Training Guide
We discourage baseball players under the age of 13 from throwing a WIFFLE ball as described below. (Developing muscles and tendons are at a higher risk for injury.)
Anyone attempting these pitches; does so at their own risk. Always include proper warm-up & stretching; before and after the following activities.
Get a grip: The Knuckle_Curve
Begin with holes facing down. Place thumb in hole and curl first finger on top
Ball held ONLY by thumb in rear, first finger curled on top and second finger in front.
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Extend thumb down to facilitate a deeper grip in webbing of thumb crotch.
Coming soon - The Finger Drop
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When throwing this pitch, aim for a 3/4 arm slot or come straight over the top. Release the ball as a regular baseball curve; by snapping the wrist clockwise. (Right handed pitchers) The ball should rotate off the first finger (curled) and second finger. Aim high and remember to follow through with a quick snap of the wrist.
This knuckle curve has late, surprising movement. It uses an unorthodox grip, but once learned can become a useful out pitch. The movement is from 12 - 6, and can also be thrown sidearm. Hide this pitch during your windup as the protruding first finger knuckle may tip off the batter.
Remember, no two people throw the same way. It's important to practice as much as possible in order to develop the proper feel and consistency that's necessary for success. What works for me probably won't work for you; but watching someone else, may help speed up the learning process.
This is one of my favorite pitches. I began experimenting with The Knuckle Curve 6 years ago after reading a description online. (Can't find the original site) This is the only pitch I currently use that was learned directly from an online source.
The perfect pitch.
I played intramural WIFFLE ball while attending Merrimack College; the shirt I'm wearing in the slideshow above is from that championship season. The knuckle curve single handily won my team the championship.
The strike zone being used in that league was a large chair. A strike was called if a pitch hit the back or seat portion of the chair, lending to a strike zone with both a vertical plane (back of chair) and a horizontal plane (seat of chair).
Because the knuckle curve drops straight down from 12 - 6, the horizontal section of the zone (the seat) increased the likelihood for a strike, so I threw this pitch often with much success.
The strike zone being used in that league was a large chair. A strike was called if a pitch hit the back or seat portion of the chair, lending to a strike zone with both a vertical plane (back of chair) and a horizontal plane (seat of chair).
Because the knuckle curve drops straight down from 12 - 6, the horizontal section of the zone (the seat) increased the likelihood for a strike, so I threw this pitch often with much success.
