how do you throw a successful curveball in baseball?
129995
there are plenty of ways, the one I use that has been most successful is this:\nstart with a two-seam fastball grip. move your fingers in between the seams. When you come aroudn to throw (starting your throw the way you would normally with a fastball) co-ck (they wouldn't let me write it without the hypehn) your rist inward and snap your fingers so the ball rolls off the top of your index finger.\nDepending on your arm slot you should get a movement either 12-6, 1-7, 2-8, or even 3-9. (those movements are for right handed pitchers, opppsite movement is for left handers)\nSometimes this grip is misconstrued to be a hard slider grip, but with the cock of the wrist a lot fo pressure is taken off the elbow.\nWork with it a lot and it should become a very effective pitch.
447851
move up a little in the box and hope you can hit when it STARTS to break..it is just timing it would be better if you can learn to switch hit then that way you can see the ball break toward and you can hit it better...try to go with the pitch ..don't pull it
152810
You answered your own question.  Try it, and you'll be called for a balk.  However, it evens out because a lefty has a much easier throw to first than a righty.
624658
Go with your best stuff.  Blow them away.  Roger Clements or Greg Maddux didn't mess around they went right after the hitter.  \n\nHow many times have you seen a pitcher get to 0-2 then find themselves with pitch count issues a few innings later....
473241
For a strikeout pitcher:\nFastball\nChange up\n12-6 curve\nSlider\n\nFor a pitcher who just wants batters out:\n4 and 2 seam Fastball\nSinker\nChange-up\nCurveball\n\nFor Wakefield:\nKnuckleball\nKnuckleball\nKnuckleball\nFastball\nKnuckleball
448657
When the ball's on your side, don't let it hit the ground and when you hit it to the other side, hit it hard and make sure it goes inbounds where no one on the other team is able to return it.  That's about it.
206069
Ok I was a left-handed pitcher and just graduated after playing in college. The best source in baseball right now for pitching is Tom House. If you are really serious about becoming a good pitching coach you'd learn as much about him as possible -- buying one of his recent books is a great option. He is not only a former baseball pitcher / pitching coach, but also has a Phd in bio kinetics. He was Nolan Ryan's, Randy Johnson's, Curt Schilling's, etc. pitching coach. For quick refence I'll go over three things: mental aspect, mechanics, and drills. \n\n1. Mental aspect. Pitching is all mental. It is as much about confidence as anything. A good pitcher is not just talented physically but also understands a batter's stregnths and weaknesses and exploits them. He also follows these goals...\n\nA.Get ahead in the count (throw a first pitch strike)\nB.Get the first out of the inning (this takes away the opposing team's ability to play small-ball)\nC.When you get a hitter 0-2 change head or change feet. That means make them reach for a pitch off the plate or brush them back inside -- this choice will become more clear when you know the hitter.\nD. Never commit a cardinal sin of pitching (0-2 to 3-2 or even worse a walk, 0-2 hard contact -- they should never hit an 0-2 pitch hard if at all, lead-off walk)\nE. Pitch down in the zone and on the corners\nF. Have command of three pitches (i.e. fastball, breaking pitch, change-up)\nG. Know the how attributes of pitches rank (1. Location, 2. Movement, 3. Velocity -- don't try to overthrow the ball)\n\n2. Mechanics\n\nA. Have good posture and good balence (be over the center of gravity, pitch off your toes not your heels)\nB. Throw with equal and opposite (if front side is high back side is low)\nC. Stay in the box keep your front elbow between your shoulder and your hips at all times, don't pull it out of the that box on follow through -- it will move the release point)\nD. Keep your head still (1 inch of head movement moves release point 2 inches...something like that not positive)\nE. IMPORTANT Throw to your glove. Hold your front side glove out, push it closer to the plate, and aim it where you want the pitch to go. When you throw move your throwing arm to the mit. It is like a site on a gun. The front side (glove) is a muzzle, your arm is the bullet. Point the muzzle and direct the bullet to it. If you miss low push out farther with your front side. The farther you extend your front glove the closer you throw to the plate, which creates preceived velocity. A good drill for this is the Towel Drill.\nF. Step over the buck with your back foot when you follow through. \nG. When you throw a curveball you wrist should be at full pronation. When you throw the pitch you do a karate chop motion. Your fingers shoould be folded over the ball. \nH. When you throw a curveball hold it in your glove a second longer before you part your hands.\nI. Change-ups are thrown with full supination -- like a screwball. Drop your thumb to your hip -- set that angle and keep it, unless you do that the pitch will be ineffective and will hurt your arm. (a left handers thumb will be facing first base at release, a right hander will face third)\nJ. Pitches are more a matter of arm angle than grip. \n\n3. Drills \n\nA. Towel Drill -- Go through your motion with an 18-inch towel held with your middle finger 6 inches down. Mark off full extension and have a buddy hold out his glove there. Try to slap his glove with the towel. If you can, move your buddy back and try again. This will help extension and is also a good way to solidify mechanics without pitching a ball. \n\nB. Knees -- start each day throwing all your pitches from both knees (both knees on the ground). This should isolate the upper body and allow you to get a feel for your pitches and help solidify release point. \n\nC. Hat drill -- Take off your hat and put it about 15 feet in front of you. Have your buddy do the same. T
264509
Just think of it like baseball. Its the same thing, except you dont swing at the ball with the bat, but instead kick it with you leg. The positions in the outfield are self explanatory(right, center, and left field) and if you catch it out there, they are out. If it rolls to you, just throw it back into play. Have fun!
175236
you can pretend to start your wind up and step off with your opposite foot and throw over.  If your a right handed pitcher your first motion is taking a step back with your left foot.if you step off with your right you can do whatever you want except throw to the plate.  the opposite goes with left handed pitchers.
