The overhand or power curve ball once was one of the most dominating pitches in baseball. From the batter's perspective, the pitch comes toward home plate at near shoulder height, and by the time it leaves the hitting zone, it has dropped below the knees in a curving motion. The pitch was thrown with devastating results by Hall of Famers Sandy Koufax, Juan Marichal and Whitey Ford, but the emergence of breaking pitches like the slider and the difficulty of throwing the full curve ball have limited its use in recent years.
Step 1
Grip the baseball on the seams. Notice the "U-shape" of the red seams on the baseball. They appear to look like a horseshoe. Place your forefinger and your middle finger next to each other along the seams. Place the middle finger directly on top of the raised seam.
Step 2
Raise your pitching hand directly overhead when throwing a curve ball. You cannot throw a power curve with a sidearm or three-quarters motion. Your spine, arm and wrist should be aligned when you are ready to release the ball.
Step 3
Twist your wrist sharply as you release the ball. This will create a spinning motion that will cause the ball to break. If you are right-handed, snap your wrist toward the left with force and power. This will cause the ball to go down and away to a right-handed batter and down and in toward a left-handed batter.
Step 4
Drive your arm towards the plate after letting the ball go. Getting the maximum break on the power curve ball requires that you have a full follow-through after releasing the ball. If you slow down or stop short after releasing the ball, the curve on the ball will be minimal. Don't stop your motion after you release the ball.
Member Comments