What is a Breaking Ball in Baseball?
A breaking ball is a type of baseball pitch that curves or drops as it approaches home plate. Breaking balls are commonly used by pitchers to get batters to swing and miss or to induce weak contact. The most common types of breaking balls are the curveball, slider, and changeup.
Curveball: The curveball is a breaking ball that breaks sharply down and away from the batter as it crosses the plate. It is thrown with a downward and inward motion, causing the ball to rotate clockwise for a right-handed pitcher and counterclockwise for a left-handed pitcher.
Slider: The slider is a breaking ball that breaks less sharply than a curveball but has more lateral movement. It is thrown with a combination of a curveball and a fastball motion, causing the ball to break down and across the plate.
Changeup: The changeup is a breaking ball that has very little break but appears to slow down as it approaches the plate. It is thrown with a slower arm speed than a fastball, causing the ball to have less velocity and a deceptive drop.
Related Questions and Answers:
- What is the purpose of a breaking ball? To get batters to swing and miss or to induce weak contact.
- What are the most common types of breaking balls? The curveball, slider, and changeup.
- How is a curveball thrown? With a downward and inward motion, causing it to rotate clockwise for a right-handed pitcher and counterclockwise for a left-handed pitcher.
- What is the difference between a curveball and a slider? A curveball breaks sharply down and away from the batter, while a slider breaks less sharply but has more lateral movement.
- How is a changeup thrown? With a slower arm speed than a fastball, causing it to have less velocity and a deceptive drop.
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