How to Throw a Curve With Different Methods

According to James Madison University Head Baseball Coach Spanky McFarland, the curveball is thrown with fastball mechanics - only the pitcher's release of the baseball differs. These differences result in vertical breaks, horizontal breaks and even changes in speed. As a pitcher matures, he needs to develop more vertically breaking pitches which are more difficult to hit. Coach McFarland explains it succinctly: "the bat is narrower than it is long."

Things You'll Need

  • Baseball
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Instructions

    • 1

      Hold the baseball in your pitching hand using the same grip as for a four-seam fastball. Then, tuck the baseball closer into your hand with more of your finger on the ball. The deeper you tuck the baseball into your hand, the slower the resulting curveball.

    • 2

      Hold the baseball in your pitching hand using the same grip as for a four-seam fastball, but bend your thumb at the joint. This change may give your pitch release more "flip" -- or a sharper downward break -- than the straight-thumb hold.

    • 3

      Hold the baseball in your pitching hand using the same grip as for a four-seam fastball, but bend your index finger sharply to place the nail flat against the top of the baseball. This is known as a knuckle-curve, or a "spike" curveball, which has a slower speed but a sharper break.