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Knuckle curve

In Major League history, the term knuckle curve or knuckle curveball has been used to describe three entirely different pitches. All are unrelated to the similar sounding knuckleball.

A common grip used for a knuckle curve

The first, more modern and commonly used pitch called the knuckle curve is really a standard curveball, thrown with one or more of the index or middle fingers bent. According to practitioners, this gives them a better grip on the ball and allows for tighter spin and greater movement. In all other respects, this knuckle curve is identical to the standard curveball. This version of the knuckle curve is currently used by Major League pitchers Phil Hughes and Brad Peacock. Mike Mussina was well known for his incorporation of the pitch into his repertoire. Justin Verlander formerly threw a knuckle curve but was forced to abandon the pitch due to problems with blisters.[1] This knuckle curve is usually called the spike curve by MLB players and coaches because the pitch is nothing like a knuckleball.

The second type of knuckle curve is a breaking ball that is thrown with a grip similar to the knuckleball. Unlike a knuckleball, which spins very little, a knuckle curve spins like a normal curveball because the pitcher's index and middle fingers push the top of the ball into a downward curve at the moment of release. Since only two fingers produce the spin, however, a knuckle curve does not spin as fast as a curveball, meaning the break is less sharp and less predictable. Because this knuckle curve can be thrown with the same general motion as a fastball, it is more deceptive than a normal curveball. This kind of knuckle curve is rare. It is easier to control than a standard knuckleball, but still difficult to master. The most famous practitioners of this type of knuckle curve are Burt Hooton, who pitched for the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers from the mid-1970s to mid-1980s, and former reliever Jason Isringhausen.

The third type of knuckle curve was thrown by Dave Stenhouse in the 1960s. Stenhouse's knuckle curve was thrown like a fastball but with a knuckleball grip. Stenhouse discovered that this pitch had excellent movement, and when he came to the majors, he utilized it as a breaking pitch. This pitch may have been the same as the knuckleball thrown by Jesse Haines and Freddie Fitzsimmons. The pitch would be perfected by Chicago White Sox legend Hoyt Wilhelm during the later stages of his career, after flirting with it for most of his time in the majors.

Notable knuckle curve pitchers edit

References edit

  1. ^ Morosi, Jon Paul (2006-05-01). "TIGERS CORNER: Polanco's play 'game-changing'". Detroit Free Press. from the original on 2006-06-24. Retrieved 2019-04-05.
  2. ^ "How the knuckle-curve works & why it's become so popular". FOX Sports. 2014-05-08. Retrieved 2019-04-05.

External links edit

  • How to throw a knuckle curve
  • How To Throw A Knuckle Curve Ball

knuckle, curve, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, april, 2019. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Knuckle curve news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2019 Learn how and when to remove this message In Major League history the term knuckle curve or knuckle curveball has been used to describe three entirely different pitches All are unrelated to the similar sounding knuckleball A common grip used for a knuckle curve The first more modern and commonly used pitch called the knuckle curve is really a standard curveball thrown with one or more of the index or middle fingers bent According to practitioners this gives them a better grip on the ball and allows for tighter spin and greater movement In all other respects this knuckle curve is identical to the standard curveball This version of the knuckle curve is currently used by Major League pitchers Phil Hughes and Brad Peacock Mike Mussina was well known for his incorporation of the pitch into his repertoire Justin Verlander formerly threw a knuckle curve but was forced to abandon the pitch due to problems with blisters 1 This knuckle curve is usually called the spike curve by MLB players and coaches because the pitch is nothing like a knuckleball The second type of knuckle curve is a breaking ball that is thrown with a grip similar to the knuckleball Unlike a knuckleball which spins very little a knuckle curve spins like a normal curveball because the pitcher s index and middle fingers push the top of the ball into a downward curve at the moment of release Since only two fingers produce the spin however a knuckle curve does not spin as fast as a curveball meaning the break is less sharp and less predictable Because this knuckle curve can be thrown with the same general motion as a fastball it is more deceptive than a normal curveball This kind of knuckle curve is rare It is easier to control than a standard knuckleball but still difficult to master The most famous practitioners of this type of knuckle curve are Burt Hooton who pitched for the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers from the mid 1970s to mid 1980s and former reliever Jason Isringhausen The third type of knuckle curve was thrown by Dave Stenhouse in the 1960s Stenhouse s knuckle curve was thrown like a fastball but with a knuckleball grip Stenhouse discovered that this pitch had excellent movement and when he came to the majors he utilized it as a breaking pitch This pitch may have been the same as the knuckleball thrown by Jesse Haines and Freddie Fitzsimmons The pitch would be perfected by Chicago White Sox legend Hoyt Wilhelm during the later stages of his career after flirting with it for most of his time in the majors Notable knuckle curve pitchers editCody Allen Matt Anderson Matt Barnes Dellin Betances Shane Bieber Archie Bradley Mike Bolsinger Walker Buehler A J Burnett 2 Alex Cobb Gerrit Cole Wade Davis Tyler Duffey Dillon Gee Zack Godley Dan Haren Burt Hooton J P Howell Phil Hughes Jason Isringhausen Joe Kelly Craig Kimbrel German Marquez Vin Mazzaro Lance McCullers Jr James McDonald Mark Melancon Mike Minor Mike Mussina Aaron Nola Bobby Parnell James Paxton Brad Peacock Nick Pivetta Drew Pomeranz David Robertson Jonathan Sanchez Dave Stenhouse Ross Stripling Chris Tillman Hoyt Wilhelm Brandon WorkmanReferences edit Morosi Jon Paul 2006 05 01 TIGERS CORNER Polanco s play game changing Detroit Free Press Archived from the original on 2006 06 24 Retrieved 2019 04 05 How the knuckle curve works amp why it s become so popular FOX Sports 2014 05 08 Retrieved 2019 04 05 External links editHow to throw a knuckle curve How To Throw A Knuckle Curve Ball Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Knuckle curve amp oldid 1166154061, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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