How to Throw Whiffle Ball Pitches

The Wiffle ball was invented in Fairfield, Connecticut, in 1953 as a means for children to play a form of baseball without damaging their arms attempting to throw curveballs. The Wiffle ball is light, hollow and composed of plastic. It is like a normal plastic ball except one of its halves has a series of elliptical holes cut into it. These holes allow a player to throw the ball using various grips to make it move in different directions.

Instructions

How to Throw Wiffle Ball Pitches

1. Throw a fastball side-armed and with the holes of the ball facing straight up. Place your thumb on the "equator" of the ball, right in the middle. Your index finger needs to be on one of the holes and your middle finger below the "equator." Your pinkie will not be in contact with the ball, but your ring finger will be underneath it. Throw this pitch fast with the side-armed motion and it should go relatively straight. Throw it as fast as you can and it will also dip like a slider as it crosses the plate.

2. Throw a right-to-left curve holding the ball so the holes are facing to the left. Position your thumb and index finger on the side of the ball with the holes and your middle finger on the solid side, about an inch from your index finger. Your ring finger will be supporting the ball but not directly underneath it. Throw this pitch with a sweeping three-quarters motion but not hard. It will have a large break from right to left and goes away from right-handed batters.

3. Throw a left-to-right curve holding the ball with the holes facing to the right. The grip is the same as with the right-to-left curveball except for the direction the holes are facing. This ball will break away from left-handed batters and into right-handed batters. Toss it using a sweeping three-quarters motion and aim it at the middle of the strike zone so it breaks out of it at the end to a left-handed hitter.

4. Throw a sinker with the holes facing straight down. The ring finger will be directly underneath the ball, and the thumb and index finger are gripping it on opposite sides of its "equator." Put your middle finger on one of the holes and throw it side-armed. Aim it high so it will break down when it makes it to the hitter. Otherwise, it will drop into the dirt. The harder you throw this pitch, the more drastically it will break downward.

5. Throw a knuckleball by placing your thumb almost directly under the ball and the rest of your fingers into four consecutive holes of the Wiffle ball. The holes will be facing you as you throw this pitch. Throw the knuckler almost as if you are shot-putting it at the batter. This is the most difficult pitch to master, but if thrown correctly, it will react unpredictably, dipping at the last second and making the hitter swing and miss.

References

• Wiffleball.com
• Thejuicedidit.com