How can you tell if a pitcher is tipping pitches?

[Godzilla039]

Something I've always wondered ..

.. does the batter or infielders notice something specific?? What happens?

[sunshinekids99]

There are a lot of ways a guy can tip his pitches.

-The way he moves the ball in his glove. If he's trying to grip a splitter, curve, etc he could take longer than he would with his fastball.

- Slowing down his delivery can mean an offspeed pitch.

- Sometimes where the pitcher holds his glove can give away a pitch.

And of course some pitchers will play around to try and mess with the batter. The better guys get of course the harder it is harder to see any tipping.

[Jersey Generals]

The best way to not tip your pitches is to have multiple arm angles that you throw the ball, have multiple deliveries/motions/wind-ups, and hide the ball during your delivery. Juan Marichal was the biggest proponent of the multiple arm angles, if I recall correctly. I'm pretty sure he changed from side arm to 3/4ths to overarm during the game like it was chewing gum.

Edit: If you have never seen Marichal or Luis Tiant, perhaps a name you would know is El Duque/Orlando Hernandez...he changed arm slots, too. A high leg kick also prevents tipping your pitches by hiding the ball.