How fast should a slurve be?
Daniel Moore
Published Jan 17, 2026
The slurve pitch generally arrives at home plate in the 80 MPH range. In addition to being slower than a fastball, the pitch has a downward drop heading towards the strike zone. Most baseball players will describe the pitch as something in between a slider and a curveball.The slurve pitch generally arrives at home plate in the 80 MPH range. In addition to being slower than a fastball, the pitch has a downward drop heading towards the strike zone. Most baseball players will describe the pitch as something in between a slider and a curveball In baseball and softball, the curveball is a type of pitch thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball, causing it to dive as it approaches the plate. Varieties of curveball include the 12–6 curveball, power curveball, and the knuckle curve. › wiki › Curveball
What is the average speed of screwball?
A knuckleball pitch will fall in around 55 MPH or so, while a screwball can be in the 70 range.
How fast should a curve ball be?
A typical curveball in the major collegiate level and above will average between 65 and 80 mph, with the average MLB curve at 77 mph. From a hitter's perspective, the curveball will start in one location (usually high or at the top of the strike zone) and then dive rapidly as it approaches the plate.
Is a slurve a good pitch?
The slurve isn't a particularly good pitch from a scout's perspective. It doesn't have the sharp bite of a good slider or the big break of a curve, making it really easy for batters with the opposite-handedness of the pitcher (not particularly eloquent, but you know what I mean) to hit hard.
How much slower Should a slider be?
In summary: throw it as hard as you can, and the speed change should be 8-10% slower than your fastball speed.
27 related questions foundIs a slurve a real pitch?
The slurve is a baseball pitch in which the pitcher throws a curve ball as if it were a slider. The pitch is gripped like a curve ball, but thrown with a slider velocity.
How do you throw a slurve in baseball?
Grip the ball with two fingers together.
Place your index finger touching your middle finger. If one seam stands higher on the ball than the other, grip that one with your middle finger. This will give you a better grip, since your middle finger is responsible for most of a slurve grip.
What is the difference between a slurve and a sweeping curve?
Think of the movement of the ball on a clock, dropping from 12 to 6. The Slurve, as the name suggests, is a mix between a curveball and slider. It's a faster but smaller break than either pitch individually and has more horizontal movement than vertical movement. It's also a sharper break than, say, the sweeping curve.
What is a good vertical break on a fastball?
Based on my experience, an 8-inch vertical break difference between the fastball and changeup is a benchmark to aim for when developing offspeed pitches.
What is a good RPM for a fastball?
Spin Rate is important to a fastball, with fastballs below 1800 rpm and above 2600 rpm being vastly more effective than those that ride the line in the middle. A higher spin rate fastball will appear to rise, and is more difficult to square up.
What is a good RPM for a curveball?
Curveballs and sliders typically will register the highest raw spin totals of all pitches (MLB average spin rate ≈2430-2530 rpms), though these ranges can become more inflated based on the gyroscopic spin measurements of each pitch.
How fast do d1 college softball pitchers throw?
What is the average pitching speed for college softball? Throwing 63 miles per hour will get you noticed by scouts, but the average pitching speed for college softball ranges from 58-65 miles per hour, taking all divisions into consideration.
How fast did Jennie Finch pitch?
The mound isn't elevated as it is in the Majors. Jennie Finch's underhand fastball pitch comes in at around 68 mph. Her long stride moves her several feet closer to the plate by the time the ball leaves her hand.
How fast should a 15 year old pitch?
Generally, 14 year old average cruising speed would be about 65 mph. Average freshman pitcher (14 to 15 year old) cruising speed would be about 70 mph. Average cruising speed for a good high school pitching prospect at 14 to 15 years old would be about 75 mph.
How do you throw a knuckle curve?
To throw a knuckle curve ball, place your middle finger just to the left of the long seam in the horseshoe made by the seams of the ball. Then curl your index finger up like a knuckle-ball. Next, throw the knuckle curve ball over the top, pulling the ball down to get tumbling action.
What kind of pitch is a screwball?
A screwball is a baseball and fastpitch softball pitch that is thrown so as to break in the opposite direction of a slider or curveball. Depending on the pitcher's arm angle, the ball may also have a sinking action.
What does a sweeping curve do?
But, the sweeping curve adds a little more speed than a typical curve, and the swerving of the pitch can catch players off guard. You can throw it anywhere, essentially, but it may be best to keep it low.
Should a 10 year old throw a slider?
Younger kids should refrain from throwing a breaking ball until 13 or 14.” Your kid will snap that curve or slider soon enough, just be sure to have him wait.
Why is a slider so hard to hit?
Outside of the science of our eyes, so much of what makes a slider hard to hit, according to Phillips, derives from the increasing velocity of the average fastball. For a pitcher like Jordan Hicks, whose average fastball sits at 101 mph, a slider can be a devastating complementary pitch.
How does a slider break?
In baseball, a slider is a breaking ball pitch that tails laterally and down through the batter's hitting zone. It is thrown at a speed that is lower than a fastball, but higher than the pitcher's curveball.
What pitches should a 13 year old throw?
Pitchers who are 13-16 should throw a maximum of 95 pitches; 13- and 14-year-olds need four days rest when they reach 66 pitches, and 15- and 16-year-olds need four days rest when they reach 76.
How fast should a 13 year old throw?
13 and 14 Year Olds
A typical fastball from this age group is anywhere from 55 mph (on the low side) to 75 mph. A pitcher throwing 75 mph is well above average for this age, and their fastball is at a high school caliber. An average changeup for this age is somewhere around the 50-60 mph mark.
How fast do NAIA pitchers throw?
Division II pitchers often have a throwing velocity of 82 miles per hour to 90+ miles per hour. With only a few miles per hour standing in between a Division I and a Division II player, it is evident that with hard work and proper training, you can work your way up to the next level.