It’s been said that the quickest way to get from point A to point B is a straight line. But somewhere along the way, baseball pitchers figured out that the quickest way to sit a batter down is by putting a little bend in the ball. A good curveball can make even the best hitter look silly if he’s not expecting it. Mastering the art of hitting a curveball is one of those things that separates the men from the boys.

 

Here’s what Hank Aaron had to say about it: “I can wait on the curveball because I know the pitcher can’t throw the fastball by me.”

 

Well, that worked great for Hammerin’ Hank, but what about the rest of us? If you want to hit a breaking ball, here are few things to remember:

 

1. Read the spin. This is easier said than done when the ball is coming at you at 80+ miles an hour, but the best hitters claim to be able to read the spin on a curveball and distinguish it from a fastball.

 

2. Lighten up. Use a bat that’s light enough that you can get around on a pitch, even if you’ve been fooled.

 

3. Be patient. Keep your weight back and wait as long as possible before swinging.

 

4. Read the break. If it starts low, let it go. If it starts to hang, give it a bang.

 

5. Go the opposite way. Instead of trying to pull the ball, hit it to the opposite field. Right-handed batters facing a right-handed pitcher should try to hit a curveball to right field.

 

6. Practice makes perfect. Visit the local batting cage for a couple of weeks. Work on your timing, patience, and swing.

 

This article was taken from How to Hit a Curve Ball (Tyndale) by Stephen James and David Thomas. To order the book click here!