How to Throw a Curve Ball Left-Handed

Changing speeds is imperative for disrupting the timing of hitters in baseball.

Thrown by Whitey Ford, Tom Glavine, Sandy Koufax and dozens of other left-handed pitchers in professional and amateur baseball leagues, the curve ball has long served as the perfect off-speed complement to faster pitches such as the four-seam fastball and the cutter. Unlike a fastball, a curve ball's rotation is downward, causing it to break toward the ground as it approaches home plate. Pitchers that are able to throw a curve ball that breaks just as it is reaching the plate are likely to have more batters swing and miss.

Things You'll Need

• Baseball

Instructions

Throwing a Left-Handed Curve Ball

1. Pick up a baseball using your left hand. Grip the baseball so that the ball's stitched seam sits at the base of your middle finger at the very top of the palm. (See Reference 1)

2. Grip the baseball with your left hand's middle finger and thumb. Your middle finger should grip the ball alongside of the ball's raised stitching, while your left thumb should grip the raised stitching on the baseball's opposite side. The ball should be angled so that your index finger can be pointed straight out without coming into contact with the baseball. (See Reference 1)

3. Begin your natural throwing motion. As the baseball comes closer to the point where it is released from your hand, smoothly begin to rotate your thumb in an upward motion, while rotating your middle finger in a downward motion as you would when snapping your fingers. Your index finger should remain out, pointing toward your target. (See Reference 1)

4. Release the ball from your hand while snapping your wrist downward when you release the ball, which will cause it to spin. While every pitcher is different, the baseball should travel in the direction that your raised index finger points. Working out a point where the ball is released from your hand and is thrown effectively for a strike will require practice and, often times, changes in your delivery.

Tips & Warnings

• While this is instruction for learning a left-handed beginner's curve ball, there are many variances in the curve ball pitch which can be altered given desired direction, location and spin.

• Children should only practice adding a pitch to their repertoire under the supervision of a professional, as violent arm action can injure an individual's shoulder, elbow, wrist or fingers.

References

• TheCompletePitcher: Pitching Grips - How To Grip And Throw Different Baseball Pitches; Steven Ellis

Resources

• Baseball Tips: Throwing Basic Pitches: Fastballs, Curve and the Circle Change; Ryan Schnier