Last Updated on September 12, 2023
A breaking ball is a type of pitch that snap the pitcher. Moreover, the pitchers break their wrists to give the ball spin and movement. Breaking the ball is an important skill that helps the team win or boost the game.
The term breaking ball is used in various ways. For example, it is used by broadcasters widely when they are still determining if a pitch is a curve or a slider, but they know that it is one or other. A pitcher can throw both a curve and a slider.
This article will help you to get the ins and outs of breaking the ball to get a clear concept. So, stay connected to get further and detailed information about this matter.
Why Is It Called a Breaking Ball?
Breaking ball is also known as breaking pitch. The name of breaking ball comes from baseball because the pitchers break down from a straight path through the air.
This name is related to the pitcher breaking a straight path. The baseball lover not only called it breaking ball but also called it breaking pitchers because it is related to pitchers.
On the contrary, breaking ball is also called curves which flight in a certain direction. There are different types of breaking balls in baseball sport.
What Is a Breaking Ball?
Breaking the ball is related to the pitcher. A pitcher of baseball is thrown with spin so that the curve comes with the batter. Typically, a breaking ball acts to throw the baseball by a pitcher to a batter.
Moreover, breaking balls are only used by professional players. Especially once a pitcher started throwing overhand for MLB (Major League Baseball) started in 1884.
Prior, pitchers started to learn to snap the ball hard at release to make the pitch by doing particular things.
In breaking a ball, the pitchers need to throw the ball very fast, which moves in mid-air so that the batter can hardly hit the ball. Pitchers use the breaking ball method, which moves in the air, and the batter hardly knows the ball’s final destination.
Over the years, pitchers have experimented with this breaking ball method. This method helps the pitchers change the ball’s movement to the batter and creates extra pressure to find the exact ball direction.
Read More: 2 Seam Vs 4 Seam Fastball
Types of Breaking Balls
There are a few types of breaking balls in baseball. However, they are used in different ways. Pitchers used them for different situations. However, check out the following list of types of breaking balls to know in detail.
Curveball
A curveball is a pitch that breaks more than any other pitcher. It is designed for slower pitchers. A pitcher needs to use this method more slowly throw than other breaking ball methods.
When a pitcher throws a curve to the batter, the ball moves slowly, and the batters miss over the top of the curveball on the swing time. A survey shows that the pitchers used nearly 10% of the curve in 2022.
Read More: What Is The Difference Between A Slider And A Curveball
Baseball Splitter
First of all, a splitter is an off-speed pitch. The pitchers used their two fingers on the ball to operate the ball. Splitter throws to the batter fast way to keep the balance of the ball speed.
However, the pitchers haven’t used this pitch more than 1.5%. According to MLB 2022, the pitchers used a splitter of nearly 1.5%, which is much less than enough.
Forkball
Forkball is another type of pitch in baseball. However, it is related to splitter. Forkball is used between two fingers and thrown hard to the batter. Moreover, it is also snapping with the wrist.
However, Forkball is different from splitter. How? Forkball is slightly slow thrown from the splitter. Though they have proper differences, both of them used two fingers to balance the ball.
These three breaking ball pitches are popular, and most pitchers use them. Besides these pitches on baseball, you will also discover Slider and Knuckle Curves, which are also widely used in baseball.
Top 10 Breaking Ball Players in Baseball History
This chart helps you to get top 10 breaking ball players. They are legend on breaking ball. So, let’s break down the following chart.
| Rank | Player’s Name | Team Name |
| 1 | Sandy Koufax | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| 2 | Bert Blyleven | Minnesota Twins |
| 3 | Dwight Gooden | New York Mets |
| 4 | Camilo Pascual | Washington Senators |
| 5 | Satchel Paige | Cleveland Indians |
| 6 | Ron Necciai | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| 7 | Nolan Ryan | Texas Rangers |
| 8 | Sal Maglie | New York Giants |
| 9 | Mike Cuellar | Baltimore Orioles |
| 10 | Jerry Koosman | New York Mets |
Is a Changeup a Breaking Ball?
