A free pitching clinic on the art and science of the curveball from Al Leiter, who had a great slow curve himself. Love his passion for the game. Thanks
Really? If you "learned" from this you need a coach in your life kid. This is weatherman shit here. While its raining outside..... Hes on tv telling you to prep for possible rain. What a joke for a 6 figure salary.
Missing the point on spin rate, fastball carry, is far more important use of spin rate. Only good thing he says is to wait till you’re big and strong enough and not to hook or try to curve the ball but to spin it. (So you get to pronation sooner and protect your arm). Faster spin has opposite effect on curve. It’s why he even points out the guys with the better curves had the slower spin rate. You have to find the sweet spot of late break vs big break. Big sweeping vs tight drop.
@@scottlesage9846 Yes, the most important thing to get a big break is having the axis perpendicular to the path of the baseball. Axis parallel to flight path is a bullet spin or football spiral. So spin rate that is higher but parallel won't curve as much as low spin perpendicular. Therefore, hand position at release is more important than spin rate. What makes a bullet spin an effective pitch is throwing it above 85mph. Rob Nen threw his over 90mph so it actually broke slightly to the hand side and sharply down. Bullets don't fly straight. They follow a corkscrew path. You won't get a baseball to do this unless it is around 90mph and above. Any slower and that is what we call a cement mixer, a hanger, a home run for the batter.
The reason Kershaw's curve is so dirty despite average spin rate is due to the over hand release. You don't need exceptional spin at that angle because the break is naturally complemented by gravity.
I love this shit man. I used to be just a football and basketball guy. But my kid is starting coach pitch next year and i loved coaching his football team so much that i'll coach his baseball and the art in baseball is what intrigues me. People say its boring and i used to think so but there is ZERO boring in this video. Great stuff.
so much info, your kid can learn so much faster than we did. Hope he learns 3 solid pitches as we all know that Edwin Diaz only has 2 which showed with his 6.0 ERA
Go for it. Don't let the internet experts discourage you. Coaching is more than having technical knowledge. And many coaches who claim to are just following conventional wisdom that in many cases is just garbage. "Swing down on the ball leading with the knob of the bat". "Keep the barrel of the bat above the hands until contact". "Turn doorknob to curve the ball". GARBAGE! In the Kershaw video watch his hand pronate when he releases the ball. Same as a fastball. The curve is hand position, not hand movement or trying to spin it.
@@AJEDDY97 How did you get anything like he thinks a parent should not be involved in their kids life? He was talking about coaching kids on a sport he said he knows little about. If you don't know much about a particular sport you shouldn't be a coach in that sport especially a coach of kids in that sport. Baseball has a possibility of being dangerous so if you are a coach on a kids team you should know what you are doing.
This is so fascinating for someone like me who isn't a hardcore fan. Stuff like this will make me one. Someone hit the jackpot with this Leiter guy. Been watching several of these.
This was fantastic. Really like Leiter. Great teacher. Fun to watch. Love his excitement. If MLB would give people more of this during games they'd really help themselves. Here is why. I'll share the testimony of a friend of mine who doesn't like baseball but happened upon a 2-2 game with some college teams local to us. He tried to watch the ending. But they kept halting the game with mound visits and switching pitchers and all that so that he finally got tired of waiting to see how it ended and he just turned off the television and went to bed. Now people can say what they want to in response but this is what he testified so MLB and other baseball venues can either ignore it and say, "Eh, whatever, we don't need him as a fan - he's not a real fan," or they can attempt to do something to change it in order to draw in more people like him.
STOP. STOP. Okay... now forwar-STOP. Bring it forwa-NOW STOP. See that?? Go... STOP!!! Now go... now STOP. STOP IT. THERE. GO BACK. STOP. See that? Okay go.
See that dirt on the ball there? BACK UP BACK UP! That's not dirt, it's the words on the ball...go ahead. Move it- move it forward STOP RIGHT THERE! See the dirt spinning there? See that? Just like a Sandy Koufa-STOP STOP!! RIGHT THERE!!
