How to Pitch a Screwball | Baseball Pitching

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How to throw a screwball.

The screwball also known as the screwgee is a pitch that acts opposite of the slider or the curve ball, and breaks away from the batter. A left-handed pitcher would throw a screwball to a right-handed batter to break away from him.

The screwball was first created by Christy Mathewson, who called it a fade, as it faded away from the batter. Later on in history Carl Hubbell and Tug McGraw were famous screwball pitchers.

The screwball is released with many different pitching grips. Four seam, two seam curve ball. Most importantly though, it enables the pitcher to release the pitch while pronating his thumb downward, and turning his wrist outward, much like turning a doorknob. In doing so, a left-handed pitcher would be turning the doorknob to the right, or a right-handed pitcher would be turning the doorknob to the left, and pronating a thumb down to create this run or fade on the pitch.

The screwball has been known to cause arm problems. Fernando Valenzuela who threw a very effective screwball in the 1980's into the 1990's was known to have developed some arm trouble from this pronation of the wrist, or turning the doorknob as a right-handed pitcher to the right. In doing so, he put undue pressure on his elbow.

It's very important that pitchers, especially young pitchers, are aware of the risks of throwing a screwball.

These are some tips for throwing a screwball.

[fialee]

Ferando got hurt because he pitched 250+ innings for six straight years, and one year, he had 20 complete games (along with several other years in double digits). Dodgers just blew his arm out...

[thecubedpanda]

Valenzuela wasn't hurt because the screwball. It was because the dodger pitched him every game

[milesrastorfer]

If this was the best take of him reading, I wonder what the bad ones looked like.

[brandonfischer]

I used to throw a screw ball. I started using it when my curveball went all over the place. I did research on it and in reality its not more dangerous than a curveball. I never had arm issues, but i end up rotating my whole arm instead of my wrist, im partially double jointed and never felt any strain on my arm. I threw a 4 seam, 2 seam, curve (which to throw it well again and accurately, I had to rotate my upper body like Cueto does sometimes), a screw, change up, fork, and a splitter. I also knew how to throw a palm and a circle change but those were much worse than my curve ball

[alexcrane]

“I am definitely...not reading...what I found on...Wikipedia”

[ricozam]

Valenzuela was over used by the Dodgers, he could've had a much longer career if Lasorda hadn't made him pitch so many complete games.

[Ares]

I use to be a sinker/screwball pitcher which sort of have a similar look from the batters eye but with more movement going into the righthanded batter with less down movement (if you are a righty). its a good pitch to have just because barely anyone throws it nowadays. But i developed some arm issues at the end so i wouldn't throw it frequently.

[boringdude]

I find it best to throw this with a change-up. Somehow it works best for me

[shanejohnson]

How in the world do you have this many views without actually teaching out to throw the ball with visuals?.... on a visual video!! Mind blown...

[scoutsden]

I used to throw a natural screwball throwing from 3rd base or shortstop, I couldn’t throw straight. First baseman hated it.

[aliciawingard]

I'm I screwballer. I'm the only one in my league. I don't get to pitch often. But when I have I've never had a batter hit the pitch. I've been working on my screwball for years and have never felt any pain. The unusual motion of the pitch is the only reason people don't like it. It is a amazing pitch to have in your arsenal and it does wonders in furthering your career.

[Degenerate]

A breaking ball is a curveball, slider, or a slurve and a screwball is also considered a breaking ball. a splitter can also be considered a breaking ball. a breaking ball is not one specific pitch it is just used to refer to off speed pitches that have noticeable movement.

[valeriecurtis]

In tennis, we call it a twist/kick, which works similar to a screwball. Stefan Edberg was the most notorious twist servers with mph rarely exceeding 100mph. As a serve and volleyer, the serve worked well for him as it was slow which allowed him to get to net quicker and allowed the ball to rise higher. He had great head to head records except with Agassi and Courier.

[hooligan]

screwball was famous did you know ? that pitch strikeout babe ruth, lou gehrig, jammie foxx, al simmons and joe cronin by carl hubbell make 5 future hall famers in all star game 1934

[americandissident]

Looking at the math and stats of pitchers, it’s become known that the screwball does not cause arm problems. Some of the early screwball pitchers who developed problems were pitching almost every game. One pitcher pitched a record 13 games in a row.

The screwball is rare now because pitchers and coaches became afraid of the injuries, but like I said, it’s become known that the stats don’t show it causes arm problems. Pitching in general can cause that if you overdo it.

[geoffa]

Actually it's the opposite of a curveball (it has a lot more break than a cutter). The opposite of a cutter would either be a two seamer or a running fastball, both of which tail towards your throwing hand.

[johnbeavers]

nothing more than a good circle O change up or a Sinker/2 seam fastball.

[Bbfo]

When I played I figured out a pitch which I'm guessing is close to a screwball. It would do odd rotations and generally curve opposite of a curveball. Usually held 2 seam with pointer and middle fingers in a way where basically like a split finger fastball but instead of my fingers extended over the seams, my fingernails dug down into the seams. When I threw I sorta did this weird snap outwards and slightly opposite of the direction of curveball. Almost pushing it. I did it messing around until my coach was like "WOAH! what was that you just did?!" I never knew what it was but maybe this explains it better. Either this or a weird knuckeball idk lol

[mattpetrosky]

If you throw it with more of a wrist snap than whole arm it doesn't put much tension on the elbow. I've thrown it since high school so 8 years now. Don't actually call it a screwball though just a 2 seamer with nasty run away from righties or bust lefties hands all day with it. I can throw it with decent velocity only about a 3-5 mph decrease from a 4 seamer

[colemansparkman]

I love how you can tell he’s reading this off a script