Does anybody have any good tips on throwing/learning the knuckelball? I would really like to learn a good one, as we all know a good knuckelball can be very effective.
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I would recommend a circle change or three finger change. A knuckleball is thrown differently than a fastball & it is hard to master.
The three finger and circle changes are thrown with exactly the same mechanics (arm slot, arm velocity, etc.) as the fastball, only the grip changes. Thus they are very deceptive. And they are easier to master.
The three finger and circle changes are thrown with exactly the same mechanics (arm slot, arm velocity, etc.) as the fastball, only the grip changes. Thus they are very deceptive. And they are easier to master.
My son throws a KB that floats and cuts at the end. It is a pushing motion and has no rotation.
He was throwing it for a couple innings and was unhittable . The General manager saw it and blew his top at the coach. You do not develop your arm with a KB. It is a very effective pitch but if you are still developing I would stay away from it.
He was throwing it for a couple innings and was unhittable . The General manager saw it and blew his top at the coach. You do not develop your arm with a KB. It is a very effective pitch but if you are still developing I would stay away from it.
rhbaseball,
I also used to think that being tricky with all these different types of pitches would make me more effective. It doesn't actually work like that; work on a 2 seam, 4 seam fastball and change and maybe a curve. Even at the college level it seems as though that that is all one needs to be sucsessfull, and you might not even need four pitches.
I also used to think that being tricky with all these different types of pitches would make me more effective. It doesn't actually work like that; work on a 2 seam, 4 seam fastball and change and maybe a curve. Even at the college level it seems as though that that is all one needs to be sucsessfull, and you might not even need four pitches.
Yeah right now all I work on is my 4 seam, 2 seam and two change ups (circle change and palm ball), I'm just a little eager to explore trying to through considering all my teammates have been trying the past few months.
There are two keys to throwing a knuckleball.
1. Releasing it without any spin. Different pitchers achieve this in different ways. Here's a link to a good place to start...
- Knuckleball 101
2. Releasing it at the right speed. You have to throw it at just the right speed -- which is neither too fast nor too slow -- for it to knuckle.
1. Releasing it without any spin. Different pitchers achieve this in different ways. Here's a link to a good place to start...
- Knuckleball 101
2. Releasing it at the right speed. You have to throw it at just the right speed -- which is neither too fast nor too slow -- for it to knuckle.
I just bought the book "KnuckleBook". It's pretty interesting and just $20.
Perfect book for ........
Naaahhhhhh. Can't do it. Like shooting fish in a barrel.
Naaahhhhhh. Can't do it. Like shooting fish in a barrel.
A knuckleball has traditionally been a pitch picked up buy pitchers whose career may be on the decline or have had an injury or they were just exceptional at throwing it. I don't know of too many scouts that look for it and if it is a good pitch, at lower levels it would be difficult to catch. If you've got a good 2 and 4 seamer and a change, you're on your way. A good hammer would only enhance the reportoire.
