View Full Version : knuckler and knucklecurve?
vm1925
06-14-2005, 09:51 AM
two ?'s i know the grip for the knucklecurve but how do i throw it??
I also know the knuckleball grip but when i throw it it looks like just a regular fast ball. i know youre supposed to flick youre finger on the release. so what am i doing wrong??
scrface744
06-14-2005, 06:40 PM
knucklecurve when you have the grip you throw regular then as your about to release push out with your fingers that are like a knuckleball
Capt2712
06-14-2005, 07:51 PM
KnuckleCurve Im pretty sure you throw like a curveball, Its harder to control but It can have more movement
scrface744
06-15-2005, 07:00 PM
no....knucklecurve you put your fingers on the seams basicly like a 4 seam fastball except your index and middle finger are on the seam like a knuckleball then when you throw it you push off with the index and middle fingers to give it a backspin
Capt2712
06-15-2005, 08:27 PM
I dont throw one so I don't have to worry about it
masterchief2402
06-17-2005, 06:37 AM
When I throw my knucklecurve I grip it like a curve, but bend the index finger in so the nail digs in. Then I throw it like a regular curve but flick my finger out on the release. As for a knuckleball, I grip so the middle and index fingers are bent and the nails dig in underneath the "horseshoe" in the seams. Then throw as if you're thorwing normally, but kept your wrist straight, not bent, and don't let it naturally flick like with a fastball. Instead, push the ball off with your middle and index fingers on the release.
Capt2712
06-17-2005, 07:01 AM
yea, I can get a good grip and explanation
http://www.thecompletepitcher.com/pitching_grips.htm#q9
knucklecurve is on the page, towards the bottom
andrewlevino
06-27-2005, 09:29 AM
capt and scrface are wrong. you hold it like a four seem with your index finger in the seams like a knuckleball. when you throw it you throw it pushing off with your finger so it has a real tight spin going from 8 o clock to 2 o clock
when you throw a knuckleball really dig your nails into the ball there are many different grips. putting you index and middle finder nails into the horseshoe, all four nails on the long seams... you should look into all of the grips. when you are reaching the highest point in your delivery start pushing off with your fingers.
an exercise for this is putting a rubberband around the back of your hand and around your fingertips. strech and strengthen your fingers, this will get the ball to have less spin.
Seattlefan_105
06-28-2005, 06:14 AM
no....knucklecurve you put your fingers on the seams basicly like a 4 seam fastball except your index and middle finger are on the seam like a knuckleball then when you throw it you push off with the index and middle fingers to give it a backspin
backspin???? what????
Knucklecurve is a type of Curveball and nothing like a Knuckleball.
Now I suppose you dont know that Curveball and Knucklecurve works because they don't have backspin, instead they spin side to side.
CanadianKid
06-25-2006, 07:51 PM
no....knucklecurve you put your fingers on the seams basicly like a 4 seam fastball except your index and middle finger are on the seam like a knuckleball then when you throw it you push off with the index and middle fingers to give it a backspin
i grip mine like a 2 seamer with my index finger bent, throw it like a fastball but push off with my index finger. if your not used to it you may bleed where the skin meets nail on the index.
onbaseball
06-25-2006, 11:07 PM
I throw my knucklecurve with my index and middle finger curled up with the face of the fingernails (not the tips) pressed hard against the ball, thumb directly underneath. Throw like a fastball, but at release, flick the fingers out to put a topspin on the ball. It should drop like a 12-6 curveball.
Burt Hooton threw it similarly, but I think he used the middle and ring fingers to flick, and had the index and pinkie fingers straight on the sides, to help guide the ball.
I think Tyler Green used to throw it more like a curveball, with just the one finger flicking to help get spin. I'm not sure about getting "side-to-side" spin; generally you want a breaking pitch to break down, and to do that you need the reverse spin of a fastball (fastball=backspin; breaking ball = topspin).
Jesse
06-25-2006, 11:24 PM
I'm not a pitcher, but as I understand it the knuckle curve is gripped and thrown just like a fastball, with one key difference: you pull your index finger back into a knuckleball position, but keep the middle finger extended. That way when you release the ball it will have a sideways rotation due to the lack of pressure from the index finger. It's an acceptable alternative for younger pitchers who want a second or third pitch, but don't want to risk damaging their arm with the breaking ball.
Edit: Ok, I just did some searching and apparently the term "knuckle curve" actually refers to two seperate and distinct types of pitches. One is thrown just like a knuckle ball but with topspin (a la Joe's post) and the other is closer to what CanadianKid and I (and others) posted.
baseball=my life
06-26-2006, 12:52 PM
You know how to flick marbles? Well thats how i release it but with all five fingers.
Gashouse6
06-26-2006, 04:06 PM
As many said, the Knuckleball is gripped tightly with the nails. When you release it, try to get your fingers above the ball. This will help keep your wrist tight so there won't be a lot of spin.