2007-09-12 09:09:39 · 7 answers · asked by the WOG 3 in Sports ➔ Baseball
A ball whose trajectory curves or "breaks" to a different direction than if it were a fastball.
A fastball is thrown with direct backspin (no sidespin) and generally travels in a straight line, with some drop at the end due to gravity. Sometimes it can have late movement on it. But, it's still considered to have a straight trajectory.
A breaking ball is thrown with some sidespin (slider), or forward and side spin (curveball) that causes the ball to have a curving trajectory, particularly as it reaches the plate. A slider moves from one side to the other, with a bit more downward trajectory than a fastball. Think of it as angling down across the plate as it crosses the plate. A curveball is more of a 12-o'clock to 6-o'clock curve that doesn't have much - if any - sideways curve to it.
A split-finger fastball and a change-up can also be considered breaking balls. A split-finger pitch is thrown with the index and middle finger spread out wide on the ball. This gives the ball a lot more backspin, but less velocity. At some point the spin gives out and the ball drops suddenly. And, if it's thrown right, that drop occurs right as it's crossing the plate. A change up is thrown with a weaker grip than a fastball (either palming the ball or using the three smallest fingers in a kind of "OK" sign grip) that doesn't get as much velocity on the ball. This may cause the pitch to act kind of like a split-finger pitch. But, the purpose of the change-up is to fool the hitter with a fastball arm motion, but with a pitch velocity that is about 10 MPH slower than a fastball.
2007-09-12 09:27:25 · answer #1 · answered by Paul in San Diego 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The ball moves from the normal straight motion that say a fastball travels. For example a curve ball drops and moves in a certain direction that is different then what would be expected if it was traveling straight
2007-09-12 09:13:43 · answer #2 · answered by dennis_evans2003 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Normally referring to a curveball, it means any pitch that breaks in motion (examples: in, away, down)
Most breaking pitches include the curveball, forkball, splitter, screwball, knuckleball, palmball and on occasion there are what's referred to as a breaking slider.
2007-09-12 09:17:56 · answer #3 · answered by Jeremy 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
When a pitch breaks from one plane to another. It can't be offspeed pitches because a changeup doesn't break planes it's just a difference in speed.
2007-09-12 09:53:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A pitch of the baseball that is thrown with spin so that its path curves as it approaches the batter
Here is a link to a good explanation
2007-09-12 09:16:23 · answer #5 · answered by Elaine S 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
When I was a kid, a breaking ball was the one we hit through the neighbors window.
2007-09-12 10:14:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's like a curveball or slider
2007-09-12 10:13:09 · answer #7 · answered by Canes & Bruins 09-10 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think it means curve ball
2007-09-12 09:13:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