How to Throw a Left-Handed Slurve

The "slurve" pitch, also known as a hard curve, is a breaking pitch that combines aspects of a curveball and a slider. It is not a pitch commonly taught by pitching coaches at college or professional levels due to the stress it places on the arm. A slurve is thrown at fastball velocities with a modified delivery in order to achieve a small amount of ball movement designed to hinder a batter's ability to hit the pitch. There are other pitches that achieve greater ball movement with less stress to a pitcher's arm, and these are the ones looked for and graded by baseball scouts.

Things You'll Need

  • Baseball
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Instructions

  1. How to Throw a Slurve Left-Handed

    • 1

      Grip the baseball with your left hand. If you're a right-hander, put the ball in your right hand, and simply reverse the hands in these directions. Place your middle finger over the long seam with your index finger beside it. Slide your thumb to the left until it is along the opposite long seam at the bottom of the ball.

    • 2

      Begin your normal windup by stepping back with your right foot with your hands held together. Raise your right knee around belt-level while pivoting on your left "posting" foot, or the foot remaining on the ground.

    • 3

      Drop your right leg down and toward home plate, while simultaneously separating your hands to create a proper throwing arm path. The left arm should move down, back and up, directly toward second base, as your right arm points toward home.

    • 4

      Squeeze, swivel and stabilize your right hand over the knee of your bent but firmly planted right leg.

    • 5

      Begin the motion to throw the ball with your left arm using normal fastball mechanics. Turn your wrist externally approximately 30 degrees while violently snapping the wrist in a "J" motion at the ball's release point. This "snap" is what imparts the spin on the ball, creating the Magnus effect, or the air pressure differential that should result in a breaking motion by the ball.

    • 6

      Finish your natural pitching follow-through with the left wrist and hand on the outside of the right knee.