Throwing a wiffleball is a lot different than throwing a baseball. First of all, you don't need to snap you wrist to
throw a curveball. These are the pitches that I throw and the ones I will teach to you: fastball, sinker, riser (floater),
screwball, knuckleball, my new favorite; the Newbury Blueberry, and most importantly the curveball. You should master at least
three of these pitches to be a good player. I throw all of them so my opponents never know whats coming.
THE FASTBALL: The fastball is the easiest pitch to throw in
the game of Wiffleball, but if thrown at the correct time it can be unhitable. Holes should face home plate and the tips of
the index and middle fingers should be placed over the top holes with the thumb on the bottom seem of the ball. The ring finger
and pinky finger are together along the seem of the ball. Throwing the ball with a straight over hand motion will create the
ball to go straight towards the target, even on a windy day, and sink a little. This grip is the same for a right-handed pitcher
and left-handed pitcher. Do not grip the ball too tight, a nice loose grip is more effective. Click here to see picture.
THE CURVEBALL: The curveball, slider for some, in my opinion is the hardest pitch to hit (and that is me being modest),
and a very easy one to throw. My curveball breaks 4-5 feet at times, ask anyone who goes to Whitehill. To throw a
curveball you grip the ball with holes facing third base (for a righty). Place your thumb and middle finger on the seam of
the ball, and place your pointer finger about an inch away. This pitch can be thrown with a tight or loose grip, both curve
a lot. Throw this pitch overhand. Experiment with different throwning speeds. Click here to see picture.
THE NEWBURY BLUEBERRY:
The Newbury Blueberry
is a personal favorite just because of the name, and I can throw this pitch so accurately it is not even funny. If thrown
correctly it sinks and can be thrown very fast without getting rid of movement.
To throw this pitch you must have
the holes on the wiffleball facing the batter, then use your middle and ring finger and put them on the two holes on top.
Place your pointer finger and your pinkie each one hole beneath the finger above (pinkie one hole under the ring, and the
pointer one hole below the middle finger). This pitch should be thrown overhand. This pitch can be a very hard pitch to hit
if you throw a good curveball before throwing the Newbury Blueberry.
THE KNUCKLEBALL: This knuckle ball is not thrown like a tradition baseball.
If you can throw a knuckleball with a baseball don't think you can throw a knuckleball with a wiffleball. But, if you can
throw a knuckleball it should be one of your best pitches. This pitch goes pretty slow when thrown, but dies or just stops
right before it gets to the batter. You should get a lot of people to swing in the dirt.
To throw this pitch hold the
ball with the holes facing the plate. Place your pointer and middles fingers on the seam, but dig your nails into the seam.
Then place your thumb on the seam on the bottom of the ball. Throw this overhand, three-quarters, sidarm, or however you want.
Throw this fast , slow, or whatever. Try experimenting with different speeds. Click here to see picture.
THE SCREWBALL:
For some people this pitch is a curveball, but for me
it's not. For me, this pitch goes directly downward and a little to the left (it is a screwball) just about one foot in front
of the batter. It takes time to get this to sink when you want it to. If you can control this pitch it is your most lethal
strike out pitch.
Hold the ball the opposite of a curveball (with the holes to the left) but place your middle finger
left of the seam. Throw this hard and overhand, I haven't tried different throwing angles but you can experiment. Also try
different throwing speeds. Click here to see picture.
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