I learned more from this video than all the other pitching videos I watched before it, combined. A lot of them just talk about the pitches. It was really helpful for me to see the slow motion with the helpful descriptions and comparisons. I'm just trying to catch up on coaching my youth pitchers, and this helps.
I love MLB analytics. It really amazes me that MLB adds analytics almost all the time. 30 years ago we looked at average, RBI and homers. Look at now. I wonder what crazy analytics they’ll invent over the next 30 years.
Legend has it that the video guy is still there trying to forward, going back, forward again, back, go forward, back......someone please help him by getting him some food and water. 🙏🏻
I just got interested in baseball recently because of the commentary..... Now, slowly falling in love with the sport... these videos are great for helping me learn and also appreciated the sport of Baseball
Al is a great guy. He's got class. He appreciates the fans, he knows professional sports won't exist without them and he does his best to the fans. He's got such a fan-satisfaction oriented mindset. Such a great guy and a role model as for being a great human being.
Fascinating video about the curveball and spin rates! Al Leiter is one of the best to present this video. Love the man!! Baseball is my absolute favorite sport!!
only wish when I was a kid in the 70s and 80s, RUclips was around. I had to read a Nolan Ryan book with pictures of how to throw a 12-6 curveball. Can't wait to watch this tomorrow on my UHD tv.
Correct me if I’m not mistaken but Koufax also pitched before they lowered the mount after Bob Gibson’s obscene season. Imagine how much nastier the higher mound made that pitch.
I was a right-hander and threw my curve like Kershaw (more of the 11 o'clock angle). I used finger pressure to keep the ball steady and allowed the ball roll over my index finger as I followed through. I had about 11-5 motion. I got incredible spin, but the other key was using the legs for stability and bringing arm across body with a nice follow through. Against right-handers I would aim at their left shoulder. Against left-handers, I went to back door curve at the corner.
3:44 An even more important principle in cricket as a spin bowler, because you also need to think about beating the batsmen in flight and after the bounce, and Sandy Koufax got it.
I was a pretty good lefty pitcher in my youth. But I never had a coach teach me how to throw a curve ball. I thought you had to snap your wrist and it didn't work for me. Thanks Al, better late than never
12 to 6 curve drop is what they are throwing...., I used to throw a back door inside to 3 with no sinking action. Cool stuff how each pitcher is different and everyone’s pitches are slightly different.
I feel like Leiter was explain the JFK magic bullet theory to me during the Verlander segment, lol...squinting at the dirt....Great stuff though, his enthusiasm is infectious. Great Work LUKE!! I picture poor Luke like an unpaid intern sweating over the controlboard, Leiter just like OOH KLUBER, STOP BACK UP BACK UP!
The 2019 Houston Astros have a chance at Being one of the greatest teams in major-league baseball history... I’m a Houston Astros Fan Die Hard so you obviously think I’m gonna say this, but think about this... HOU has a chance to have: -AL MVP(Alex Bergman) -AL Cy Young(Justin Verlander & Gerrit Cole should each get one) -AL Rookie of the Year(Yordan Alvarez) -Manager of the Year(AJ Hinch) && MOST IMPORTANT: 106 WINS, maybe 107 if they can pull out the final regular season game. BEST PITCHING STAFF EVER BEST OFFENSE EVER MOST ATHLETIC(Ya I said it) MOST “FUTURE” MVPS on one single team 🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼 Let’s do this H-Town
Dfgcc Gggff appreciate what your seeing homeboy. This is Greatness. && we will see who’s laughing when October’s over 🤘🏼 See I’m rooting for MY TEAM to build a dynasty All Yall are rooting against MY TEAM. What about YOUR TEAM? You a Rangers fan? Tigers? 😂😂 🤘🏼H Town On Top🤘🏼
Axis of spin in relation to flight path Seams on ball affecting Bernoulli principle Velocity of pitch All factors that combine to create movement. Further study required.
