Talk:Screwball

Dessert
What about the frozen dessert that goes by the same name?--x1987x 01:12, 7 May 2005 (UTC)

Circle change
A circle change does not impart a movement similar to a screwball. No pitch breaks like a screwball except a screwball. The value of a circle change is that the pitcher's arm movement and velocity is similar to that of a fastball but the pitch's velocity is much slower. The value of the pitch is in speed deception, not in any movement of the pitch. The circle change can be thrown with an inward rotation of the wrist, similar to the screwball's release, but not nearly as violently. Johan Santana throws his circle change this way, and not only does the pitch deceive like a normal changeup, but has a tailing motion (in on lefties, away from righties.) Santana throws a straight change and a circle change with the slight screw motion. While it's not the only way to throw it, it's a variation that gives a changeup a bit more edge. Many coaches prefer to teach their pitchers this kind of changeup instead of a screwball because of the risk of injury mentioned in the article. Gskarlov 01:09, 27 July 2007 (UTC)

The circle change and screwball are basically the same pitch, but at different spots on a continuum. Thepainguy (talk) 04:40, 15 April 2010 (UTC)

That's simply not true, the circle change and the screwball are not at all related. A circle change is simply a change up pitch thrown with the arm and wrist action of a fastball, but with the ball held deeper in the hand; so the velocity of the pitch is less than a fastball. A screwball has spin imparted on it by wrist action, which causes the ball the break away in the opposite direction of a curveball. The circle change is just different type of off-speed pitch, which the screwball is a breaking ball pitch. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Jatkins679 (talk • contribs) 23:21, 15 May 2010 (UTC)

This is not correct. A circle change is also thrown with pronation, and the result is very similar movement to a screwball. Thepainguy (talk) 04:45, 22 November 2010 (UTC)

Addition
If anyone else wants to add their way of throwing this pitch, or any differences, please add it onto the current description. I've entered the way I've thrown it, and I know this is not the only way to throw it. The way I throw it, it tends to have a lot of movement but isn't extremely fast. I've heard of people doing it like a reverse-slide instead of a reverse-curveball (pressure on the right index finger, and pronate). I've tried this, but it seems quite difficult to generate a quick spin this way.

I'm a college pitcher who throws a screwball as my out-pitch, and mine moves more like the reverse-slide than the curve. It depends on which arm angle I use. Since I throw it with a grip modified from a 2-seam fastball (I shift the pressure on to my index finger and only use my middle for support) I can throw it from nearly any arm angle. I mostly throw sidearm, which gives it a roughly 2-8 trajectory (reverse slider), but as I approach high 3/4 it drops more than slides, going to 1-7 (reverse curve). Gskarlov 01:14, 27 July 2007 (UTC)

Original research
The article, especially in the technique section, seems to contain original research. Lines such as "*If you are just learning this pitch, start out slow and never force your arm into doing something too uncomfortable. If done improperly the pitch can cause various shoulder and wrist injuries." give the article an air of a "how-to" article more than an encyclopedia entry.  Leebo  T / C  19:48, 27 April 2007 (UTC)
 * Such an article is probably where the editor ripped it off from. Wahkeenah 23:19, 27 April 2007 (UTC)
 * I threw the screwball for about seven years and personally think that there should be some mention about the injury risks. Haven't thrown one regularly for five years but it really warrants mentioning that if you're trying to become a teenage junkballer just to stay on the team, this is both the pitch to learn and the worst thing you can do for the long term health of your arm.76.102.50.71 (talk) 23:43, 13 August 2009 (UTC)
 * There's no good evidence for the supposed health risks of the screwball. All evidence is anecdotal. Thepainguy (talk) 04:42, 15 April 2010 (UTC)

Softball
I've heard a lot about screwballs being thrown in softball games. Is it true? Does it belong in this article? If yes, then I can add a section about it. I just didn't believe it was a screwball as defined in baseball.NyyDave 02:05, 17 July 2007 (UTC) The screwball is a core pitch in fast-pitch softball. Thepainguy (talk) 04:39, 15 April 2010 (UTC)

Style change
The Wikipedia authorities have observed that the article was written with a how-to style, and should be re-written to conform to Wikipedia form. I changed some sentences accordingly. I also noticed text about the tactical uses of the pitch which assumed right-handed pitcher. I modified it to make it handedness-neutral. Mark.camp (talk) 00:23, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

I rewrote the article to remove the how-to aspects. I also removed the unsubstantiated claims about the relationship between the screwball and injuries. Thepainguy (talk) 04:44, 22 November 2010 (UTC)

Screwball (baseball pitch)
Picture of grip with the article bears no resemblance to the description of the grip given 144.62.251.122 (talk) 20:18, 30 March 2023 (UTC)