| The curveball is a generally a more advanced pitch to learn and throw because of the unique mechanics involved (it is quite different from throwing a fastball). Many coaches feel that younger players (below the age of 15) should not practice throwing the curveball with real baseballs because it might place stress on the arm and lead to problems later on. Although it is probably much safer to throw curveballs with a Blitzball because of its lightweight, younger players should still ask parents' for their approval before attempting to learn it. The curveball is unusual because it is the only pitch that involves "topspin" (think of it as the reverse of a fastball's backspin). In order to throw a proper curveball, it is necessary to get "on top" of the ball and then spin it downwards. The grip is pretty simple, just put your index and middle fingers together and then place the middle finger alongside the Blitzball seam. You should get a good, tight grip on the seam with your middle finger so that you can really get some leverage on it. When you throw it, you want to cock your wrist at a slight angle while keeping your middle finger high up on top of the ball so that you can roll your wrist downwards when you release the ball (almost like pulling down the string on a window shade). As a result, the curveball should spin forward as it approaches the batter (unlike the fastball, which spins backwards), giving the Blitzball a great downward movement. In terms of delivery, some people like to come almost straight over the top to get that great "12-6," Barry Zito style drop (drops almost straight down) on their curveball, but this is more difficult to do. Most people get better results with something closer to a three-quarters delivery for a "1-7" type break (a pitch that drops and curves to the side). Try experimenting with different release points and arm slots to find the pitch that works most effectively for you. |
|
