Pulling the String

The game of baseball is all about making adjustments.

As a pitcher, you must be able to keep hitters guessing. Having a repertoire of pitches to compliment your fastball is an important skill to possess.

A curve ball is an off speed pitch that can be used to "fool" hitters and get them out. Throwing the deuce is not a simple feat, it takes practice but if thrown effectively it can form a deadly combination with your fastball.

Pitchers like Barry Zito and David Wells have made a living off of throwing their curve ball along with their average fastball.

To throw a curve ball it is all about the grip. Using the seams of the baseball to torque the ball and make it spin.

First, when you pick up the ball hold it with your first and second fingers together along the seam. On the ball the seams form "horse shoe" shapes, hold the ball on top of one of the "horse shoes". If you throw a four seam fastball (where you grip the ball across the "horse shoe"), hold the ball on top of the seam and use more pressure on your second finger to make the ball spin.

When you go into your throwing motion, throw the ball using the grip mentioned above and turn your wrist so your pinky finger is lined up straight down your arm to your elbow. When you throw a fastball the bottom of your wrist is facing toward your target, with a curve ball your pinky is lined up with your wrist and elbow and they are pointed toward your target.

As you throw the ball turn your wrist and torque the ball so your second finger applies pressure to the seam. This action will cause the ball to spin and the spinning action is what causes the break.

Depending on how hard you throw the ball will determine how much the ball bites. A hard curve ball is more like a slider in that it goes side to side as opposed to up to down.

Make sure that after you throw the ball you are in a good fielding position and you are balanced, not falling off to the side. Use your legs to push off the rubber and drive the ball.

It is important to make your curveball appear to be the same as your fastball meaning that your arm speed should be similar and not slower for the curve ball and faster when you throw your fastball.

This takes a lot of practice and repititon to learn the motion but once you master it you will be unhittable.