Curveball Grip: How To Grip A Curveball

I threw a curveball with a 12 to 6 o'clock rotation. This release imparts sidespin and backspin because I maintained pressure on the ball with my middle finger while rolling it out over the top of my index finger. I liked to throw the ball into the wind, because this increased the ball's rotation and helped the break.

The key to the curveball grip is to keep your hand behind the ball as long as possible, impart the spin with the wrist and not with the elbow, and make sure the thumb is relaxed. I shortened my stride by 1 in. or so, compared to pitching a fastball. The object here is not to be throwing the ball toward the batter. You want a feeling like you're pulling down on the ball, almost like you're throwing it into the ground. This type of motion coupled with the curveball grip gives the ball the desired trajectory.