The Curveball

This is one of the most useful and used off-speed pitches in the game. The curveball excellent for putting batter off-balance and it keeps them guessing which pitch is going to be thrown next. In this post I will be discussing why the curveball is useful, when to use it, and of course how to throw. The curveball, as a pitcher is my favorite ball to throw, as a batter it is not as fun.

How to Hold

Similarly, to knuckle balls, there are a few different ways to throw curveballs. First, place your index and middle finger on the seams like so:

Then, place your thumb on top of the seams that are along the same seam, but is further down on the ball. This helps with stability when releasing. And then, just like many other pitches, curl your pinkie and ring fingre on the seams opposite of the index and middle. Make sure that these fingers are resting on top of the seam and not too much pressure is being used when placing them (Clark 50).

 

The Release

When releasing, do everything you would normally do to throw a fastball (Clark 51), except when releasing snap your arm (not too much or you can injure your arm) but just enough so that the ball rolls off your index finger and has top spin. This allows aerodynamics to take over and the seams on the ball act like wings and force the ball to drop at a steeper angle than a traditional fastball. When practicing, especially if you are a younger pitcher, don’t over use your arm especially with curveballs because when throwing can put stress on your UCL (tendon that is in your elbow) and damaging it can lead to the extreme case of Tommy John surgery.

Extra Tips:

With curveballs, I don’t suggest throwing them unless your arm is in good shape for pitching. Also just like with all the other pitches, practicing right before a game isn’t the best idea. I suggest practicing your throwing well before your first game, at least a couple of months to help build muscle memory and strengthen your arm beforehand.

 

Source:

Clark, Dave. Chicago: Ivan R. Dee, 2006. Print.

 

Knuckle Balls: The Knuckle Curve

The knuckle curve can arguably be one of the most difficult pitches to throw with perfection. There are also many types of ways to hold it, so today I will be attempting to demonstrate how to throw a fairly common holding of the pitch. The knuckle curve is a very difficult pitch to hit as a batter, not because of the movement from the ball, but the main reason is that the release makes it harder to see when its coming out of the pitcher’s hand. The purpose of the knuckle curve is to have the off-speed advantage of a traditional curve ball, but mixed with the unpredictable movement pattern of a traditional knuckle ball.
 

How to Hold

To hold this pitch, think it as holding a forkball, or split finger fastball (Clark 34). This helps with the first placement of your palm and middle finger. It is very important that when you are holding this pitch is to dig-in with your index finger knuckle and not your nail, which is different from most knuckle balls. Once your middle and index finger are placed on the ball, curl the remaining finger behind your middle finger. The placement of your thumb is crucial in order to release this pitch correctly (Clark 34). Place your thumb on the adjacent seams and cover the two seams that are closest together.

The Release

This is probably the hardest part of any pitch especially the knuckle curve since there is no definite way to release. The release can range dramatically from player to player. The way I would suggest to release it is to snap with your wrist and elbow, like a traditional curveball, and flick your index finger to prevent the ball from spinning, just like the floater.

 

Extra Tips

Just like with the floater, the best way to be able to throw this pitch is to practice the hold and release. I highly suggest trying different ways of releasing that fit your pitching and arm style.

Question: How can this help you pitching in a game?

 

Source:

Clark, Dave. Chicago: Ivan R. Dee, 2006. Print.