Best and easiest Screwball

[radness]

If you are talking about a pitch that breaks left to right for a rightie due to 3-9 spin, no video exists because it doesn't exist.

Good thing pitches dont need that EXACT 3-9 rotation to break in.

 

[El Oso]

Good thing pitches dont need that EXACT 3-9 rotation to break in.

Agree. I've caught many a pitch that breaks in without a 3-9 spin. That's not a requirement.

 

[mmeece]

You'll find arguments that all screwballs are all "step left, throw right", also referred to as "angle" pitches, which just isn't true. I've caught some good screwballs and some that were simply "angle" pitches. The good news is that both can be effective when paired with other pitches. It's not necessary to have perfect 3-9 spin to make the ball move in on a right-handed batter, and the simplest way to start playing with it is to just release a fastball or drop ball with the fingers inside the ball (towards the thigh). My dd used this method (and the opposite, fingers outside the ball) to make her peel drop ball move either direction and it worked very well. It will take some tweaks on grip and/or finger pressure, but you can really make a ball move this way.

 

[DNeeld]

A basic IR throw, a "fastball" for lack of better term, will naturally break down and in. Combine this with a slightly different angle and you have the easiest and best screwball.

People get lost in the woods when they start trying all these crazy body contortions and wrist/finger manipulation to achieve the desired result.

 

[fanboi22]

A basic IR throw, a "fastball" for lack of better term, will naturally break down and in. Combine this with a slightly different angle and you have the easiest and best screwball.

People get lost in the woods when they start trying all these crazy body contortions and wrist/finger manipulation to achieve the desired result.

I agree with you , as i think i said basically the same thing earlier. People getting lost in the woods is because they are trying to get that correct spin of 3-9, which is the exact opposite of the correct spin on a curve. 9-3, or whatever way you are looking at it. In my opinion the correct 'screwball' spin would be 3-9 and if you can't get that spin, it is not a screwball. Just like the drop ball without perfect 12-6 spin is not a true drop ball. does it drop? sure, but is it the ideal drop ball? no. Only perfect spin gets you the perfect pitch. So if you want to call a pitch a screwball, that is fine. Just don't say it does 3-9 spin as i believe that is impossible. I believe a curve ball can be achieved with 9-3 just not the opposite for 3-9.

 

[sluggers]

I've never seen anything close to 3-9 spin.

It is possible to get some inside breaking movement by throwing a bullet spin pitch and getting the seam orientation correct. It is very hard to perfect such a pitch. Even if perfected, the amount of break on the ball isn't enough to be a strike out pitch. (Hannah Rogers from UF used this pitch along with a huge step-left, throw right delivery. The NCAA effectively banned this pitch when they started enforcing the pitching lane.)

A kid gets much more bang for the buck with a drop or rise. A 6-12 rise is a guarantee to play in college.

But, parents being parents like chasing unicorns.

The truth, which parents hate to hear, is that there is no magical shortcut. Good pitchers have exceptional control, movement and speed due to years of hard, tedious practice.

 

[Shawn]

That’s what I thought. The screwball is just a two seam with movement.

If you position the hand correctly and the body you can create a fastball/screw.

 

[uncdrew]

the smart alec answer is to work on pitches that break up and down, not side to side.

I like the ones that break side to side and up and down.

By that, I mean in the same pitch. Up, down, back up, left, down, right, then up.

I need a name for it.

 

[uncdrew]

+1 for Sluggers response. The best 'screwball' that I have seen, is the 2 seam 'fastball' with the Boardmember 6-12 yawwed spin that breaks down and in to a RHH. My DD hates the feel of it in the grip but when the air flow over the ball is just right, it really is a fun pitch to watch.

My DD gets some crazy movement on her two-seam fastball, but goes in the "curveball direction". Would be much cooler if it went the other way.

 

[cnardone]

I like the ones that break side to side and up and down.

By that, I mean in the same pitch. Up, down, back up, left, down, right, then up.

I need a name for it.

David cone calls it tilt on a slider.