Palm Up Curve

[Ken B]

Yeah I heard smithy say that about an obvious drop ball spin....

If you are referring to Parker's CB, I think it was more of a palm-down curve/crop (better than Ricketts in my opinion.)

 

[Rick Pauly]

Here is my cue phrase for the palm up curve. Feel free to use it as you see fit.

"half rise/half curve/keep it low"

IMO a palm up curve should display a slight lift action...aka rise lift.

 

[JJsqueeze]

Here is my cue phrase for the palm up curve. Feel free to use it as you see fit.

"half rise/half curve/keep it low"

IMO a palm up curve should display a slight lift action...aka rise lift.

Well said. And a corollary cue for the rise that is bulletty is "put a little curve in it" to help feel cutting under it.

 

[javasource]

You get an A+ for break and a D- for athletic attire.

Is that Jake... from State Farm?

 

[Dial]

Here is my cue phrase for the palm up curve. Feel free to use it as you see fit.

"half rise/half curve/keep it low"

IMO a palm up curve should display a slight lift action...aka rise lift.

So rick your saying the curve should have reverse spin on it like a rise?? Getting the fingers under the ball instead of the side?

 

[Rick Pauly]

So rick your saying the curve should have reverse spin on it like a rise?? Getting the fingers under the ball instead of the side?

Yes, definitely try to get the fingers under the ball but keep the finger tips up which will sort of be on the side of the ball.The pic below is a bit blurred but is a curve thrown by one of the best curveball pitchers in the game.

 

[Ken B]

I find that in full motion, if I think and work for "flat," I get crise spin. That's exaggerating thumb down and wrist cocked. Hoping to record some full motion/flat spin when time allows. Not sure if I can pull it off like SL, but will give it an honest try.

 

[go4fpsb]

For the sake of clarity at least for me. I see and hear Ken and Rick talking about two very different types or curves. In Ken's video I see his wrist cocked, away from his thigh and generating spin that is more like a top and a curve that is more like what I have seen Monica Abbott throw. I see the photo Rick posted showing a wrist not cocked and his description of the fingers generating a more spiral spin like the spiral curve I believe that Sarah P throws. When I was lucky enough to have a conversation with Rich Balswick in Indiana at the clinic, he showed and described a curve much like what Ken is throwing. Am I wrong here and misinterpreted the descriptions?

 

[cuzmail]

Real pitcher throwing a real curve ball:

Watched Littlejohn warming up at the WCWS. When it came to her curve, she used a spinner first (had completely flat horizontal tight spin), then moved to a black full sized ball (weighted ball?), then a baseball, and finally a regular softball. She did about 10 reps of each at various distances.

 

[Mike-Coach Q]

The young girls I've worked with, when they are learning the palm up curve and they are having trouble feeling it, I've had them throw a fresbee. Very similar to a spinner but easier to feel the snap and whip IMO. Great stuff.