Add a bounce to this and wear and tear on the ball providing swing and you will appreciate cricket a lot more. Also batsman using different strokes like a martial art and you realise cricket is completely superior game.
Calling an 87 mph curveball weak?that curveball is worth 7 figures and I don't think you realize how hard it is to throw a curveball that hard. You can throw a spike curveball so much harder cuz you throw it like a fastball and you don't jack with all that wristy twisty action that people who don't know pitching teach. Wristy curveballs=slower loopier curveballs...would rather teach a spike where all you say is set the grip, think fastball, and throw the shit out of it. Much healthier for the arm too
Tom "Flash" Gordon had the best spin axis I ever saw from a right hander. Don't think they measured rate back then. Always puzzled as to why he didn't dominate more.
Bruh Al going 700 words per minute, i honestly thought that i had left youtube on ×1.75 speed.. him with that pointer is like Al Pacino on bath salts auditioning for Matt Damon's role in Good Will Hunting. Hed make an adequate Will Hunting..
Man, Leiter sure was giving the Luke the videoboard guy a workout over there
STOP STOP STOP! OK SO RIGHT HERE BACK UP!
Should have just given him a remote control lol
But seriously, that was a great presentation!
i came down to the comments hoping to see someone mention this,
Hahahahah
Someone please buy Al his own remote.
Do you know Christ
Sheeesh first thing I tought
@@abro7189 That’s my cousin
A free pitching clinic on the art and science of the curveball from Al Leiter, who had a great slow curve himself.
Love his passion for the game. Thanks
MLB Network is the absolute best. Holy crap that was really knowledgeable.
sbblakey777 knowledgeable?? As a former player and curve ball pitcher, he’s a joke. All he got right was, more spin = a bigger break
@@scottlesage9846 stfu scott
Really? If you "learned" from this you need a coach in your life kid. This is weatherman shit here. While its raining outside..... Hes on tv telling you to prep for possible rain. What a joke for a 6 figure salary.
Missing the point on spin rate, fastball carry, is far more important use of spin rate. Only good thing he says is to wait till you’re big and strong enough and not to hook or try to curve the ball but to spin it. (So you get to pronation sooner and protect your arm). Faster spin has opposite effect on curve. It’s why he even points out the guys with the better curves had the slower spin rate. You have to find the sweet spot of late break vs big break. Big sweeping vs tight drop.
@@scottlesage9846 Yes, the most important thing to get a big break is having the axis perpendicular to the path of the baseball.
Axis parallel to flight path is a bullet spin or football spiral. So spin rate that is higher but parallel won't curve as much as low spin perpendicular.
Therefore, hand position at release is more important than spin rate.
What makes a bullet spin an effective pitch is throwing it above 85mph. Rob Nen threw his over 90mph so it actually broke slightly to the hand side and sharply down.
Bullets don't fly straight. They follow a corkscrew path. You won't get a baseball to do this unless it is around 90mph and above. Any slower and that is what we call a cement mixer, a hanger, a home run for the batter.
The reason Kershaw's curve is so dirty despite average spin rate is due to the over hand release. You don't need exceptional spin at that angle because the break is naturally complemented by gravity.
Do you know Christ
@@abro7189 Sure do. Though it seems very strange to ask on a 2 year old post on a video completely unrelated to faith. 🤨
@@0neFamily ik
@@0neFamily Nothing is unrelated to faith, but this is the most annoying way to go about saying it.
@@NUNYABIZNNAAAZZZ ikr it’s kinda weird
Al Leiter seemed hopped up on cocaine or something, I couldn’t stop laughing.
He snorted a ball of sorts before the segment. Love his passion for talking about pitching
I love this shit man. I used to be just a football and basketball guy. But my kid is starting coach pitch next year and i loved coaching his football team so much that i'll coach his baseball and the art in baseball is what intrigues me. People say its boring and i used to think so but there is ZERO boring in this video. Great stuff.
