BROWSE HOW TOs

How to Throw a Knuckleball

By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

Dig the index and middle finger into the ball when throwing a knuckleball

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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! Here are a few easy steps to fool your hitters.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Baseballs

Step1

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.

Step2

Place your thumb below the ball to give it support. Keep your pinkie off to the side.

Step3

Go into your windup. Remember to pivot and shift your body weight from the back foot forward toward home plate.

Step4

Throw the ball toward home, but don't snap your wrist - keep it stable, eliminating as much spin as possible.

Step5

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.

Tips & Warnings

An effective knuckleball moves in two or three different directions in flight.
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.
The slower the pitch, the more time the ball has to weave toward home plate.

Comments

tommy311 said

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on 6/8/2007 Thank you

MLB619D said

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on 6/11/2007 A Knuckleball can easily be thrown by digging your finger nails into the ball, and pushing, not throwing. This works becuase when you throw a ball that does not spin, the wind will spin the ball and there's no telling where or when to swing at it. MLB knuckleball throwers are usualy very succesful.

MLB619D said

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on 5/19/2007 A Knuckleball can easily be thrown by digging your finger nails into the ball, and pushing, not throwing. This works becuase when you throw a ball that does not spin, the wind will spin the ball and there's no telling where or when to swing at it. MLB knuckleball throwers are usualy very succesful.

Squints said

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on 1/23/2007 Knuckleball- When you throw this pitch, use your middle, ring, and index finger on the bottom of the U, and put your index under the seam and the other two on top, it keeps the ball balanced and reduces movement, and never flick your wrist.

Anonymous said

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on 8/21/2006 Hold the knuckleball with your 3 fingernails under the U on the baseball. Your thumb and pinky should be in the circles to the left and right, not on the nails. When you go into your pitching motion, flick your index, middle, and ring finger outward to your target.