Comments on How to Throw a Knuckleball

Instead of putting my thumb under the ball, I bring my thumb right up to the side of the ball on my knuckleball. This provides less of a chance that the thumb will create friction with the leather of the ball and cause it to spin forward. I also do not dig my finger tips into the ball. I let the upper third of my fingers rest against the ball. Not only does that increase push speed, but it eliminates splitting your nail. I used to dig into the ball, but I split my fingernail in half one game, so I stopped doing it.

Instead of putting my thumb under the ball, I bring my thumb right up to the side of the ball on my knuckleball. This provides less of a chance that the thumb will create friction with the leather of the ball and cause it to spin forward. I also do not dig my finger tips into the ball. I let the upper third of my fingers rest against the ball. Not only does that increase push speed, but it eliminates splitting your nail. I used to dig into the ball, but I split my fingernail in half one game, so I stopped doing it.

Where the ball makes a reverse C, put your thumb in the horseshoe. Don't grip any laces! Take your pointer and middle fingers and use the fingernail area and put them into the other reverse C on the top of the ball. Once again, no laces! Throw like a fastball and watch it float.

Make sure to keep the ball low if you use this against a batter.

I use four fingers to grip the ball and my thumb to steady the ball. When I throw it, I use the same motion as my fastball and any other pitch. Don't try to push it, the movement of the ball won't be as dramatic. When the wind is blowing toward the mound, my knuckleball will drop or curve and the batters don't know what to do with it.

My fastball is 65 mph and my knuckleball is 55 mph. I hold my knuckleball like Tim Wakefield. Hold the ball with the upside down 'U', put your nails right below the seams. To know if you're holding it right; the first part of your knuckleball should be touching the seams. When you throw it, your arm is shaped like a catapult, and when you are finished your elbow should be pointing to home.

Even harder to recognize and hit than a slider, a knuckleball is a slow pitch. It travels at 60-65 mph, and breaks crazily as it nears the plate. The pitcher doesn't even know how it's going to break. The pitch isn't really a knuckleball. The pitcher grips the ball with the tips of two fingers. Instead of a snap, the wrist is pushed toward the batter. This pitch is easy on the arm, though difficult to learn. The knuckleball can drive even the best hitters crazy. A knuckler sometimes travels less than half the speed of a fast ball, but at times, it can be much harder to hit. The knuckleball is thrown by gripping the ball with your knuckles or fingernails. A good knuckleball, like the one thrown by Tim Wakefield of the Boston Red Sox, will travel slowly and only spin one or two times on its way to the plate. Because the ball isn't moving very fast, the air is able to pass over the stitches of the ball and cause the ball to move up and down or from side to side. A knuckleball thrown properly will move back and forth on its way to the plate which can often make a good hitter look very foolish when his swing is nowhere near the ball. A knuckleball (or knuckler for short) is a baseball pitch thrown so as to minimize the spin of the ball in flight. The lack of spin causes chaotic airflow over the stitched seams of the baseball and produces an erratic, unpredictable motion. This makes the pitch difficult for batters to hit, but also difficult for pitchers to control. The challenge also extends to the catcher who must make an attempt to catch the pitch, and the umpire who must determine whether it was a strike or a ball.

Hold the ball with index, ring, and middle fingers on the side of the seams. Hold your wrist stiff while you throw, to reduce spin. You can also throw with the outside part of your hand forward, to put different movement on it.

I'm a 21 year old NAIA pitcher at a top 15 ranked school. I'm also a knuckleball pitcher on a staff. First things first, if you are learning how to throw a knuckleball, start early, because it takes a couple years to throw effective every time you throw it. Second thing is, the reason why you are a knuckleball pitcher is because you might not be able to get it done like the rest of them; whether it be you throw in the 70's, or you don't have any off-speed - you need a different way of pitching. My era the last 2 seasons and this season combine is 3.12. I'm left handed and I throw 78-81 on the fastball and my KB is 60ish. If you have any pop on your fastball, it looks like it is 95 when they are sitting back on a dirty knuck-piece. The grip I use is the Wakefield grip, the top of the U, use your fingernails to apply pressure, then put your thumb directly under it, ring finger to stabilize and pinky completely off the ball. When released, try to keep your wrist stiff and flick your middle, pointer, and thumb so it creates a triangle of pressure. Most importantly, don't shotput it, just throw it normal behind your wrist.

Put your index and middle finger on the horseshoe of the baseball and let your ring finger slightly grip the side, but let it point straight down. Point your pinkie finger straight up, and point the tip of it at the person you throw it to. When you release it, flick your fingers forward.

Put your index and middle finger on the horseshoe of the baseball and let your ring finger slightly grip the side, but let it point straight down. Point your pinkie finger straight up, and point the tip of it at the person you throw it to. When you release it, flick your fingers forward.

