How to Throw a Knuckleball

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.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Baseballs

1. 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.

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

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

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

5. 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.

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[bmarek]

on 10/21/2009 I found that the less effort you put into throwing a knuckleball the nastier it gets. Basically if you throw like you are letting your arm go limp in mid throw the ball has more time to travel, and thus more time for the wind to act on the ball.

[abc12345]

on 4/10/2009 i put my 3 middle fingers in the middle where you throw a 2 seam fastball and curl my thumb under the ball. It doesn't do much pushing, it's only there for support. My knuckle breaks and has little rotation. My knuckle ball is beastly.. lol

[tommy311]

on 6/8/2007 Thank you

[MLB619D]

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]

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.