How to Throw a Curveball [Beginner's Guide]

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Timestamps In the video:
0:00 Intro
1:02 Curveball Grips
2:20 Curveball spin rate and spin axis - why it breaks the way it does
3:24 How hard to throw your curveball
5:17 Things to think about to improve spin
7:00 Importance of Coach & Throwing Partner feedback
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[sofaking]

Probably the best explanation on YouTube...I appreciate the help brother. My regards!!

[egon]

This has got to be the best breakdown I’ve found on YouTube. I’ve probably watched 30 videos!! By far the best!! Thanks for your time and detail!

[amitjn]

Great diagram at 2:50 for clarity on the science behind this.

[braviafeed]

Dan I've been a baseball fan for over 50 years and I have to say your coaching techniques are some of the best I've ever seen.

[stpaulisland]

I grew up reading about pitching from a book written by Ferguson Jenkins. He taught me how to pitch when I was a kid. Help me win games. I sure miss those days of playing.

[BlairCarey]

Best Description I've seen on this topic.

[DDEENY]

I learned to throw a good curveball when I was 10 years old and at that age I was the only pitcher in my league who threw a curveball. The conventional wisdom at that time was that youngsters should avoid throwing breaking pitches while young because of the potential harm to their arms' underdeveloped bones and muscles. I found this to be a non-issue so long as one learns the proper way to throw pitches. I never had any issues with my arm due to throwing curveball from a young age and throwing a curveball properly places no more strain on the arm than any other pitch. What I did learn is to try not to force the ball out of my hand in my zeal to impart optimum spin to the curveball. I learned that the most important factor in throwing a curveball is the downward follow-through of the arm that makes it work, trusting to release the pitch and letting the follow-through do the work. I also consciously tried to use as wide an arc swing with my arm coming over the top and bringing my entire arm down without trying to force the ball out of my hand as in that case, my curveballs would hang. Curveballs are thrown with the entire arm follow-through and not the hand or forearm.

[ThomasJohnson-pdtv]

Thank you so much! I really needed it for tryouts for my little major league team for 10-13

[codyrounsaville]

You have no idea how much this video has helped my son and I. I have successfully learned how to throw a nasty curve in turn teaching my son how to do it even better. He is 16 and has been striking out batters left and right. He was on the news, during the sports segment and earned the player of the week. All because I watched this video and put forth effort into learning it. Thank you.

[brigmill]

Great video. When I was 12 or 13, my coach showed me the first grip you showed but told me to throw it overhead as if I was going to throw a fastball but as soon as it's over my head, throw it as if I was going to be karate chopping something with a full follow through. Sounds kinda stupid in hindsight but I had the best fastball and curveball in the league that year and the 2 following years. After that I switched to mainly catcher because we didn't have anyone who could throw runners out on 2nd and 3rd base. Loved playing both positions.

[tracymosbarger]

8:45 hey coach im 61 and still can bring it. Thanks because I've never know the actual best advice on whether to throw it hard or take something off. You're explanation is spot on I think, because if i take something off, no matter how nasty it breaks they adjust and hit it. So my problem is when i throw it hard it stays in my hand too long and I bounce a lot of curves. They have good tight spin but bounce. Im an over the top slot with 12-6 rotation

[kieferonline]

Great video. Concise, useful, dense. It's perfect.

[uvcoach]

Thanks coach for explaining this to my boy he says he want a more deceiving curve ball or even a knee buckler. You keep it simple !! Thanks !!

[keenansblond-bush]

Binge watching these videos on a bus from Atlantic City to Philly
Great content.

[TheAMVDJ]

Playing baseball all the way through college I never learned to throw a curveball :P I played middle infield so I just never learned how to do it. I find this video interesting

[TheACarter]

Hey Coach! I love your descriptions and information about the how and why! I tend to be more of a Visual/Feel type of learner….could you possibly incorporate more footage of these pitches? I love the slow-mo shots from behind! Maybe so bad vs good videos as you describe each bullet point?

Love the content!

[nikkilang]

Thanks for the explanation. Probably the best teaching on YouTube.

[juanc]

Best explanation I have seem in the internet. Great science stuff!

[lucasdeoliveira]

Dan, idk if u already made a video like about how often should we throw offspeed pitches. idk if this change a lot from pitcher to pitcher.
In my case, i am in a situtation that my fastball do notg have low spinrate to cause groundballs and i'm not throwing hard enough to overpower the hitters with my fastball. i think they r hitting my fastball too easily but they have really hard time hitting my offspeed stuff. i am thinking on replacing my FB with my cutter. Anyway, THANK YOU for ur videos. they r really helping me and my teammates. Thanks Dan!

[experienceprecision]

When guys think of a curve ball they think of it going right then curving left into the strike zone. Nice to know a curve ball sinks straight down as you described