Changeup is a type of breaking ball. It is a part of breaking baseball. There are different types of breaking balls in baseball games which are described in the above section.
However, Changeup is a type of pitch in baseball and a fastpitch in softball. It is thrown like a fastball to the batter but arrives much more slowly to the plate. The pitch is used to confuse the batter for adjusting timing.
In addition, a Changeup is generally thrown 8 to 15 miles per hour than the fastball in breaking ball. If the pitcher throws Changeup correctly, the batter must confuse to hit the ball.
However, Changeup is a type of breaking ball. But it is also used in softball. Changeup is another pitch of the breaking ball.
Is a Slider a Breaking Ball?
Of course, Slider is a breaking ball. It is a type of breaking ball. A Slider pitch tails laterally and down throw out the batter hitting zone. A slider is used between the fastball and the curve. How?
The pitchers throw the slider more slowly than a fastball and faster than a curve. On the other hand, Slider is shorter than the curve pitch. Moreover, the Slider is also smaller than the cutter.
Overall, Slider is also known as a Yakker or Snapper. Undoubtedly, Slider is a popular and widely used breaking ball pitch in baseball.
How to Throw a Breaking Ball?
You will find different ways to throw a breaking ball properly on the web. From this section, you will discover the basic way to throw a breaking ball.
However, I am going to share with you the basic curve baseball throwing way. It is easy and effective. If you are a beginner, you should take advantage of this way.
- Grip the ball between your thumb and also need to use the middle finger
- After that, you need to keep your grip hidden. Your thumb helps you to hide the grip
- Now, it is time to wind up and throw up the pitch
- Started to snap release. When you do this, your arm comes down from the throw
- Repeat these 4-steps. You have to practice a lot to do much better.
Of course, you need to complete these 4-steps to throw a breaking ball. If you are still trying to throw a breaking ball (curve) correctly, you should take help from a coach.
What Is the Easiest Breaking Ball to Throw?
If you want to choose the easiest breaking ball throw, you must first choose the right one. The curve is a pitch in baseball that is the easiest breaking ball pitch to throw.
Moreover, you will also consider the Slider way to throw easily. But, you must practice much to easily throw the breaking ball.
According to my experience, curve and slider are the easiest breaking ball to throw. You can also follow the above 5 step-by-step guides to throw your breaking ball correctly.
FAQs (Frequently Ask Questions)
Q: Is a breaking ball and a curveball the same thing?
Answer: Breaking ball is a type of pitch. Curveball is a type of breaking ball. Curveball is similar to a breaking ball. However, the curveball is easy to pitch, and the pitchers used curveball pitch nearly 10% in MLB 2022.
Q: What is the difference between a slider and a breaking ball?
Answer: A slider is a type of breaking ball. For example, slider, Forkball, and curveball are the breaking ball types. However, the slider is a fastball that the fingers have cut. On the other hand, a breaking ball may come with a fast or slow throw ball and include all pitches to change the direction at the plate.
Wrapping Up!
What is a breaking ball? It is a common question for most of the beginner baseball players. However, breaking the ball is used to confuse the batters and increase the chance of winning the game. Overall, it is a way of the baseball game, which pitchers generally use.
A breaking ball is a type of pitch used by pitchers in baseball. However, the game has a few breaking balls, such as curves, sliders, Forkballs, and others. Pitchers throw the ball with their wrists to the batters fast or slowly so that batters are unable to adjust the ball with the bat.
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Hello everyone. My name is Jason Butler, and I live in California, America. I was a professional AAA Minor League Baseball player. I lost my chance of playing MLB for injury issues, but I did not lose my love for baseball. I attended the coaching training program and am now working as a coach in a small school in San Diego.
I always love to share my experience and knowledge if that can help you. Play baseball, and stay fit.