What is the difference between a curve ball and a slider?

Answer 1

A curve is thrown with the index finger and middle finger with the ball spinning of the middle finger. It will break right to left as it approaches the batter, usually on an even plane. You snap your wrist as you release the ball with the middle finger spinning the ball, usually gripped with the middle finger on the seam.
A slider is thrown more with a football release with the same two fingers with a downward motion release. ( often described as pulling down a window shade). A slider will break down with a slight right to left movement. The ball will spin where the batter can see a red dot where the seams are spinning. Both are off speed pitches, ( slower than a fast ball) with the curve ball being thrown at a slower mph.
Note. If you are young and planning on pitching this both can be tough on a developing arm. As a coach and teacher I would suggest staying away from them until at least you are a teenager. Make sure you throw the curve straight over the shoulder while a slider has a little lower angle for release. I tore my rotator cuff throwing sliders at batting practice so be careful.

Answer 2

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Speed is the real difference between a curve ball, slider, and a hard slider. The harder you through a curve the less break you will get with the pitch. You need to snap these pitches off with your wrist which can hurt a developing arm in kids. Screw ball is even worse because you snap the wrist in the opposite direction. Change ups, fork balls, and splitters have the arm motion of a fast ball but do to the grip they will lose velocity and become an off speed pitch to fool the batter.

Answer 3

A curve is slower than a slider and has more of a up to down break. Think of a clock. Anywhere from 12-6 to like 2-8 is a curveball break. Sliders usually slide across the plate in more of a side to side sweeping action.. However they do more or less curve down at the end as well.. it all depends on the arm angle of the pitcher and what side of the plate the batter is standing on. Natural leftys are usually better low ball hitters so its usually better to throw sliders (if pitcher is a righty) for trying to get a strike and throw curves only to try and get him to chase.

Answer 4

The grip, the spin and the break.

For a batter, a curve ball will come in looking as though a bite has been taken out of it, while a slider will have a red dot in the middle. The smaller the dot, the harder the slider.

Apparently, duff0660 has never seen a roundhouse curve (Mike Flanagan had a very good one) or Juan Guzman's slider, which looked like a forkball.

Answer 5

A curve ball goes down and a slider goes across

Answer 6

Generally speaking, sliders are more of a hard sweeping pitch which can, and often does, break across the plate. It can be thrown starting outside and catching the outside corner as it breaks"back-door slider".


Curveball, see Barry Zito. That man throws the nastiest curve ive seen. It seems to start around chin height, and then falls off the table,or break straight down; AKA 12-6 curve. Absolutely awesome pitch if set-up with some high heat.

Answer 7

The easy way to answer this is to tell you that a curve ball breaks down and in to a hitter. A slider breaks down and away from a hitter...The velocity on both pitches is different...The curve ball is thrown with less velocity then a slider...Hope this helps

Answer 8

The speed at which it is thrown and the torque of the spin. A slider you throw like a fastball and then crank on it at the end. A curve is slower and thrown in a more fluid motion.

Answer 9

The spin on the ball. I think on a slider, the ball is spinning backwards, and on an curve, it's spinning backwards with a twist.

Answer 10

Lets get one things straight... A curve, and a slider do not break in opposite directions... That would be a screwball that would break in the opposite direction... I think your question is answered other than that...