Knuckleball

Here comes a knuckleball Releasing the ball Fingers pressed The secret behind a Front view knuckleball is to throw the pitch with virtually no rotation on the ball; it is one of the hardest pitches to consistently control. Sidę view Press fingernails of index, middle and ring fingers just below seams; place thumb under ball Instead of Extend Keep wrist stiff, do not snap throwing, push ball toward home plate fingers straight out to give support What the batter sees Moving air pockets The rotation The break When seam rotates in airflow it creates turbulence causing ball to break in that direction; trajectory unpredictable Ideal knuckleball rotates one-quarter to one-half rotation; such a slow rotation makes it unstable Source: The Complete Pitcher Graphic: Melina Yingling © 2012 MCT