How to Throw a Screwball

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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Throw a Screwball

You don't have to be a screwball to throw this pitch, but not knowing how to do it properly may screw up an otherwise perfect arm. If you have the arm maturity to try advanced pitches, though, you may want to give it a try. Follow these steps to keep it safe and simple.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Baseball Fielding Gloves
Baseballs
Pitching Trainers
Baseball Cleats
Baseball Caps/hats

Step 1

Grip the ball as you would a four-seamed fastball. The index and middle fingers should be on top of the ball across the seams at the widest point. Hold the fingers about 1/2 inch apart from one another.
Step 2

Place the thumb under the ball across the seam and curl the ring finger and pinkie along one side. The two smallest fingers should make little contact with the ball's surface.
Step 3

Hold the ball with your fingertips away from the palm of your hand.
Step 4

The index finger and thumb should provide all the pressure. The middle finger releases the ball.
Step 5

Go into your wind-up. Remember to pivot and shift your body weight from the back foot forward toward home plate.
Step 6

Turn your wrist inward in a corkscrew motion just before releasing the pitch. This rotation is the opposite of a curveball. For left-handed pitchers, the ball should break down and away from right-handed hitters.
Step 7

Follow through the ball as if it were a fastball. Your feet should parallel each other at the end of the pitch, and your throwing arm should come across the front of your body.

Comments

hpyagl said

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on 11/2/2009 any chance of pitching beyond little league. I am now 47 and I cannot throw a baseball with any speed and accuracy without tingling like smacking the funny bone. Take the warnings seriously. It took one good season of pitching to ruin a lifetime of baseball dreams! It took me years to forgive and forget that bad coaching moment.

on 11/2/2009 I pitched in little league many moons ago and I was told I pitched a natural screwball. I didn't use any special technique becuase I didn't know any different. When I walked on to practice the first time, the coach asked me to pitch. I remember getting a weird reaction from him and the other kids when I first pitched.The coach just stood there with a weird look on his face I will never forget. Then he went over and talked with some other people and the next thing I knew he came over and told me I was the teams new pitcher. Our catcher at the time was a cool black kid nicknamed "smiley" and he would every now and then take his mit off between pitches and hold up his red palm just to syke out the batter. I loved that guy! The only reason I am posting is because I regret that the coach didn't take the same pre-cautions as warned of above. I got over the bitterness of ruining any chance ...