THE ANATOMY OF A SCREWBALL

By Dr. John Bagonzi

Dr. John A. Bagonzi is a former pitcher in the Boston Red Sox organization, current director of the Championship Pitching Camp, and author of The Act of Pitching, published by Pitching Professor Publications.

One of the often maligned, and yet misunderstood pitches used rarely in today's pitching menu is the screwball (AKA screwgy, incurve).  The obvious rarity of this pitch among the greatest pitchers of the past and even today's great pitchers suggests the difficulty in:

1.  Mastering it.
2.  Understanding it completely.
3.  The lack of necessity for the screwball.
4.  The potential for arm injury and /or stress to the arm.

It is however interesting to note that two great outstanding pitchers: 1) Carl Hubbell - N.Y. Giants; and 2) Mike Marshall - L.A. Dodgers, made successes out of their careers by employing this unusual and difficult pitch.  Mike Marshall in my opinion, is the best reliever of all times and the possessor of the most complete array of screwballs ever.

Screwballs are essentially:

1.  Reverse curve balls
2.  Reverse sliders
3.  Reverse out-drops

They manifest the same intersection with the strike zone as all of the above regular curve-type pitches, but from a different (opposite) breaking angle.  These pitches are not for the light hearted and are hardly recommended as standard fare on the pitching menu.  There are basically five types of screwballs and their individuality should be noted:

1. Conventional variety - this is mainly a 9-3 rotation (RHP) which breaks into a RHB and away from LHB.  This is flat and one-dimensional.  It is more pronounced than a tailing fastball albeit slower in mph.

2. Reverse slider type - this is a spiral type spin with an action similar to a slider but with a reverse effect.

3. Down screwgy - like a drop curve - but downward pronation - exists mainly with downward spin.

4. THE HYBRID - this is the great screwball down and in to RHB and away to a LHB.  This is a marriage of the down screwgy with the conventional screwball.  For a RHP it represents an 11-5 rotation. This is the reverse equivalent of the yellow hammer curve ball.

5. The Extreme Screwball - as far as I know, only Mike Marshall ever possessed this to a perfected degree.  It breaks away from a right-handed batter - it requires extreme pronation of the wrist and the shoulder gets into the act.  This is basically a rotation similar to a curve and tends to break like one.  This should not be tried by any novice and is an extremely advanced form of screwball.

Screwballs are essentially aberrations.  A purist however, should know something about them to appreciate the artisans of the past who threw them with success:

1. Carl Hubbel - N.Y. Giants

2. Kirby Higbe - Pittsburgh Pirates

3. Jim Bagby - Cleveland Indians

4. Tug McGraw - N.Y. Giants

5. Jim Brewer - Chicago Cubs

6. Mike Cuellar - Baltimore Orioles

7. Fernando Valenzuela - L.A. Dodgers

8. Mike Marshall - L.A. Dodgers (probably the greatest screwball thrower of them all.)

Is a screwball recommended?  NO!  Unless one is very flexible in the wrist and the pitch can be thrown without discomfort and the delivery is not stressful to the thrower.  Why use a screwball?  Interestingly, some cannot throw a conventional curve ball.  This (screwball) is surely a good pitch for right-handers to throw to lefty batters.  This is not to suggest if one cannot use it on a RHB.

Anyone with good concepts of rotation and understanding of spins is a good prospect for throwing a screwgy.  If one needs to develop an extra pitch, it is basically on sabbatical today.

HOW TO GRIP - I prefer two seams with conventional screwballs (although four seams can be used)

1. On a conventional screwball RHP - fingers are turned in toward face and up thumb is pronated outward.

2. ON A DOWN SCREWGY - fingers are away and down and thumb is completely pronated and hand makes a juncture with wrist at nearly 90°.

3. Reverse slider screwgy - fingers are pointing toward batter - thumb is pronated outward and spiral spin is effected.

4. Down and in screwball - hand is 45 deg; or so - fingers are on the front and down.

5. Extreme Screwball - fingers are pointing down and extreme pronation executed - this is not for amateurs or even novice pros - only Mike Marshall throws this one effectively. I put this in here for information particularly for the curious purists.

Note:  I advise 4 seams to get tighter rotation and to disguise the rotation; however, on these particular pitches one should experiment with 2 seams as it may make the ball act more.  I advise the four seamers for the reverse slider and the ultimate, Mike Marshal's extreme screwball.  Of course, a two seamer can be used as a variation on all screwballs the same way this alignment can be used for conventional curve balls.

IN SUMMARY 

Learning rotations for unusual pitches, such as the screwgy - the aspiring pitcher wishing to develop a serious consciousness and awareness on spin dynamics, can use the concomitant knowledge which easily translates to improving fastball movement and the enhancement of other pitches.

CLOSING COMMENTS - Screwball ala - MIKE MARSHALL (The real version)

Without demeaning many of the pitchers who used screwballs in their pitching repertoires and in most instances, had screwgies which were outstanding; these were in the infantile stage compared to Mike Marshall's version of the screwball.  He took and has taken the screwball to not only a higher level but to a rarefied zone that possibly only he has realized.  Everyone is familiar with the:

1. 9-3 (RHP) version - an inshoot to a right-handed batter or away from a left handed batter - this is like a tailing fast ball but with quick veer - breaks laterally.

2. 10-4 version - has lateral and vertical movement - this is the Valenzuela edition - Tug McGraw also.

3. 11-5 version - more the downward break - very effective - stress on shoulder considerable.

4. 12-6 downer - very similar to curve ball - but thrown with opposite pronation - in effect this is the reverse curve ball.

5. Finally, the almost impossible - 1-7 (not recommended) that improbably breaks away from a RHB - but thrown with screwball pronation - only Mike Marshall has ever thrown this, to my knowledge, and I have seen him thrown this so I know it exists.  One has to have the shoulder anatomy and development and understanding to ever throw this pitch.  

So there are screwballs and then there are screwballs.

To understand these is to progress into the generally misunderstood area of aerodynamics. It is probably worth the time.  For more info on screwballs and computer animations on throwing the screwball, check PAUL NYMAN'S www.setpro.com web site.