Curveball Pitch Design: Tips for Depth and Velocity

In this video, Tyler Zomra from Tread Athletics discusses key aspects of curveball design, focusing on achieving depth and velocity. Understanding the purpose of your curveball—whether for strikes or as a putaway pitch—is crucial, especially as you advance in baseball. Here’s how to refine your curveball for optimal performance.

Key Takeaways and Tips for Curveball Development

• Distinguish Your Goal: Decide if you want to land the curveball for a strike or use it as a hard putaway pitch.
• Prioritize Depth: Focus on creating a vertical profile with significant depth to differentiate it from a slider.
• Maximize Velocity: Higher velocity on curveballs increases whiff rates and reduces wOBA (weighted on-base average).
• Master the Grip: Dominate the ball with your middle finger and thumb, keeping the pointer finger pressure-free to avoid throwing off the axis.
• Experiment with Spike: Try creating an efficient spike to enhance vertical depth, ensuring the middle finger leads.
• Practice Consistently: Get comfortable with the grip and throwing hard during catch play to improve mound performance.

Ultimately, the goal is to achieve significant negative vertical break at the highest possible velocity. Experiment with different techniques to find what works best for you, focusing on middle finger dominance and consistent practice.

For more tips on improving your baseball skills, visit BaseballSkillsHub.com.