30
Oct 10
How To Throw A Curveball?
Here’s the weekend question:
Teach me How To Throw A Curveball.
You’re the coach…how do you throw it?
Your lesson can be as long or short as you’d like
Also, check out this month’s Bonus
at http://www.90mhpClubBonus.com
Curveball advice:
Please learn a fastball and a change-up FIRST and fall in love with the curve at about 14 or 15 years old.
1. significant effort to get the fingers on top during the last part of the ‘bullwhip’ (usually by thinking shorter arm arc and/or slightly shorter stride)
2. lead with the side of the hand (similar to a karate chop direction) ; but turn the hand as late as possible. Turning the hand early helps beginners learn to throw a curve, but it softens the break.
3. arm extension is a bad thing – think closer to the ear… ear to ball separation is a hanging curve at best; and, at worst, is an injury waiting to happen because the thumb is probably going outward
4. check the follow thru: palm up and arm across the body toward the opposite hip is not good
Hi Bart.
>…
“4. check the follow thru: palm up and arm across the body toward the opposite hip is not good”
What is good?
Don;t throw one, 10yo, not sure ever will , nobody can hit my cutter so whats the point to put my arm through that
perfect answer
Let’s see how “unhittable” that cutter is when you play at a higher level. (Unless you are secretly Mariano Rivera, in which case it is unhittable).
Ok well about that i am pretty sure i can hit it and i suck at hitting plus a curveball is more effective than a cutter and plus ur 10 so unless your a prospect already for the majors then anyone can hit u
I believe the way to throw a curveball is to find the correct curveball grip, get into your wind-up and throw a karate chop/pull the lamp shade cord when you throw it and aim low in the strike zone.
You need to remember that a karate chop could be seen to the hitter as a different arm slot. Unless the pitcher throws their fastball with a karate chop motion it may be seen as a different pitch to a hitter who will sooner or later pick up on that.
First thing you have to learn is how to spin the ball out of your hand. Using two fingers, like snapping your middle finger and thumb together, spin the ball upward.
Second thing is grip. I like for my pithcers to use their middle finger along the side of the “C” or “Horseshoe” part of the ball. Thumb is place on opposite end of the ball along the lace. There should be a some space between the ball and your palm.
Third thing is position of your fingers and hand. Your hand should be in a karate chop position when your hand is positioned next to your ear. As you rotate your body towards the glove and your hand is out in front of your body, you cock your wrist inward towards your body and pull down and in with your middle finger. The position of the hand should be the palm faces inward towards your body as you release the ball. The key to great rotation or late break is pulling the middle finger inward and down on release.
This position protects the elbow. All the stress is on the inner forearm muscles.
The curve ball is thrown with the shoulder blade and the hip. The big misnomer is that you flick the wrist (nothing could be more wrong). With fingers on top of the ball and the thumb underneath you can use the 12 to 6 delivery or slightly drop arm to right (on right handed pitchers) in the 1 to 7 position. Slightly raising hip as you reach release point.
Huh? Which hip? Shoulder blade?
Explain this to me: Sometime the ball curves when I am not even trying to make it curve. I just throw a fast ball and the spin is a little tipped like hitting a draw in golf. Then, when I try to throw a curve, it does not curve in the least. What gives?
You are possibly gripping the ball the wrong way or using the wrong wrist and fore-arm angles.
I suggest you check out the Pitching Academy.
http://www.thepitchingacademy.com
They have different pitching grip videos and a pitching ebook that you can download for free.
Their pitching advice is great, like Mr. Reddicks’.
Their videos are very informative and helpful.
Good luck!
the curveball is over rated,,, throw a cutter with finger pressure,,, then fastball and changeup,,, learn some control first then throw the curve in college,,,save the kids elbow for things later in life,,, seen to many coaches wreck arms with the curve
put 2 fingers against the laces, put more pressure on the middle finger and rearback and throw with same arm speed and mechanics, i loopy curve is good til ur 15. @ken, ur 10 not many kids can hit anything
put 2 fingers against the laces, put more pressure on the middle finger and rearback and throw with same arm speed and mechanics as a fastball, i loopy curve is good til ur 15. @ken, ur 10 not many kids can hit anything
I personally use a slider grip to also throw the curveball. Using the elbow to the fingers part of the arm is the best way to get curveball action. You snap near the ear as close to the body as you can and find the right release point. The best way to follow through would be thinking that your arm follows a path to the hip side opposite of the arm you throw with. Don’t forget to release the ball about when your fingers are facing the catcher because the ball gains top spin giving you the curveball action.
