Throw a Knucklecurve
If you want to strike out batters with a curving pitch and you are not old enough to through a regular curve ball. This will let you through a curve with out arm damage. Some Pitchers that throw this include A.J. Burnett, Mike Mussina, and Gil Meche.
Steps
- Hold the ball like a curveball.
- Have index finger curled up and have the knuckle closest to the end of your finger touching one side of the seam; and middle finger flat on the other side of the seam.
- Throw the ball as if you were throwing a fastball.
- On Release, snap down over the top of the ball with your middle finger.
- When throwing, flick your index finger to get a good break.
Tips
- Also, for side-arm pitcher, dig fingernails into the seams you grip when throwing a two- seam fastball. This should hook and topple over, reacting as a slow-slider that also drops.
- Keeping your wrist back can reduce spin on the ball.
- Try a 2 seam fastball grip. Then slide your index knuckle to the outside of the left seam and your middle knuckle to the inside of the left seam. Then rotate your wrist slightly downwards when you release for the ball to drop or backwards for it to "knuckle".
- A knuckle curve can also be thrown with both fingers tucked and thrown overhand like a fastball. This knuckle curve is faster(around 80mph)and acts like a 12-6 curveball. Remember to keep fingers together. This version is much more accurate and easy to throw.
- For a more dramatic break, try putting your index finger under the ball, with your middle finger on the seam. Throw it just like a curveball. I call this a "deep knuckle curve" because of the deep break. This version may hurt your index finger, but it's nothing serious. Also, try throwing it towards the batter. It will break down the middle and they will be handcuffed.
