Tips for Throwing a Curveball

Throwing a Curveball pic
Throwing a Curveball

An economics graduate of the University of Utah, Isaiah Kingston serves as the CFO of Washakie Renewable Energy in Salt Lake City. In his free time, Isaiah Kingston enjoys baseball and has coached Little League.

Many baseball pitchers have problems with their curveball. Here are a few tips:

1. Ball grip. The position of the middle finger is key to throwing a curveball. Curveballs get their rotation from the friction generated between the middle finger and the ball’s seams, so find a grip that maximizes this friction.

2. Target. Because curveballs swerve in the air, achieving accuracy is difficult. As a general rule, aim for a spot just over the head of the catcher, and allow the ball to do the rest of the work for you.

3. Stride length. Typically, a curveball stride is shorter than a fastball stride. If you find your curveballs consistently coming out high, try reducing your stride length by 2 to 4 inches.