BREAKING PITCH
The Mechanics of a Breaking Pitch
Does a curveball really curve, or is it just an illusion? Finally, the definitive answer.
BY JIM KAAT
Published in the April 1997 issue of Popular Mechanics.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/sports/1283161.html?page=1
CURVEBALL:
Physics of a Curveball. A Popular Mechanics Article.
Published in the April 1997 issue of Popular Mechanics.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/sports/1283161.html?page=4
Roundhouse Curve
The curveball, when thrown in the right part of the count or to the right batter, can be a very effective pitch. However, unlike other pitches, the grip isn’t as critical as the pressure points are.
I teach my kids to emphasize more on their finger pressure than where their fingers are. The only thing that I require is that both their middle finger and thumb is on a seam. From there, I do make some suggestions. Let me explain:
Getting a grip
Let's begin with what I believe are the two best grips, although I don’t force my kids to use them. First is the 4-Seam grip curve ball. Take a look at the 4-Seam Fastball tip if you don’t remember it.
Assuming you are right handed, you need to grip the ball so that the horseshoe seam’s apex is pointing toward the outside of your hand. Then what you do is rotate the ball clockwise until your thumb finds the apex of the bottom horseshoe seam. So now the pads of your index, middle and thumb should be on a seam.
The second variation of the curveball is as follows. Get a ball and put it in front of you so that the horseshoe’s apex is pointing away from you. Now put your middle finger on the right seam (assuming you are a right-handed pitcher) that leads up to the horseshoe’s apex, or just to the inside so that from the middle to the outside of your finger is touching the seam.
Rest your index finger just next to your middle finger. Your thumb will now go directly underneath the ball below your middle finger and it should find the opposite seam of the other horseshoe.
Those are the two grips that I teach young kids, but as they get older I don’t mind what grip they use, just as long as they have a seam on their middle finger and thumb. What is most critical is the technique and mechanics of the body.
How to throw it:
The arm slot and the position of the ball with respect to the wrist are the two elemental things needed to have a great curveball.
When the ball is in that particular arm slot, the position of your wrist, which will affect the ball, must be correct. The wrist must be rotated so that the ball and your fingers are pointed at your ear. As your arm comes through the slot and begins to release the baseball, the ball will roll over your index finger and create a downward spin.
You may hear some coaches talk about having a snap of the finger and thumb action to create more spin. This can be done but it is difficult with some athletes because they don’t quite understand where to snap and also may misinterpret the timing of the whole thing. If your arm action is correct as well as your wrist placement, you may not even need the snap of your fingers.
Now this particular curveball is a down breaking curve. I just teach our kids to straighten out the wrist a little to create more of a roundhouse curve. However, you can get into trouble with a flat curve because it stays on the same plane and is easy to hit.
Throwing the Curveball
Throwing a curve is based on the idea that as speed increases, pressure decreases. The more seams that spin in the direction of the pitch, the greater the resistance placed on the rotation and the more the pitch will curve. This explains why a lot of young pitchers get into trouble by overthrowing the curveball. You don’t have to throw it hard to get it to break; it breaks because of the rotation you put on it by gripping it across the seams.
To throw a curveball, all you have to do is set your forearm, wrist, and fingers in a karate chop-type position and rotate your fingertips over the top of the seams to get the ball to break. Your middle finger is placed next to the seam, the index finger provides support while the thumb is placed underneath to get the most rotation at release point. Your arm speed is the same as the fastball; the difference is that you’re putting rotation over the top of the baseball instead of applying force through the center of the baseball.
High velocity and the curveball don’t mix. That’s a given. But you can’t throw an effective curve unless your elbow is at shoulder height and your shoulder, elbow, and foream form a 90 degree angle as the arm accelerates. An elbow at shoulder height provides you with adequate leverage to get that roatation over the top of the ball while minimizing the strain on your elbow.
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CHANGE UP
Once known as the Change of Pace. This pitch is designed to throw the hitter’s timing off.
