curveball help?

Question

I just started playing baseball for the first time since 7th grade (im a senior in high school) and i am trying to get some pitches to work. I don't know why my curveball doesn't bite. I have my palm to first when i start and i pull down, just like my buddies tell me, and my grip is right, i think. And help would be great. Also, what is a 4 seem fastball supposed to do? mine seems like it raises a little once it gets to the plate.

Answer 1

The previous answer by Frank was pretty good. I am a high school pitching coach and played 3 years in the minor leagues. I know my stuff. First of all, establishing a consistent pitching release is the key. Make sure you release the ball out front over your front foot. Everytime you pick up a baseball whether your playing catch or pitching--practice with a purpose don't mess around and throw from different release points, get something consistent. If you have that great but that is the first key.
Once you have established that--move on to second phase. Are you over the top--3/4 or side arm has something to say about how you can throw a curveball and what your 4 seam fastball is going to do! Whether you are any of these, you need you fingers on top pf the ball on release and you need a downward plain on your fastball. Whenyou said that your 4 seam fastball rises--what do you mean? All the time? Can you throw it for a strike. A rising fastball means two things. You are creating good back spin on the ball-with good velocity will make the ball rise. Its called a heavy fastball. If you can locate that pitch with a little bit of downward palin you should be fine. When I say locate. Can you throw a fastball on the inside corner and outside at will--any time? That is your goal. This will help your fastball. when throwing away from righties assuming your right handed--put a little pressure on your middle finger--the ball will move away from the righy. Vice versa on lefty-put pressure on the index finger to a lefty--Experiment with pressure on your 4 seam fastball can create movement for you--Depends on your arm slot and velocity!

As far as your curveabll, Don't throw it like a football that guy doesn't know what he is talking about--he must be a Dice-K fan and is trying to teach you a gyroball.

So others have stated what you should due with a traditional curveball. But it is a difficult pitch to master. Takes time which you probably don't have. My season starts in a week.
if you have a 3/4 sidearm or even slightly above a 3/4 slot then throw a slider. grip the slider with your middle finger on the sharpest curve on the baseball just aboe the letters in the middle of the baseball and put you thumbe on the seam under it. You are going to release it in the same arm slot as the fasatball. So practice throwing fastaball first then a slider. Your going to think, 2 o'clock to 8 o'clock when release the pitch. make sure your middle finger is on top of ball when releasing--don't have finger on side other wise you will throw it like a football. What you what is the slider to look like a fastball and then slide 6-8 inches away from the hitter. When catching the slider your catcher should see a small circle on the top right of the ball.

Good luck and perfect practive makes perfect

Answer 2

if you are a right handed thrower, hold the ball like a 2 seam fastball and move your index finger closer to your middle finger, and take your thumb and tuck it underneath the ball, and get it on the bottom seam. this will give the curveball more bite off of the bottom of the ball. have the ball facing tward your forehead, and really get your arm extended out, and pull down. hold onto the ball until the last second, and really extend your arm. as far as your fastballs, the 2 seam should tail slightly to the right if right handed and the 4 seam is just a straight pitch. since your still a senior, dont worry so much about your curveball. develop confidence in your fastball, and mix a change in here and there. if you just loacate the fastball you should be alright. the curveball isn't as importand as everyone thinks it is.....

Answer 3

Try changing your grip around. On my team everyone throws their curveball different, you just need to find whats right for you. I find that the more of your fingers you can get on the laces the more it breaks. Make sure that u are snaping your wrist down like casting a fishing pole and keep your hand facing your head. Also a lot of young pitchers think they need to slow down their curveball to get it to break but you dont have to its just not as easy to throw as fast as a fastball.

Answer 4

Give it the same arm-speed as the fastball, just different grip and spin. Throw it using your forearm and fingers instead of your elbow. Also, your 4-seam isn't supposed to move as much as your 2-seam. If you are right-handed, throw your 4-seam to the outside part of the plate and your 2-seam to the inside (because your 2-seam should tail slightly to the right).

Answer 5

The best way to throw a curve and not injure your arm in the long run is to throw the ball the same as you would a football. keep your fingers just behind the strings for the release and point through your throw. as for the 4 seem if its raising before it gets to the plate thats good as most hitters scoop the ball this will cause more pop ups in your favor, the flip side is throwing one down in the zone as it rises into their wheel house.

Answer 6

Justin Verlander's good curveball is a knucklecurve it really is a diverse pitch. in spite of the indisputable fact that it probable nevertheless counts in this topic. very last season he merely about deserted the knuckle curve thoroughly because of blister issues. His new one isn't almost as knee-locking because the knucklecurve. Josh Becketts curve is insane even as he's on. I watch him on television and oten discover myself sayign "wow" out loud. which, for sure, is the superb guage of effectiveness.