I dig my index and middle fingernail into one of the seams that looks like this )(. Then before I release, I flick my fingers toward home plate pretty hard, so that the ball drops a lot. If you release early, the ball will look like it is going to be high, until it gets to the catcher.That is, if you throw it right. It takes a little while to get used to throwing it, bu when you perfect it, batters won't be able to touch you.

I dig my index and middle fingernail into one of the seams that looks like this )(. Then before I release, I flick my fingers toward home plate pretty hard, so that the ball drops a lot. If you release early, the ball will look like it is going to be high, until it gets to the catcher.That is, if you throw it right. It takes a little while to get used to throwing it, bu when you perfect it, batters won't be able to touch you.

Hold the ball with the tips of your index finger and middle finger. Do not use your knuckles. The ring finger and pinkie finger should be out of the way. Your fingers should be placed surrounding any one seam on the ball that you feel most comfortable with. Your thumb should be on the opposite side that your index and middle finger are on. When throwing the ball, never break your wrist. Always keep it straight and never let it bend. This should allow the ball to have less spin. For the best results, throw harder to get more movement on the pitch.

Hold the ball with the tips of your index finger and middle finger. Do not use your knuckles. The ring finger and pinkie finger should be out of the way. Your fingers should be placed surrounding any one seam on the ball that you feel most comfortable with. Your thumb should be on the opposite side that your index and middle finger are on. When throwing the ball, never break your wrist. Always keep it straight and never let it bend. This should allow the ball to have less spin. For the best results, throw harder to get more movement on the pitch.

I've been throwing the knuckleball for about 10 years now, for the first few years I threw the knuckleball with my knuckles, it's a good way to start at least. Throwing a knuckle ball with the knuckles is appealing to many young pitchers because it's easy to throw with little practice, so players think it's going to work every time. But in reality over time it becomes inconsistent and ineffective. The best way to throw it is with the fingertips, it puts less stress on the fingers and hands, and it works. It is a pitch that gets better in time, but it must be developed just as a curveball or change-up must.

I've been throwing the knuckleball for about 10 years now, for the first few years I threw the knuckleball with my knuckles, it's a good way to start at least. Throwing a knuckle ball with the knuckles is appealing to many young pitchers because it's easy to throw with little practice, so players think it's going to work every time. But in reality over time it becomes inconsistent and ineffective. The best way to throw it is with the fingertips, it puts less stress on the fingers and hands, and it works. It is a pitch that gets better in time, but it must be developed just as a curveball or change-up must.

I am 15 years old, and a pitcher in high school. I have been throwing my knuckleball for a little over a year (I'm also a lefty). I dig my index finger and my middle finger into the ball, and keep my wrist perfectly stiff all the way through the windup (it also helps if you keep a short stride). Another tip is if the "flick" doesn't come automatically, then don't try it. You'll only mess up the pitch.

I am 15 years old, and a pitcher in high school. I have been throwing my knuckleball for a little over a year (I'm also a lefty). I dig my index finger and my middle finger into the ball, and keep my wrist perfectly stiff all the way through the windup (it also helps if you keep a short stride). Another tip is if the "flick" doesn't come automatically, then don't try it. You'll only mess up the pitch.

On the )( part of the ball, dig your fingernails into the seams. Straighten your thumb out and place it on the bottom left seam of the ball. Bend your ring finger a little and place it on the other seam. Only put a little of your ring finger on the ball, the first joint from the fingernail and a little more of your finger is all that is needed. When throwing, it might be helpful if you press your hand so that the palm is touching the ball. When you go to throw, turn your hand to the left and downward, clockwise. When you throw, push upward, straightening your hand out. With a little practice this will eventually work.

On the )( part of the ball, dig your fingernails into the seams. Straighten your thumb out and place it on the bottom left seam of the ball. Bend your ring finger a little and place it on the other seam. Only put a little of your ring finger on the ball, the first joint from the fingernail and a little more of your finger is all that is needed. When throwing, it might be helpful if you press your hand so that the palm is touching the ball. When you go to throw, turn your hand to the left and downward, clockwise. When you throw, push upward, straightening your hand out. With a little practice this will eventually work.

I find that if you use your knuckles instead of your finger tips you will have more control. Also I find that if you flick your fingers toward the end of your release you have less spin, making it weave more.

I find that if you use your knuckles instead of your finger tips you will have more control. Also I find that if you flick your fingers toward the end of your release you have less spin, making it weave more.

I grip my knuckleball like a 2-seam fastball, but I have my ring finger dug into the ball on the seam. With my index finger resting on top of the other side of the seams, I push my dug-in finger outward at a 45 degree angle causing a knuckle curve.

I grip my knuckleball like a 2-seam fastball, but I have my ring finger dug into the ball on the seam. With my index finger resting on top of the other side of the seams, I push my dug-in finger outward at a 45 degree angle causing a knuckle curve.