I am getting absolutely nothing from my traditional curveball. I throw from a 3/4 so it seems like I can never get on top. My hand stays on the side of the baseball and when I snap the wrist all it does is go from side to side, not down and away. This is useless however, because I already throw a cutter and 2 seam which go in opposite directions. cutter going away from righties and two seam into righties. I am just missing that "out" pitch that I can rely on. Any advice?
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Yes, master your change-up until you get a little older and more physically developed enough to start working on a slider. I think you'll find a quality change-up a better strike out pitch than your curve ball
Yes, master your change-up until you get a little older and more physically developed enough to start working on a slider. I think you'll find a quality change-up a better strike out pitch than your curve ball
Agree.
I'll agree with the change up thing as well. My son throws 3/4 and he does have a curveball that breaks away and down from righty hitters (he's a righty pitcher). Throwing from the 3/4 slot, the key is not to stay "on top" of the ball, but to stay "behind the ball". The other key with this pitch is not to supinate it, but to pronate it. If you don't know what that means, I'll explain. Hold your arm out in front of you with your thumb pointed straight up. Now turn your thumb away from your body, that is supinating. Turn your thumb towards your body, that is pronating.
So, if you hold the ball in your curveball grip, throw it like your fastball with a good strong pronation, keeping your fingers behind the ball you should be able to get some drop to the pitch.
Keep working on your changeup as well. This pitch will become super important as you get older.
Keep working on your changeup as well. This pitch will become super important as you get older.
Man, is that ever the truth!
Good advice here. Keep working hard!
There are a few different curveball, maybe a different grip will work better for you. As for the changeup, learn it and master it. My son spends most of his pitching workout on throwing his four-seam, two-seam, and changeup one after another for strikes and in any combination. The changeup is a deadly out pitch.
Young_Baller,
I know what you think you’re seeing, but what you think you’re seeing cannot be happening unless you’re the only person in the world who’s pitches defy the laws of physics. Every pitch, no matter how hard or what the rotation goes down because of gravity, so you’re not seeing a ball that doesn’t go down, but rather a ball that doesn’t go down enough to suit your tastes.
Don’t think a good breaking ball will curve 3’ due to ball rotation. If I remember correctly a baseball thrown by a very good ML quality pitcher will only break 17” max because of rotation. So how much break are you expecting to get?
I agree with others about the change up being a better choice of a pitch to master at this stage. The only thing I would add is that the change does not have to be a strike out pitch to be effective. Many a pitcher who can keep it low has had contact, and as a result gotten a grounder/double play. So if you can get it to fall off the table while keeping it low, you will have a very dependable pitch that will disrupt the hitter.
Agree with the others. You might try a "spiked grip" with your index finger spiked into the ball. This tends to force the hand up around the ball, it will feel unnatural for a while but it might help get more of a 12-6 movement on the ball.
Good Luck!
Young_Baller,
My son throws from a 3/4 arm slot as well and was having trouble getting his curveball to break consistently, his pitching coach told him to preset his wrist before his hand break and all he had to do was throw the ball and release. It worked well for him maybe it could work for you. His strike out pitch is the change up, so keep working on that too!
Agree with the others. You might try a "spiked grip" with your index finger spiked into the ball. This tends to force the hand up around the ball, it will feel unnatural for a while but it might help get more of a 12-6 movement on the ball.
Good Luck!
My 2013 LHP throws the spike CB. He's been told that it's a plus pitch and unhittable, definitely his out pitch. Still, his future DI pitching coach wants him to throw nothing but FB & C this summer.
I'll agree with the change up thing as well. My son throws 3/4 and he does have a curveball that breaks away and down from righty hitters (he's a righty pitcher). Throwing from the 3/4 slot, the key is not to stay "on top" of the ball, but to stay "behind the ball". The other key with this pitch is not to supinate it, but to pronate it. If you don't know what that means, I'll explain. Hold your arm out in front of you with your thumb pointed straight up. Now turn your thumb away from your body, that is supinating. Turn your thumb towards your body, that is pronating.
So, if you hold the ball in your curveball grip, throw it like your fastball with a good strong pronation, keeping your fingers behind the ball you should be able to get some drop to the pitch.
Keep working on your changeup as well. This pitch will become super important as you get older.
This was very helpful thanks. I'll make sure to try it thursday!
I agree with others about the change up being a better choice of a pitch to master at this stage. The only thing I would add is that the change does not have to be a strike out pitch to be effective. Many a pitcher who can keep it low has had contact, and as a result gotten a grounder/double play. So if you can get it to fall off the table while keeping it low, you will have a very dependable pitch that will disrupt the hitter.
The main thing my instructor has been stressing with me is keeping the ball down in the zone and making sure I'm finishing with every pitch. Me and my instructor just started working on a changeup today.
Young_Baller,
My son throws from a 3/4 arm slot as well and was having trouble getting his curveball to break consistently, his pitching coach told him to preset his wrist before his hand break and all he had to do was throw the ball and release. It worked well for him maybe it could work for you. His strike out pitch is the change up, so keep working on that too!
I will also try this Thursday, thanks
Agree with the others. You might try a "spiked grip" with your index finger spiked into the ball. This tends to force the hand up around the ball, it will feel unnatural for a while but it might help get more of a 12-6 movement on the ball.
Good Luck!
I have heard the spiked grip is not as good though. That it is easily picked up on by the hitter and slower then a traditional curveball. But I'll try this as well thanks!
I have heard the spiked grip is not as good though. That it is easily picked up on by the hitter and slower then a traditional curveball. But I'll try this as well thanks!
Spike curve is one of those pitches that is usually easy to see from the dugout but not so much from the box. Plenty of guys at the highest levels use it.
My son who recently pitched in the big leagues throws a spiked curve ball. His 2nd MLB strikeout was with that pitch...looking.
He began throwing it at Stanford...it worked better for him than a non-spiked curve ball. He started throwing it at the suggestion of a well regarded area scout.
I'm not trying to "sell it," but if it works for you...don't be afraid to throw it.