323109
The slider is thrown with pressure applied to the index and middle finger along with pressure added to the thumb. The index and middle fingers "split" the top seams. The thumb however, is placed on top of the bottom seam. An important step in throwing a proper slider is to snap your wrist in a side to side motion as you release the baseball. When thrown properly, it will dart from right to left in a sweeping motion (left to right if you are left handed). The science behind this pitch is that the force applied to the index and middle fingers causes the ball to slide when it is thrown. With this and the combination of snapping your wrist, the baseball actually fights inertia and sharply slides during its flight to home plate. \n\nThe change up is one of the hardest pitches to throw. It really doesn't matter where your fingers are placed (unlike the fastball and slider). After you form an O.K. symbol with your hand it is important to squeeze the ball tightly. Finally, you must snap your wrist in the opposite side to side motion of a slider as you release the ball. In otherwards if you are right handed you will snap your wrist counterclockwise (clockwise if you are left handed). It is also important not to throw this pitch as hard as the fastball and slider. The science behind this pitch is that the friction applied from the O.K. hand signal causes the ball to be released at a slower rate. With the torque of your wrist, the ball once again fights inertia and travels from left to right while on its path to home plate (right to left if you are left handed). However, this time the baseball will lose velocity due to the firm grip and act in a tumbling manner as it approaches home plate.  \n\n**WARNING: it is advised that kids under the age of 18 do not try and throw the slider frequently as it may severely damage your hand**
577251
Evaluate your lineup and player attributes. Place the best contact hitters and speed runners near the top of the lineup and play small ball to score runs early. Be aggressive on the bases and try to steal often. Most pitchers won't expect it, or might make a bad throw to the base, either way you advance the runners. Teach the hitters to work the count and take pitches. Most pitchers will not get the ball over the plate everytime. You can get more walks and increase the pitch count on the opposition which will force them to go to the bullpen. Play the outfield deep so they can run toward the ball if it is hit shallow, it is much harder to run backwards and catch a pop fly. Teach pitchers two good pitches and make them stick with it. A decent breaking ball in would very difficult for most 16 yr old hitters to make contact with. Even if the breaking ball ends up in the dirt , they will swing. I could be more specific if you gave more detail on the team's weaknesses.
562078
To throw a spiral you take the ball in your throwing hand with your four fingers on the laces and your thumb on the opposite side. Most people hold the ball towards the center, but you have to use the grip that best fits you. Don't "wind up", but rather bring your throwing arm back and then whip your arm forward to let your four fingers on the laces impart a spin on the ball. Practice to improve the motion and tightness of spiral
614905
When you've got this pitch under control, hitters have no idea when to swing. When it's out of control, though, even the pitcher doesn't know where the ball is going! \n\n1.   Grip the baseball by clenching the top of the ball with the tips of your index, middle and ring fingers just below the seams. Dig the tips of your fingers deep into the ball.  \n  \n2.   Place your thumb below the ball to give it support. Keep your pinkie off to the side.  \n  \n3.   Go into your windup. Remember to pivot and shift your body weight from the back foot forward toward home plate.  \n  \n4.   Throw the ball toward home, but don't snap your wrist - keep it stable, eliminating as much spin as possible.  \n  \n5.   Follow through. Extend all fingers toward home plate as you release the pitch. Your feet should be parallel at the end of the pitch, and your throwing arm should come across the front of your body.  \n\n An effective knuckleball moves in two or three different directions in flight.  \n  \n Try a variation on the knuckleball grip by using just the index and middle fingers on the top of the ball. The ring finger joins the pinkie off to the side.  \n  \n The slower the pitch, the more time the ball has to weave toward home plate.  \n\nI've found that if you put all four of you fingers, index through pinky, and put them right below the seam of the ball, you can throw an effective knuckleball. The release of the ball requires that you do not flick your wrist when your release. Come across your body letting your fingers extend toward the plate when you release.
90855
You don't say how much of a "beginner" you are but the first thing you should do to start off is to have your own ball (proper weight) properly drilled at a pro shop which most times are located within bowling centers. Now, depending on how long and how much you've been bowling, to throw a curve depends on what type of fingergrips you use. I use a fingertip ball, which means that I only put my fingers into the ball up to the first joint. You could try a semi-fingertip, too, which works for some people. There are so many details and fine-tuning that needs to take place, and it's all a personal thing; like what's comfortable for you. Then follow the basics: your approach, your backswing, and finally your release and follow-through. Make sure though, that you don't force a curve with turning your hand around to spin the ball. This a bad habit to learn. All are equally important...and, of course, hitting your mark on the lanes. Once you get all these things into rhythm, then all you need to do is practice, practice and more practice.
387327
be sure to always place yourself infron of the ball and glove to the ground when fielding.  also it depends on the player at bat as to where you would stand in the outfield etc.  If the person is lefty then you would be more towards 3rd base and visa versa etc.  I would also have a friend toss or hit pop flys towards you in the outfield for more practice.  Since practice and practice and more practice makes one a better player!
66263
Well, depending how theoretical you want to get.  There is an unenforced rule that a pitcher must throw a pitch within 20 seconds or a ball will be called.  He could do that 4 times, and a player would walk.  Then he could pick the player off.  The player would be out with 0 pitches.  Repeat 23 or 26 times, and you have a complete game without throwing a pitch.\n\nThe fact that the rule is not enforced is one problem with the scenario.  A player can also be out for changing which batter's box he stands in while the pitcher is ready to pitch.  So throw a few of those in there for variety's sake, and you get to 0 another way.
143428
Get one of those pitchback net things and practice throwing inside the square and work on your control first and then you can add some speed.