The action across to the opposite side hip will not give you a 12-6 but a ball that fades slightly depending on which arm you throw with. 11:30-5:30 for a lefty and 12:30-6:30 for a righty also slightly due to the slider grip.
There are many different grips and arm angles that will give you what you are looking for. Just like your windup find what works best, The trick is WHEN to throw it. Dont just use it for strike outs. Meaning; Throw it as your first or second pitch sometimes. Hitters not only key on your release but also when you tend to throw certain pitches. The best curve balls get knocked out of the park just as easy if the hitter knows its coming.
I hold my fingers right between the seems and follow threw with a choping motion. My main pitch was my curveball last year and had a 1.92 era in the OK Red in michigan
There are lots of ways to explain how to throw a curve, as evidenced by the previous comments. But the one thing, in my opinion, that the pitcher must do is to NOT leave his arm “up here” when he releases the ball but must pull his arm all the way through from “up here to down there” in order to get the ball to break along the arc that the arm takes in delivering the ball.
No “pull through” allows good spin on the ball but the ball doesn’t break, it’s just a spinning off-spead hanging straight pitch begging to be pounded by the batter – if it’s in the strike zone.
Grip the ball with its traditional grip..C Shaped grip along the horseshoe
And do a karate chop..depending on your release point is the way your curveball’s movement or flight path will be..If you release in front you’ll have a 1-7 movement..if you release more to the back you’ll get a 12-6 movement and such..
How to Grip a Curveball:
Gripping a curveball is simple. Place your thumb on the bottom seam of the baseball and then place your middle finger directly above your thumb; splitting the baseball in half with thumb and middle finger. Your index finger is placed right next to your middle finger. Make sure your index finger applies no pressure on the ball. When you start throwing the curveball you can experiment how tight you want to grip the ball. If your grip is too tight the ball can “squirt” on you or it will not make it across the plate. If your grip it too loose you will lose complete control and the ball won’t even know where it will go. Thumb and middle fingers are the only two fingers that apply pressure on the baseball.
How To Throw a Curveball:
One of the biggest issues pitchers have when they begin throwing a curve is changing their fastball mechanics. Don’t! Throw the curveball, or any other pitch, using the same arm slot and arm speed as your fastball. The only thing that changes is wrist and forearm angle. With the curveball your wrist and forearm angle look like a “karate chop”. To get an effective rotation on the ball, released the ball late. The curve will squirt or hang when you release it early or you don’t keep your glove in front of you at release. I explain this in greater detail in the you tube video below.
Curveball Mysteries Unveiled
There are many myths about how a pitcher should throw a curveball. Most of the methods I will bring up on this article actually work; but at the expense of a shorter career and an unhealthy arm. If you are serious about pitching for a long time avoid throwing a curveball using any one of these methods.
A) Wrap the curve: This is when you throw the ball with a bent wrist. It is called wrapping the curveball. There is a reason why coaches like to teach this method to pitcher’s; it works! The problems arise when a pitcher complains of sharp and deep elbow pain. Throwing a curveball like this is also a hit and a miss with your control. Some days you’ll find the strike zone with it and others you won’t. The overall issue I have with it is that is unhealthy to throw like this.
B) Twist or snap your wrist: If you twist your wrist right before release of the baseball you will experience elbow problems in the long run. In fact, you will know that it is wrong to throw the ball like this to begin with because your arm will tell you it’s wrong. Why do pitcher’s continue to throw like this? Again, this method works for some pitcher’s because it does impart rotation on the ball. The wrong rotation, but pitchers find success with it so they continue to use it.
C) Throwing the Curveball over the top: In no way, shape or form do you want to change your natural arm slot to throw another pitch.
A curveball is just like any other pitch you are going to throw. The only way it can be effective is if you get your arm to the proper release point. The only difference between your fastball and your curveball mechanically is the grip you hold and the position your hand will be in at the point of release. Here are a few hints:
1. Think fastball. The last thing you want to do is slow down your arm and make the pitch obvious to the hitter. The harder you throw it, the sharper the break will be and the harder it will be to hit.
2. Hold the ball as if you are throwing a two seam fastball and slide your fingers to the outside of the ball. (To the left for a left hander and to the right if you are a right hander)
3. Just before releasing the ball turn your wrist pointing your middle finger towards your inner ear. This will allow you to get the seams to in the proper position to get the desired rotation.
