I can get a knuck over the plate but I am not sure if I should try it in a game? If so, how many times can I use it without overdoing it and keeping its deceptivness and surpise?
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Why throw a knuckleball? Do you throw a changeup? Just for fun, try naming 10 successful knuckleball pitchers..... now that you're stumped, make it easy. Name 10 successful fastball/changeup/curve pitchers.
Some may disagree, but the Knuckler is a junk pitch. Master the basics, spot your fastball, change speeds, and you have a shot to win.
Some may disagree, but the Knuckler is a junk pitch. Master the basics, spot your fastball, change speeds, and you have a shot to win.
I would stay away from throwing it in a game. As a hitter i like to hit off of pitchers that throw a knuckleball, it is really easy to pick up. It is really easy to hit in my opinion.
I think it really depends on just how nasty of a knuckleball it is.
If it is just sitting there... not rotating.. it looks like meat!
If it really does dance, and the batter can't pick t up early, it can be a useful offspeed weopon at certain levels.
If it is just sitting there... not rotating.. it looks like meat!
If it really does dance, and the batter can't pick t up early, it can be a useful offspeed weopon at certain levels.
I have one pitcher at my school who can throw his knuckleball in a game. I will only call it once, maybe twice per start, and that's only with a lead, after he shakes everything else, and I make a quick trip to talk to him. Why? Because it doesn't dance the same way every time. He'll use it in place of a changeup. Now sometimes it dances and drops off the table to make a batter look silly, but sometimes it does nothing and is fatter than a waist high changeup, and gets smoked. Not worth it if you ask me.