How to Throw an Ankle Bending Curveball

Few pitches in baseball can flummox opposing hitters quite like a curveball. For a well-pitched curve, the sharp drop and break of the baseball leaves hitters off-balance. Sometimes hitters will bend their ankles, wondering if they need to duck as the pitch comes in high. But then the motion of the curveball takes the ball down across the plate, leaving the hitter looking foolish. Throwing a quality ankle-bending curveball requires proper grip and wrist action upon release.

Things You'll Need

  • Baseball
  • Catcher
  • Hitter
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Instructions

    • 1

      Hold the baseball so that the two seams are running parallel along the top. Place your middle finger along the outside seam. Your index finger lies next to it on the baseball. Your thumb slides underneath the baseball while your other fingers do not grip the ball.

    • 2

      Begin your pitching motion, concealing the baseball in your mitt as long as possible. This keeps the hitter in the dark as to what pitch you are throwing. If he can see your grip, he knows what pitch is coming and has a better chance to hit it.

    • 3

      Aim your pitch directly at the hitter to induce an ankle-bending reaction. To get the batter to bend his ankles, he must be hitting from the same side you are throwing. For example, right-handed pitchers can only bend the ankles of a right-handed hitter who thinks the pitch is coming directly at him.

    • 4

      Rotate your middle and index fingers over the baseball as you release the pitch. In this motion, your wrist pronates or snaps, producing the spin on the baseball that leads to it curving. Your thumb finishes the motion pointing toward the sky, as if you are giving the "thumbs up" sign to the batter.

    • 5

      Finish your pitching delivery. Keep your eye on the pitch and prepare yourself for a batted ball that may come back in your direction. If the pitch is successful, it will start out toward the batter's head or upper body, causing him to flinch. As it nears the catcher, the ball should dive across plate, buckling the batter's legs as he tries to recover in time to hit the ball.