Janoy Cresva
Yeah, go ahead and coach a sport you know nothing about. You can just make a duck face.
so much info, your kid can learn so much faster than we did. Hope he learns 3 solid pitches as we all know that Edwin Diaz only has 2 which showed with his 6.0 ERA
Go for it. Don't let the internet experts discourage you. Coaching is more than having technical knowledge. And many coaches who claim to are just following conventional wisdom that in many cases is just garbage.
"Swing down on the ball leading with the knob of the bat". "Keep the barrel of the bat above the hands until contact". "Turn doorknob to curve the ball". GARBAGE!
In the Kershaw video watch his hand pronate when he releases the ball. Same as a fastball. The curve is hand position, not hand movement or trying to spin it.
cjr1881 god forbid a parent be involved in their kid’s life, right? 🙄🙄
@@AJEDDY97 How did you get anything like he thinks a parent should not be involved in their kids life? He was talking about coaching kids on a sport he said he knows little about. If you don't know much about a particular sport you shouldn't be a coach in that sport especially a coach of kids in that sport. Baseball has a possibility of being dangerous so if you are a coach on a kids team you should know what you are doing.
luke is earning his paycheck...
conni70 so is the playback guy
@@idk9276 luke is the playback guy.
Do you know Christ
This is so fascinating for someone like me who isn't a hardcore fan. Stuff like this will make me one. Someone hit the jackpot with this Leiter guy. Been watching several of these.
This was fantastic. Really like Leiter. Great teacher. Fun to watch. Love his excitement. If MLB would give people more of this during games they'd really help themselves. Here is why. I'll share the testimony of a friend of mine who doesn't like baseball but happened upon a 2-2 game with some college teams local to us. He tried to watch the ending. But they kept halting the game with mound visits and switching pitchers and all that so that he finally got tired of waiting to see how it ended and he just turned off the television and went to bed. Now people can say what they want to in response but this is what he testified so MLB and other baseball venues can either ignore it and say, "Eh, whatever, we don't need him as a fan - he's not a real fan," or they can attempt to do something to change it in order to draw in more people like him.
Should not be surprised that Al’s son is one of the best pitching prospects ever!
This is the best mlb breaking ball segment I've ever seen. Great stuff 👍
Love the passion of the science of pitching.
Most interesting delivery analysis I've seen in 40 years
STOP. STOP. Okay... now forwar-STOP. Bring it forwa-NOW STOP. See that?? Go... STOP!!! Now go... now STOP. STOP IT. THERE. GO BACK. STOP. See that? Okay go.
See that dirt on the ball there? BACK UP BACK UP! That's not dirt, it's the words on the ball...go ahead. Move it- move it forward STOP RIGHT THERE! See the dirt spinning there? See that? Just like a Sandy Koufa-STOP STOP!! RIGHT THERE!!
He should be a storm chaser
I’m positive he’s never even played before.. all he got right in the last 15 minutes was the more spin, the bigger the break.
Lol he has played.. He was actually a good starting pitcher and a 2x allstar do ur research
gretchman %
I learned more from this video than all the other pitching videos I watched before it, combined. A lot of them just talk about the pitches. It was really helpful for me to see the slow motion with the helpful descriptions and comparisons. I'm just trying to catch up on coaching my youth pitchers, and this helps.
5:30 makes a bit more sense in context of the sticky icky that everyone has been using recently
I love MLB analytics. It really amazes me that MLB adds analytics almost all the time. 30 years ago we looked at average, RBI and homers. Look at now. I wonder what crazy analytics they’ll invent over the next 30 years.
I love listening to Al Leiter talk shop.
Al Leiter is the best at what he does. This is just amazing.
“See the dark spot? It’s dirt...”
