Just to point up something that is generally not kicked around because I think it messes up the confidence of a lot of guys: Changing arm angles, whether you throw what you call a good pitch or not from there will probably make it a killer pitch simply because you're obviously in a different slot and you immediately have the batter confused. I wish I'd thought of just throwing my lame fastball from half-a-dozen angles when I was younger; I would have done well for sure. Too many guys, though, don't feel confident dropping down, or going low slot/high slot or a 12-6 with whatever they have, because it feels new, and newness is scary. Trust it. Phil Niekro threw his lame-o knuckler, fastball and slider from God-only-knows what slot, and that alone made him stunningly effective on a number of pitches that were otherwise crushable by a high schooler. --Dave C.

If it goes from neck to shin, its probably a gravity ball, at around 30 mph lol.

Your curve drops from the batter's neck to his shin? What speed do you throw that at?

ok, thanks ALOT!

I noticed that anytime you change arm angle, you also change release point, and probably without you noticing it. Also, if you watch Wake, he launches the ball slightly upwards, so there's a natural arc on the ball from the lack of velocity. So it wouldn't surprise me if you find you have to release it earlier. And I'd LOVE to see a 12-6 knuckleball! Imagine one coming down from about 8 feet up. Care to guess where it goes from there? Not me! --Dave C.

i am re-teaching myself to throw over the top. i had aproblem where i'd drop down sidearm so i thought just stick to 100% sidearm. my coach got me thrown over the top again, and taught me the proper mechanics. my curveball is droping from the batters neck to his shin. and my fastball gained about 5mph. the only thing wrong now is that my knuckleball SUCKS!!!!!! i threw it and it land either 10 feet in front of the plate or way of to the left or right. can anybody re-iderate the rules or mechanics of throwing an over the top knuckleball?

If you change the arm angle on your knuckleball from time to time you can effectively pitch on 3 pitches. Fastball, Curve or slider and kball. You have to have faith in all your pitches and throw them when they are not expected. Thats is the difference between pitching and throwing. 0-2 fastball, or 3-2 kball will keep them guessing and that is the name of the game. Watch your arm. You only get one. Screwball? my arm hurts thinking about it! How long did Fernado V. last?

Hey man, were just watching out for you. I play hockey, my cousin used to play baseball at ages of 10-16 great pitcher, could throw 80-85 fastball, and a nasty curve. But he threw sidearm. His main sport was hockey, and by throwing sidearm all that long, his 1st Major Junior Game (Top amateur league in Canada) he dislocated his shoulder. This is most likely because of him throwing side-arm. Just watching out for ya!

i like sidearm, (not to be disrepectful) i think i can throw sidearm 100% of the time.

I'm not so sure you should go 100% sidearm. After getting used to a few sidearm pitches and timing them down, i think they are especially fun and easy for hitters to drive into a gap. if your knuckle is that much better from the side, then mix your pitches up between side and overhand. that way, you will have about 10 different pitches to throw, if what you stated above was true. believe me, and think about it for yourself, hitters would rather see you throw all sidearm than a mix of both.

i actually incorporated that into my most recent game a few days ago. i noticed that my 60 mph fastball/knuckle combo was working most counts into my favor, but once the 0-2 1-2 came around, i didnt have anything to really finish guys off. i decided that once every few innings, when the situation called for it, i would drop down to the side just to give the batter a different look and hopefully surprise him. i tried it once on an 0-2 count and my it froze him, fastball down the middle for the k. that does not mean i am going to go full time steve reed style, because it will not freeze guys every time. i like to think of it as just one more trick i can pull out 2-3 times a game.

actually its not that hard to throw! i was surtprised at how easy it was. sidearm: twist wrist down, and then up, trust me, it works

A sidearm screwy? I find this very difficult to believe, not because im insulting you, but because i find it almost impossible to pronate my wrist at any angle below 3/4. And even if you COULD do this how could you get any gas, it seems to be against the laws of biomechanics.
I Live off of the knuckleball
-Angelo from springfield

i throw:

1. 2 seam fastball
2. cut fastball/ sinker
3. Knuckleball
4. Slider
5. Screwball

i throw all of these sidearm

Have you tried throwing anything else with that arm angle? I know you say your speed is fast, but as pitches go, it isn't, really. I wouldn't suggest a slider or fastball at that speed because to be effective, those pitches usually have to be thrown with some gas. However, once in awhile may keep them thinking. You may be able to develop a knuckle-curve you could locate that way; that would be a knockout if you could throw it for strikes. I like the k-curve in that you can throw it like a fastball or a slow 12-6 and still get movement on it, and I found it easy to learn. (Just tough to control!) --Dave C.

o yeah, i can rely on it about 96% of the time! and it does drop ALOT! when i throw it fast(about 50-55mph) it moves like crazy and drops about 1 1/2 ft. any other suggestions on how to throw it?

Nothing here surprises me. I'd just make sure you can spot one of those pitches with a high degree of reliability. And some good knucklers will fall off the table like something out of a Bugs Bunny cartoon.
One thing I suggest to anyone throwing a knuckler is to drop down once in awhile. Not that I want anyone throwing sidewinder all the time because that's a potential danger to your arm, but it doesn't hurt to drop down for two really wonderful reasons:
1. It gives the batter a different look. It fools them, gets them wondering, and that's your job out there and that's an easy way to do it, even if the ball doesn't do anything.
2. You may discover, as I did, that you'll have to release earlier than you think, which may straighten out a common problem of releasing too late and getting a resultant spin, not realizing that you're releasing late. So it's a good diagnostic drill, even if you throw it only one once in awhile.
--Dave C.

i am starting to throw sidearm and my k-ball is moving all over the place! it is so awesome, submarine hurt my elbow, but sidearm feels really good and natural, and my knuckler is AWESOME!!!! o yeah i also throw a 2 seam fastball, slider, and a forkball, just incase you were wonderin. o yeah, is the knuckleball suppost to drop alot, like the neck to the knees?

[Edited on 11/15/87 by Ace1]