I got another pitching question on my website today and this one is from Brian Cendejas.
I think I said that right.
Anyway, his question is "hey John, I'm having a problem with my 12-6 curveball when I pitch
it the ball goes off to my left and I'm having a hard time controlling it.
Is there any drills or tips to have a better controlled and better breaking 12-6 curve".
Well that's a great question and Brian is a righty first of all.
So his ball, he's a righty, and his ball is breaking out to the left, goes to his left
when he's throwing it and that's his problem.
So Brian there's a couple things you want to look for or address.
Two of them are going to be mechanical things and one of them is going to be a mental thing.
Let's talk about the mechanical stuff first.
First, when I see a lot of guys throwing curveballs, they're a little too aggressive in the back
meaning they'll get back here and they'll pull it just like their fastball and they'll
try to throw it too hard too early.
In that case a righty is going to leave it up and out and hanging.
For you, your ball is going down and to the left.
So you may be cutting that off too much out in front and yanking it too far out in front
and that happens sometimes when you're not aggressive enough in the back.
So I want you to try next time you're throwing it to think a little bit more like a fastball.
Not exactly like a fastball but I want you to think a little bit more aggressive in the
back when you're going to throw it versus just smooth and yanking it out in front.
Ok?
So try that first of all.
The second thing you want to be aware of is your wrist angle, your arm angle, and where
your fingers are when you're doing that.
So you really want to be on a 12-6 curve you want that, those fingers right here.
Let me see if I've got a ball.
I've got a ball right here, hold on.
So, you want those fingers to be on top of that ball right here when I'm coming this
way.
If you're down or around it or not in a good spot with your wrist, that could cause the
ball to do all kinds of stuff that you don't want to do.
So if you can get yourself on slow motion video from the front.
So like, your camera would be right here and I'm pitching straight towards the camera and
see where your fingers are at release point and see your wrist angle.
Where your wrist angle is at release point.
Because that could be a cause of it as well.
The last thing like I said one of them is going to be mental is you want to set your
sites before you throw that pitch and what that means is when I was throwing my curveball
which was actually like a slurve ball was I would set my sites if I was trying to throw
it for a strike if I had a righty batter up there I would throw it at his left shoulder
and let it break into the zone.
If I was trying to throw it as an out pitch I would throw it to the catcher's glove and
let it break down and out.
Now, it's not just about setting your sights.
You also want to take a second to visualize the pitch before it happens.
Meaning you're up there, you take the sign from the catcher, ok, curveball, the catcher
sets up and you take a second and it just takes one second, you keep your eyes open
and you visualize the path of the pitch.
You see it in your mind, you see it happening out in front of you and it just takes a second
and you watch it so you know if you're trying to throw that pitch for a strike, you know,
right on the outside part of the plate to a righty, you're going to see the pitch, the
plane of the pitch go in and break right to the catcher's glove.
Imagining it, ok?
And when you do that, your body feels it and believe it or not, you're going to be able
to feel your release point better when you do that and it just takes a second to do and
it's the best advice I can give you for throwing that curveball more accurately.
So set your sights and take a quick second to visualize it because that's going to help
a lot.
Again, from the mechanical stand point check your grip and your wrist angle at release
point and then also just try to be a little bit more aggressive in the back versus out
front for you.
Most guys it's the opposite.
They're throwing it too hard too early.
So if you're a guy who is air mailing your curveball all the time and it's not getting
a lot of break smooth it out in the back and finish it more out in front.
So, anyway, I hope that helps.
If you guys have any more pitching questions or hitting questions or anything about baseball
let me know I'd love to help answer your questions and thanks for watching guys.
Comment below!
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