2021 says hello
Legend has it that the video guy is still there trying to forward, going back, forward again, back, go forward, back......someone please help him by getting him some food and water. 🙏🏻
I love these vids so much great info
I just got interested in baseball recently because of the commentary..... Now, slowly falling in love with the sport... these videos are great for helping me learn and also appreciated the sport of Baseball
Al is a great guy. He's got class. He appreciates the fans, he knows professional sports won't exist without them and he does his best to the fans. He's got such a fan-satisfaction oriented mindset. Such a great guy and a role model as for being a great human being.
Fascinating video about the curveball and spin rates! Al Leiter is one of the best to present this video. Love the man!! Baseball is my absolute favorite sport!!
McCullers can really spin it!
Love your videos
Do you know Christ
@@abro7189 I hope
Love Al's enthusiasm!👍🏼
Always love me some Al Leiter!
only wish when I was a kid in the 70s and 80s, RUclips was around. I had to read a Nolan Ryan book with pictures of how to throw a 12-6 curveball. Can't wait to watch this tomorrow on my UHD tv.
Stop right there!
Now back up
Great Segment Very Knowledgeable
Good stuff! Great breakdown of different techniques.
Correct me if I’m not mistaken but Koufax also pitched before they lowered the mount after Bob Gibson’s obscene season. Imagine how much nastier the higher mound made that pitch.
YES! On point for young pitchers
I was a right-hander and threw my curve like Kershaw (more of the 11 o'clock angle). I used finger pressure to keep the ball steady and allowed the ball roll over my index finger as I followed through. I had about 11-5 motion. I got incredible spin, but the other key was using the legs for stability and bringing arm across body with a nice follow through. Against right-handers I would aim at their left shoulder. Against left-handers, I went to back door curve at the corner.
Leiter is a Marlin's legend.
Great segment
Love the bits about Sandy.
Love Al's enthusiam
And 3 years later, its the number one topic..
Al is very passionate.. I like that..he has a very limp pointer stick which is a bit disappointing
The school of ⚾ with Al Leiter
lol Kluber's face at 6:53.
3:44 An even more important principle in cricket as a spin bowler, because you also need to think about beating the batsmen in flight and after the bounce, and Sandy Koufax got it.
I was a pretty good lefty pitcher in my youth. But I never had a coach teach me how to throw a curve ball. I thought you had to snap your wrist and it didn't work for me. Thanks Al, better late than never
I thoroughly enjoyed this.
I learned a lot. Thanks MLB Network.
Huh, that was INTENSE!
Great video! Loved the Koufax one!
10:02 some brown stuff on tip of middle finger and inside of thumb as he rotates wrist
My favorite pitcher in the AL by far
Love mlb networks breakdowns
Thanks for the content
This video made my arm hurt 😂
We just need a spider tac ad while al catches his breath.
Good video, "stop, stop, stop..." is what he said to teams that hit him well.
So cool thank Al!
Fucking love Leiter's excitement for this.
Very cool breakdown.
Awesome video.👍
This is great stuff!
Great Video! Very informative and Al really gets into it!!
Great breakdown so helpful
12 to 6 curve drop is what they are throwing...., I used to throw a back door inside to 3 with no sinking action. Cool stuff how each pitcher is different and everyone’s pitches are slightly different.
Al and dro are the man
Luke should get an easy $100 bonus from Al for the holidays every time he has to stop and rewind, really does his job well.
Great breakdown!
He was making a good point up until the end when he was cut off. Too bad, good little "clinic" for the nubes.
I feel like Leiter was explain the JFK magic bullet theory to me during the Verlander segment, lol...squinting at the dirt....Great stuff though, his enthusiasm is infectious. Great Work LUKE!! I picture poor Luke like an unpaid intern sweating over the controlboard, Leiter just like OOH KLUBER, STOP BACK UP BACK UP!
The 2019 Houston Astros have a chance at Being one of the greatest teams in major-league baseball history...
I’m a Houston Astros Fan Die Hard so you obviously think I’m gonna say this, but think about this...
