into the infield.<ref name="PlateCrateDeception">{{cite web |title=What is a Splitter Pitch in Baseball? |url=https://www.platecrate.com/blogs/baseball-101/what-is-a-splitter-pitch-in-baseball |website=PlateCrate |date=March 15, 2025 |access-date=May 24, 2025}}</ref><ref name="TuftsNow">{{cite web |title=How Do Curve Balls, Cutters, Sinkers, and Sweepers Work? |url=https://now.tufts.edu/2024/08/22/how-do-curve-balls-cutters-sinkers-and-sweepers-work |website=Tufts Now |date=August 22, 2024 |access-date=May 24, 2025}}</ref>

The split-finger grip is similar to the [[forkball]] grip. However, the forkball is held further back and wider between the fingers and is usually thrown with a wrist flip that makes it slower than the splitter.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ryan |first=Shane |title=Forkball: The Other Forgotten Pitch |url=https://grantland.com/the-triangle/forkball-the-other-forgotten-pitch/ |date=June 12, 2012| access-date=March 24, 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref> The split-finger is often recommended as an alternative to breaking pitches to young players because of its simplicity and the significantly reduced risk of injury.

An off-speed pitch, the splitter is generally thrown slower than the pitcher's fastball. According to [[PITCHf/x]], the average [[four-seam fastball]] from a right-handed pitcher in 2010 was 92&nbsp;mph, whereas the average splitter was 85&nbsp;mph and the average changeup 83&nbsp;mph.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.com/league-averages.php|title=League Average PITCHf/x Data – TexasLeaguers.com|publisher=Texas Leaguers|access-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref>

The motion of a split-finger pitch is similar to the outlawed [[spitball]] and at one time the pitch was known as the "dry spitter". When thrown, the pitcher must emphasize the downward pull of the pitch at the end of his motion.<ref name="FangraphsCraig">{{cite web |last=Jay |first=Jaffe |title=Remembering Roger Craig, Sage of the Split-Fingered Fastball (1930–2023) |url=https://blogs.fangraphs.com/remembering-roger-craig-guru-of-the-split-fingered-fastball-1930-2023/ |website=FanGraphs |date=June 6, 2023 |access-date=May 24, 2025}}</ref><ref name="PlateCrateMechanics">{{cite web |title=Who Invented the Split Finger Fastball: A Journey Through Its Origins |url=https://www.platecrate.com/blogs/baseball-101/who-invented-the-split-finger-fastball-a-journey-through-its-origins-and-impact |website=PlateCrate |date=March 15, 2025 |access-date=May 24, 2025}}</ref> Thrusting the hand and forearm downward causes reduced backspin relative to a fastball, thus giving the appearance of "drop off the table" movement from the pitch. When thrown correctly, the split-finger's apparent last-second drop causes many batters to hit the top half of the baseball, thereby inducing a ground ball.<ref name="PlateCratePhysics">{{cite web |title=How Does a Splitter Move: Understanding the Physics Behind the Pitch |url=https://www.platecrate.com/blogs/baseball-101/how-does-a-splitter-move-understanding-the-physics-behind-the-pitch |website=PlateCrate |date=March 15, 2025 |access-date=May 24, 2025}}</ref><ref name="TuftsNow">{{cite web |title=How Do Curve Balls, Cutters, Sinkers, and Sweepers Work? |url=https://now.tufts.edu/2024/08/22/how-do-curve-balls-cutters-sinkers-and-sweepers-work |website=Tufts Now |date=August 22, 2024 |access-date=May 24, 2025}}</ref> The split-finger fastball is a very effective pitch with runners on base; a common tactic is using the split-finger to cause the batter to hit into a double play. The disadvantage of using a splitter with runners on base is that the extreme downward trajectory of the pitch could land the ball into the dirt, and cause a wild pitch to advance the runners. So a pitcher must trust their catcher when throwing it.<ref name="FangraphsCruz">{{cite web |last=Clemens |first=Ben |title=Fernando Cruz’s Splitter Is Unhittable, but Batters Keep Trying |url=https://blogs.fangraphs.com/fernando-cruzs-splitter-is-unhittable-but-batters-keep-trying/ |website=FanGraphs |date=May 15, 2024 |access-date=May 24, 2025 |quote=Cruz’s splitter has a low zone rate and regularly ends up out of the strike zone, which makes it effective but also increases the risk of wild pitches.}}</ref><ref name="MLBWildPitch">{{cite web |title=Wild pitch |url=https://www.mlb.com/glossary/rules/wild-pitch |website=MLB.com |access-date=May 24, 2025 |quote=Defined as a pitch so errant the catcher cannot control it with ordinary effort, allowing runners to advance.}}</ref>