| The curveball has been a universally feared pitch | | | | so on. |
| in baseball for more than a century, and with | | | | Recognizing the Pitch |
| good reason. If you’ve never seen a good | | | | In order to hit the curveball you need to |
| curveball from the batter’s box, it can be | | | | recognize that the pitch is a curveball, and you |
| difficult to appreciate its effects on the hitter, but | | | | need to do that in milliseconds. Seems simple, |
| be assured that it brings a whole new challenge to | | | | right? It’s not, but it’s an absolute |
| striking that small round ball approaching between | | | | requirement if you want to consistently hit |
| 70 and 100 MPH, with a round bat ---- you literally | | | | curveballs. There are a couple of key things to |
| have less than a second to decide to swing the | | | | watch for: |
| bat. The challenge is especially intimidating if you | | | | - Pitcher’s tell – every pitcher is different; |
| haven’t yet had much experience with | | | | however many give away clues while positioning |
| curveballs and other “junk” or | | | | their hand prior to the pitch, or they slow their |
| “breaking” pitches. Watching even | | | | arm speed during delivery, and/or their arm angle |
| professional hitters, check that, watching even the | | | | changes during delivery. This is yet another |
| very best professional hitters, buckle at the knees | | | | reason it’s important to watch the pitcher |
| and turn into jelly at the mercy of a nasty | | | | from the dugout as he’s pitching to other |
| curveball is really pretty astonishing. | | | | batters. |
| With all that said, the curveball can be hit, and you | | | | - Rotation – there are different types of |
| can improve your ability to hit the curveball with | | | | curves and they all behave a bit differently; |
| some thought and some practice. Let’s | | | | however they all require ball rotation that’s |
| break it down. | | | | pretty discernable, although again, you’ve less |
| Being Prepared | | | | than a second to pick that up AND decide to |
| While not specific to curveballs, the first thing a | | | | swing. |
| hitter needs to do to be successful with the | | | | Hitting Mechanics |
| curve is to be prepared. What do I mean by | | | | The key with the curveball is to resist the urge to |
| that? Well, there are many factors to | | | | act too quickly. The pitch speed tends to be |
| preparedness, but the basics are: | | | | slower than most other pitches, certainly slower |
| - Knowing the pitcher and what kind of | | | | than a fastball, and most hitters have a difficulty |
| “stuff” or pitches he has, and how he | | | | “staying back”. Once they’ve |
| uses them (i.e. in what situations). This is why | | | | committed themselves they attempt to adjust |
| it’s important to watch the pitcher closely | | | | themselves during swing execution which often |
| from the dugout as he’s pitching to other | | | | results in a swing that’s severely flawed |
| batters. | | | | mechanically. So even if you make contact with |
| - Understanding which counts you’re likely to | | | | the curve you don’t hit it well. If you feel |
| see which pitches so that you can properly | | | | yourself out of sorts, particularly if your weight is |
| anticipate the curve or breaking ball. For | | | | forward, its best not to swing unless you must |
| example, you will rarely get a curveball on a 3 ball | | | | (i.e. you’re protecting the plate). |
| count unless the pitcher would prefer to walk you | | | | 1. Many hitters love the curve if they’ve |
| than throw you a fastball. Hitting strategies | | | | anticipated it, or if it’s hung in the strike-zone. |
| related to pitch count are a topic worthy of | | | | Many a hanging breaking ball finds itself planted |
| discussion by themselves, but suffice to say | | | | in the bleachers for a round-tripper. |
| several factors go into this art, including the score, | | | | When it comes to hitting curveballs, like most |
| the inning, whether there are runners on base, the | | | | things, a thoughtful approach, practice and |
| pitcher’s command on that particular day, and | | | | experience are the keys to success. |