As someone once said, there are as many changeups as there are pitchers. And that is true. However, if you don’t have a preference, try holding the ball the way you hold a two seam fastball, allow your ring finger to come up on the side of the ball on one side, while bringing your thumb up to the other side. The next thing to do is to tuck the ball deeper in your hand than you do when you are throwing a fastball.
Finally, and this is important, lift your index and middle finger off the ball. At the same time, tuck the ball deeper in your hand than you do a fastball. Tucking the ball back in your hand will cause you to hold onto the ball a bit longer,
Remember, there are many ways to throw the ChangeUp. In fact, it is said that there are as many ChangeUp’s as there are pitchers. This is one version. It may or may not be for you. But if you try it and it works for you, then it just might be your pitch. (This version recommended by Mel Stottlemyre)
Your Change Up is your Most Effective Weapon
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Your changup is your most effective weapon against hitters.
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It must be 10-12 mph slower than your fastball
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Show them fastball arm speed and they will swing at a fastball.
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Your grip will do 100% of the job of slowing down the ball.
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Throw it hard and down the middle of the plate.
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A straight change is excellent, as long as the ball spins and looks like a fastball.
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Repeat: Arm speed fools hitters.
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Repeat: Arm speed fools the hitters.
"Hitting it about timing. Good pitching upsets a hitters timing."
—Warren Spahn
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FASTBALL: The Four Seam Fastball
The four seam fastball is the most basic pitch
The name comes from the view of the four parallel seams spinning toward the batter.
Upon leaving the pitcher’s hand, the ball rotates backward, toward the pitcher.
When thrown properly, it travels in a straight line toward the batter.
Your index and middle finger are placed on the wide seams, on top of the ball, with the thumb directly under the ball in the center.
A loose grip is absolutely essential when throwing this pitch. This enables the pitcher to get the maximum backspin on the ball at release. Loose grip means less friction. Less friction means a faster pitch.
One-seam Sinking Fastball
Place the middle finger onto the middle of a seam directing it toward the catcher. It is a fastball, so throw it like a fastball, pulling down and driving all your energy through the center of the ball. As it moves over the plate, and just as the batter thinks he has it squared up, it will sink just enough so that the batter will top the ball and hit it into the ground. It is a great pitch for when you need a double play. (Recommended by Jamie Moyer)
Two-seam Fastball
As a supplement to the two-seam fastball, just run your middle finger all the way down the front seam. As you can see in the illustration, the seam is pointing at the hitter, the wrist is slightly turned with the seam. Throw this ball low, knee level, on the inside part of the plate, and watch it ride in toward the hitter. It you place it in the right spot, there is not much more the hitter can do with it but foul it off. It also discourages hitters getting too comfortable with leaning over the plate. Now that you have him backed off, you can get your wanted results on the other side of the plate. (This version recommended by Mel Stottlemyre)
- Grip
- One of the best grips for the sinker-ball is to hold the ball with the two fingers close together inside the point where the seams narrow.
- The grip will have slightly firmer finger pressure, and the ball held a little deeper in the hand than on a 4 Seam fastball.
- The ball should be slightly unbalanced by off-centering the ball toward the ring finger and applying more pressure to the first finger pad.
- The thumb position – two methods:
- The thumb is under the ball resting on a seam on the inside bony surface of the 1 st joint. Upon release, the thumb is slightly pulled under the ball, creating a side to over-spin (almost 5 o’clock spin from a RHP).
- For pitchers with large hands and long fingers, some prefer to flex the thumb back under the ball more to get the ball down and over the thumb quicker
- Release
- As the arm and hand come to the release point, the wrist is slightly turned outward (early pronation)
- There is a little more first finger pressure as the fingers come over and down through the inside of the ball.
- The thumb pulls outward slightly and under the ball. Remember, the ball is already off-centered a little to the ring finger.
- The wrist is flexed down and outward slightly. The wrist will not be as loose as on a normal fast ball.
NOTE: If the pitcher has to pre-pronate the elbow or shoulder joint to impart this rotation and action, he will add stress to these joints and wrist arm injury. If the pitcher cannot generate the proper ball rotation by using only finger pressure and early wrist pronation, I would recommend he not throw the sinker, or screw ball.
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