4. ALWAYS release the ball in the same arm slot as your other pitches. This is to disguise the pitch, throwing the hitter off balance.
5. Hold the baseball with the same amount of force as your fastball and change up or slider. The harder you choke the ball the more chance it has of breaking too hard too quick and you will never be able to throw it for a strike.
6. Don’t worry about the break on your pitch. Throw the pitch with the proper mechanics and the movement will come in good time. Don’t get in to bad habits to try and make the ball move 6 feet.
7. And finally, BE CONFIDENT! Know you can throw it for a strike whenever you want too, no matter what the count is.
Mike Laird-
Great curveball advice in your comment.
Keep it up!
There are so many different ways to throw a curve ball.that it would take volumes. Becasue everybody is different one way does not work for everyone. My son could not throw a curve where you get the ball high, show your bicep, and come through by the ear and down like a 12-6 curve ball.
When i was young they taught curve balls like throwing a fast ball and then snapping your finbgers. Today it is referred to as a slurve as it is somewhat like a slider and a curve at the same time. Myson throw this very well for a first pitch strike 12-6 and then can also throw it 2-9.
I taught him a knuckle curve that has a huge break but he has no confidence in it so he doesn’t use it…sad.
Many young kids throw the old football curve keeping the wrist straight and coming down the side..cool for a kid.
I teach fast ball, changeup. When the kids ghet proficient enough I will show them a cut fast ball. That little2: break a cutter has at the end offers a new world for getting batters to miss or hit a lazy infield grounder.
Here’s how I would teach the curveball if I were a coach:
First, the ball would be held with the rounded end of the horseshoe pointing almost back toward your arm.
Your middle finger should rest on the top seam of the ball,
and your thumb should be on the opposite seam (this “cuts” the ball in half). Your index finger should rest lightly, next to your middle finger. The curveball should be thrown “arm angle” as your other pitches. However, in order to avoid injury-prone arm angles (or “snapping the wrist”, bending the arm, etc.), you should pull this pitch from your glove so that the palm of your hand is facing you.
When you deliver the curveball in this way to home plate, your arm naturally comes to the right angle.
On the follow-thru, your arm should rest against the opposite hip of your throwing arm.
A few pointers: do not in any way change your arm slot!
do not bend or snap your arm or wrist at all!
Work with different grips and use the one that works best for you.
Good luck!
P.S.
Never place your index finger on the top seam.
Always “cut the ball in half” with your middle finger and thumb.
The pressure on the ball should come from these two fingers.
Why do you “cut the ball in half”?
Does it give it more movement?
This is kind of a well not tricky question but one that is kind of hard to answer in writing. But lets give it a shot. I never teach a younger pitcher how to throw a curveball unless it is a knuckle curve. Kid should in my opinion should learn a 4 seam fastball both 2 seam fastballs and a change up before they ever think about a curveball. heck if a kid has good enough accuracy with his 4 seamer and a nice moving 2 seamer he may not have to learn how to throw a curveball until the next level.To me changing speeds and pitch location are great. Ok how i teach a kid who is old enough and phisically mature enough is holding your pointer and middle on the inside 2 seams to push off of with your fingers thumb pointing straight up inside the the U of the four seam. Same exact delivery your pointer and middle fingers on top of the ball and DO NOT CHANGE YOUR ARM SLOT and let it roll out of your hand. The only thing that should be changed is the grip of the ball. One of the posts earlier talked about pulling a lampshade. Ibelieve in that saying 100%. I hope i explained it good enough. BUT I CANT STRESS ENOUGH NOT TO TEACH THE SNAPPING OF THE WRIST at a young age. GOOD LUCK
I like to think of throwing my curve as pulling down a window shade.
Do you pull your arm down to the side, or straight in front of you?
I believe that a curveball is the third most important pitch to master.
Fastball, change-up, and then curveball.
“pulling a lampshade”
Why would anyone pull a lampshade?
darin-
to make the light dimmer.
darin- it gives the ball the right movement, without harming the arm as much.
The way to learn the right curveball grip for yourself, is to practice, practice, practice!
Throwing a curveball can be hard but you have to work on the spin of the fingers. use the snapping technique and it will help alot, Experiment mine breaks late and i can make it brake striaght down or more of a slider brake. Just need to work on it
I believe in the Leo Mazzone teach. After the player has found his grip, I teach throw- turn- pull. Leo has had great success with his method. Leo was a disciple of the great Johnny Sain.