Curveball

A breaking pitch in baseball that bends downward as it approaches the batter, chiefly because its spin redirects airflow around the ball.

Magnus effect: A force on a spinning object moving through a fluid, caused by differences in pressure around it. The curveball’s spin creates pressure differences that bend its path.
Baseball pitch: A delivery in which a pitcher throws the ball toward home plate to challenge the batter. A curveball is one specific kind of baseball pitch.
Fastball: A baseball pitch thrown for high velocity, typically with relatively little movement compared with breaking pitches. Its speed and straighter flight contrast with the curveball’s slower, pronounced drop.
Pitch tunneling: A strategy in which different pitches follow similar early trajectories before diverging near the plate. A curveball can disguise its break by initially resembling a fastball.
Pitch count: The number of pitches thrown by a pitcher during a game or period of work. Curveball use is considered alongside workload when managing pitchers.
Topspin: Rotation in which the top of a moving ball turns toward its direction of travel. A curveball’s forward rotation contributes to its downward movement.
Breaking ball: A baseball pitch designed to move laterally or vertically as it travels toward the plate. The curveball belongs to this family of pitches.
Slider: A breaking pitch that combines lateral movement with a sharper, often later break than a curveball. The slider usually breaks more sideways and at greater speed.
Pitch sequencing: The ordering of pitches used to exploit a batter’s expectations and weaknesses. A curveball’s effectiveness often depends on which pitches precede it.
Youth baseball: Organized baseball played by children and adolescents. Debates about curveball use focus especially on developing pitchers.

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