An SSW rise ball works by creating lower air pressure on the top of the ball. The most efficient way is to have the seams orientated so that with the proper release there is a lace just on the leading edge on the top of the ball for as long as possible. An example is using the Spin Visualization settings of 0, 0, 8:41 P. M., 64, 11:41 in the Spin Visualization Tool
Most college pitchers who throw good rise balls are doing it with SSW spin, even if they don't know how it actually works. Looking from a center field camera it might look like a gyro ball with the axis of rotation pointed towards the target. According the the Magnus effect there will be no break on the pitch. It can still be a very effective "rise ball" as if it thrown at 63 mph or faster the ball will still be traveling on the upward side of a parabola (the shape that gravity moves the ball) as it passing through the hitting zone.
Adding the SSW effect will allow the ball to carry the upward motion longer and possibly even overcome the force of gravity. SSW pitches have a pretty small window of being effective so lots of experimentation with grips and releases. Here's the basics on how to start working on it.
What needs to happen is that the long seam on the ball hugs the top horizon of the ball for as long as possible on each rotation. Take a careful look on the Spin Visualization Tool. Slow the spin rate down to about 200 or so. Look at it from the catcher's view and see a seam sitting right on the top of the ball for most of the ball's rotation. That creates the low air pressure on the top of the ball. There is no corresponding seam on the bottom of the ball. If there were it would neutralize the impact.
Speed up the spin rate to 2000 or so. The pattern of the laces will make a circle and the center of the circle is where the axis of rotation is. Note that looking from the pitcher's view the center of the circle is about 30 degrees below the center. That is the amount of leaning back that is needed to position the laces correctly.
This is pretty easy to see and many coaches are teaching that degree of tilt back on the gyro ball. But many coaches are also teaching the wrong grip to make the pitch work. The correct grip is to hold it like a 4 seam fastball. Use a ball that is striped for a 2 seam fastball and put the finger tips on the stripe. The release needs to get the fingers to release going sideways under the ball and get the fingers off of the ball without pulling up at the end.
If the ball is held like the traditional way of gripping the rise look on the Tool to see what that does to the placement of the seams. Changing the orientation top to 90 will simulate the same spin but with a typical rise ball grip. Note that there is no seam close to the top of the ball so there will be no SSW effect. There is also nothing to create Magnus effect so throwing the pitch this way will result in no break other than gravity.
There is a good example with Rachel Garcia throwing an SSW rise from the Fastpitch Online Academy. It's interesting to note that the term "SSW" is not mentioned and neither is the grip. If you stop the video you can see it. Also notice the location of the laces, a bit hard to see since they are just over the horizon in a great position to get the maximum SSW effect.
In teaching the rise ball understanding where the seams are located is key to helping students get it right. Using a system like Rapsodo is very helpful is measuring the spin axis (the setting of 0, 0, 8:41 P. M., 64, 11:41 shown above was taken directly from Rapsodo spin and tilt data) but it is very expensive and is well beyond my budget. Rapsodo also does not take into account what the grip is as it assumes that a Magnus pitch with 4 seams crossing the equator on each rotation. In the Magnus world that would produce the largest break.
As an approximation that I can see is using the SSW tracking dot. Using a standard 4 seam grip with the finger tips located on the stripe on a 2 seam fastball. For the SSW rose ball the SSW tracking dot should be very solid and stationary at a point about 30 degrees below center (from the pitcher's view) and somewhat to the glove side but not more that 45 degrees. If the dot moves in a circular pattern instead of being stationary the center of that circle is where the axis of rotation is. If there is a circular pattern to the dot the laces will not be stationary near the horizon of the ball and the SSW impact will be reduced. If the center of that circular pattern is in the correct spot the pitcher should then experiment with the grip by moving the fingertips off of the stripe a bit to get the dot to remain motionless.
When throwing the pitch the fingers need to cut off the bottom of the ball without pulling up at release. The Rachel Garcia clip makes a big point of that. If you pull up on the edge of the ball at release the dot will likely move to the right (for a RHP). This puts the spin direction in a way that as the seams pass over the top of the ball it will create a bit of Magnus effect that creates downward movement, obviously not ideal when trying to throw a rise. This can be the starting point for developing a SSW drop ball. If the dot is to the left of center then the laces going towards the target will be on the bottom of the ball adding some Magnus rise action.
