You’re in the backyard with your buddies and you decide to play a game of Wiffle ball. You do well for a while, but then one of them hits a curveball that’s too tough for you to handle. Before you know it, it’s your turn to throw the ball. You have no idea how to throw a curveball with a Wiffle ball and that’s why you end up losing the game.
To help you prevent that from happening, this post will go over how you can throw a curveball with a Wiffle ball.
We’ll go over everything, including how to grip the ball, how to hold your wrist, how to position your fingers on the top of the ball, and how far away from your body you should stand in order to achieve a true curveball. So keep on reading to find out how you can ensure nobody can hit your pitch!
The 7 Step Method to Throw a Curveball With a Wiffle Ball
Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how to throw a curveball with a Wiffle ball.
1. Set Your Grip
To grip the ball properly, you’ll want to hold it with your index finger and thumb. Make sure that your fingers are on top of the ball and that your thumb is in the middle.
If you’re having trouble gripping the ball correctly, you can try using some tape or a bandanna around the ball. This will help keep your grip strong during your pitch. Furthermore, when gripping the ball, you can imagine that you’re holding a grapefruit in between your thumb and index finger. Doing so may relieve some of the tension and help ease your mind.
2. Fix Your Posture
For your curveball to be effective, you’ll need to stand in a certain position. You should try and stand with your weight on the back foot and lean slightly forward. This will give you more power when you throw the ball.
Additionally, make sure that both of your arms are bent at the elbow and that your hand is close to your ear. When throwing the ball, you’ll want to snap your arm forward as if you’re throwing a fastball. If everything is in sync, the ball will start straight but it will eventually move towards the ground and curve right before it gets to the plate.
If you have trouble getting into this position or staying there throughout your pitch, consider using a pitching coach for help.
3. Lift Your Forefoot and Reach the Ground With It
Before you throw the pitch, make sure that your forefoot is lifted and reaches the ground. If it doesn’t touch anything at all during your motion, you’ll end up losing speed and power on your ball.
You can also try using a pitching rubber to help yourself get into position or keep in place for longer periods. Pitch markers may be helpful as well because they will show how far forward you should step before throwing the ball (and how much weight needs to go onto that foot). This extra information could come in handy if you’re still struggling with this aspect of pitching after trying out some other techniques we’ve mentioned above.
4. Focus On the Batter
Your focus should always be on the batter. Watch them closely and observe the position of their hands, arms, and bat. Try to visualize their movement when the ball will reach them. Once you have a clear picture of how your opponent will react, you will be able to throw your curveball in a direction that the batter will most likely miss.
5. Rotate Your Hips and Waist
In order to generate more power and add some extra movement to your ball, you’ll need to rotate your hips and waist. This will create a whipping motion that will help the ball move in the direction you want it to go. As you do this, make sure that your shoulders stay level and don’t rotate too much. If they do, it will be difficult for you to keep your focus on the batter.
6. Snap Your Wrist Downward
To add the curve to the ball, you’ll need to snap your wrist downward. This will cause the ball to curve down and away from a right-handed batter or up and in towards a lefty.
During the motion, your hand shouldn’t touch any part of your arm. If it does, stop immediately and get back into position. When done correctly, what should happen is that after you release the ball with your fingers facing downwards, they will naturally rotate around so that by the time it reaches its target; your pointer finger would be facing upwards.
7. Throw the Ball As Hard As You Can
Aren’t curveballs supposed to be slower than other types of pitches?
If that’s what you’re thinking, then you’re both right and wrong. You’re right because curveballs are typically slower than other types of pitches. But you’re wrong because it’s not the aim of the pitcher to throw their curveball slower. In fact, they aim to throw the ball as hard as they can. The reason why the ball doesn’t go as fast is that the rotatory motion slows it down.
That’s why you should throw the ball as hard as you can.
The Ideal Practice Routine to Develop the Perfect Curveball
There’s no single practice routine that’s ideal for everyone. So just like everyone else, you have to experiment to find out what works for you. That being said, there are some criteria that every training routine must meet.
- Regular Practice: Regular practice is key. Whether it’s every day or every other day, you need to create a routine and stick to it.
- Warm-Up: Stretching before and after each session is an absolute must for your body to stay healthy and flexible enough to pitch like a pro.
- Appropriate Rest: To keep yourself from getting exhausted, you must rest appropriately. This means that if your body is tired or worn out then it’s time for a break!
- Different Approaches: Trying different training approaches is crucial because it will allow you to determine what works best for you.
- Laser-Sharp Focus: You should give your all to every training session. It’s important to stay focused on the goal, try as hard as you can, and not just go through the motion.
It’s not easy to remember all the details we’ve discussed in this post. So you should bookmark this page for future reference.
What Now?
Now, it’s time to stop reading and start practicing! Pick up your Wiffle ball, go out there, and try to throw a curveball. If you fail, don’t get discouraged. It takes a lot of practice to master this maneuver. So keep at and follow the steps that we discussed earlier. Before you know it, you will be throwing the perfect curveball that no one will be able to hit!