HOU has a chance to have:
-AL MVP(Alex Bergman)
-AL Cy Young(Justin Verlander & Gerrit Cole should each get one)
-AL Rookie of the Year(Yordan Alvarez)
-Manager of the Year(AJ Hinch)
&& MOST IMPORTANT:
106 WINS, maybe 107 if they can pull out the final regular season game.
BEST PITCHING STAFF EVER
BEST OFFENSE EVER
MOST ATHLETIC(Ya I said it)
MOST “FUTURE” MVPS on one single team 🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼
Let’s do this H-Town
It will be so funny if you guys pissed away the series to the rays or twins or something lol
Dfgcc Gggff appreciate what your seeing homeboy. This is Greatness.
&& we will see who’s laughing when October’s over 🤘🏼
See I’m rooting for MY TEAM to build a dynasty
All Yall are rooting against MY TEAM. What about YOUR TEAM? You a Rangers fan? Tigers? 😂😂
🤘🏼H Town On Top🤘🏼
From a red sox fan :,(
so basically, spin rate helps but it's hardly everything when it comes to throwing an effective breaking pitch
Placement and mixing in other pitches.
This guy is way too fucking intense lmaoooooo
Koufax. GOAT
How come no one has interviewed Sandy Koufax about this or Mike Marshall?
start and finish line, spin axis, launch angle and ball speed
Al use to be a great pitcher in my time!
Why didn't the Jays hire Al Leiter as their pitching coach? - instead, Pete Walker...? insane.
Axis of spin in relation to flight path
Seams on ball affecting Bernoulli principle
Velocity of pitch
All factors that combine to create movement. Further study required.
I would love to see him analyze Dan Quisenberry and Randy Johnson.
6:57 you’re welcome for that image
LMJ is the Curvballer right now
Add a bounce to this and wear and tear on the ball providing swing and you will appreciate cricket a lot more. Also batsman using different strokes like a martial art and you realise cricket is completely superior game.
6:55 I’m dying of laugheer
"What is spin wate..." yeah, what is spin wate?
It's a spike curve ball that McCullers throws
Jim Jack Knuckle curve.
Call it whatever you want, I call it weak!
Whatever gets the job done.
He's been (semi-effectively) wild in a lot of outings this year, though.
Calling an 87 mph curveball weak?that curveball is worth 7 figures and I don't think you realize how hard it is to throw a curveball that hard. You can throw a spike curveball so much harder cuz you throw it like a fastball and you don't jack with all that wristy twisty action that people who don't know pitching teach. Wristy curveballs=slower loopier curveballs...would rather teach a spike where all you say is set the grip, think fastball, and throw the shit out of it. Much healthier for the arm too
Ben B I would love to see you try and hit it
Tom "Flash" Gordon had the best spin axis I ever saw from a right hander. Don't think they measured rate back then. Always puzzled as to why he didn't dominate more.
That looks like a 219" Samsung MicroLED display. Anyone have any info on this?
Very informative
I can throw a slider because of this video.
Seth Lugo of the Mets spun one at 3498 & as far as I know no one has topped that. He has the highest average spin rate in MLB
I loved it!
Blue jays legend!!
Love to see Chris Sales slider broken down
Gotta be a heater
Posture and wrist/forearm angle at release will dictate spin axis
Spin the hell out of it with a wimpy wrist and the rate might be high but you’ll lose plane, 1-0 ;)
Well done
Bruh Al going 700 words per minute, i honestly thought that i had left youtube on ×1.75 speed.. him with that pointer is like Al Pacino on bath salts auditioning for Matt Damon's role in Good Will Hunting. Hed make an adequate Will Hunting..
"STOP"
"OKAY GO.. STOP"
chill bro
Respect to Kershaw. He clearly doesn’t need to use anything
Al needs to teach a Master Class or something...
Pitchers laugh in spider tack
can someone give the man a remote control so he can control the video? sheesh