Throwing Cheese

A curveball is not an easy pitch to throw.

“Either you have it or you don’t,” former Utah State baseball club pitching coach Jeremy Gordon said. “You can’t really learn it.”

Gordon played college ball as a pitcher at Eastern Oregon and coached at USU for three years.

He said the whole point of pitching is to keep the batter off balance.

“Greg Maddux’s fastball is 15 mph slower than Roger Clemens’, but he strikes out just as many hitters,” he said. In order to throw a curve, you must first have the right grip on the ball.

Gordon said it is best to put your middle finger on the seam on the horseshoe of the baseball with your index finger next to it. Your thumb should be on the seam on the bottom of the baseball, he said.

“Most of the pressure should be on your middle finger,” he said.

Gordon said as you throw, turn your arm 90 degrees when your arm is cocked and ready to follow through. As you release the ball, pull your arm down like you’re pulling down a lampshade, Gordon said.

“Your arm speed should be the same as a fastball,” he said. “You’re just putting some spin on the ball.”

Gordon said your wrist should not snap when you throw a curve.

“It’s a common misconception,” he said. “There shouldn’t be any stress on your elbow.”

He said a curveball is not something that should be taught at a young age.

“You shouldn’t throw it until you’re 16 years old,” he said. “It messes with your ligaments.”

Gordon said a curveball can be ineffective if it is not slower than a fastball.

“The point of it is to get the hitter off balance with the speed,” he said. “Any off-speed pitch should be a minimum of 7 mph slower than your fastball. So, if your fastball is 90 mph, your curve should be 80-83 mph.

-bhhinton@cc.usu.edu