Why you shouldn't throw a knuckleball 

Personally, as a baseball fan I love watching someone throw a knuckleball. It’s so fun to watch on tv because it’s so different and unpredictable. For that reason I hope it stays part of the game, if only maybe a small part. But I totally get what you’re saying. My son always wants to try and throw knuckleballs when we’re throwing the ball in the yard but I always tell him the same thing, pretty much a waste of time unless you’ve mastered everything else (which of course no one has)

Had a 12U-15U pitcher that threw a good one periodically. Used it rarely and it was actually funny. Batter's were like "WTF?". Spectators would watch behind the backstop just waiting for it. One game our catcher had it thrown to every batter first time though the line up. Then never again. They didn't score a single run. They all tried so hard to hit it first time, then they all sat waiting for it. Totally through them off. But it was a gimmick. It worked for him at times, but he was the only one in 8 years that did that.

If your dad is 5'5" and your mom is 5'0" and biology has forsaken you then you may want to refine your knuckleball at age 10.

I totally agree it's absolutely difficult to throw a good knuckleball

As a grassroots baseball player in my late 30s in the UK who hadn't played since I was 14 in South Africa, I throw a knuckle ball for fun and because I'm not trying to go pro. My best days are behind me. For those of you who are young, watching this and reading the comments. Stick to the stuff you're good at. Knuckleballs are everything coach here is saying. Get yourself to elite level then experiment with the advice of your pitching coaches when you're competing at the higher levels

Few opinions of mine. First, agreed that if you can develop velo and more traditional pitches you’ll get more looks and more opportunities, no question. But the knuckleball is fun, and especially at a young age, it’s in my experience a good idea to make it fun sometimes. I’ve sat in on clinics run by knuckleball nation (who you should look up if you aren’t aware of Chris Nowlin) and I was surprised at how much of the mechanics he learned from Charlie Hough and Phil Niekro translate to traditional pitching. A lot of his instructions were the same ones my son was getting from traditional pitchers. There is a bias against the knuckleball because most people since Phil and Charlie have resorted to it as a last ditch effort to keep their career alive. Dickey and now Waldron even more so are proving that it can be another tool in a toolbox. Doubt you’ll see another 65mph knuckleball thrower again, but as velocity increases the need to kill all spin diminishes. Very few have such a negative perception of a fork ball yet it’s the same concept as a knuckler with more velocity.

Don't tell me what to do. Sincerely, everyone that likes fun.

From high school and higher, if the batters aren’t hitting your knuckleball, it’s bc you have a good one

We really need more in your face info for kids and parents on proper throwing mechanics, proper warm up/cool down, stretching (dynamic and static), and the exercises to keep their arms strong, healthy, and safe. Do not forget about proper nutrition. Thanks for you videos they are the best. Me and my son both follow you.

I’m 55 years old, when I was about 11 or 12 years old, this old man who played in the Negro League saw me and my little brother playing catch. He showed us how to throw a knuckleball. He told us to work on it. I pitched in little league, senior league, and high school. I always pitched traditional, but I threw the knuckle ball sometime when I tossed the ball around before games. I never could control it. I never had the confidence, control, dedication, or patience to throw a good consistent knuckleball. Occasionally I would throw a good one and the guy playing catch would say wow what was that. I would throw the knuckleball again and this time it would be nothing. I stopped pitching after high school and became strictly a position player but I would still tinker with the knuckleball sometimes in warmups. I played baseball ⚾️ till I was 30 made a painful comeback at 45 and I still play although I’m not playing this summer due to my father’s health. I still once in a while throw that knuckleball in pregame warmups. I wish I had really worked at it especially when I’m on a team lacking good pitching.

I get coaches point but overall I never like to send the message that because something is hard you shouldnt work at it. Also, the earlier you try and work at something the more likely you can master it. Another thing about development is that sometimes you have to have success before you are given an opportunity to develop. Let me explain. If you have a 13 year old strikeout kids with knuckleball the coach is right how do know whether it will be effective later BUT that kids success will ultimately make him stand out, he will make better teams, get better coaching, and in turn play better competition which will also further development. A lot of development is about putting yourself in the best position to be given the opportunity to develop and the opportunity usually comes with early success on the field. So if a knuckleball gives the kid early recognition and early success which in turn furthers his opportunities then go for it.

Thanks for the video, I had to stop and think after watching it. I haven't played competitively since college, a decade ago now...sheesh I'm getting old. When I was young, I was mainly a corner infielder, not a pitcher, I was clearly never good enough to go pro, but the tool that allowed me to play past HS/Legion was a bat, not pitching. I did pitch a ton in legion ball though, and primarily threw a knuckleball, and it was the only reason I tried to pitch. I had decent results at that level, and I'm under no delusions that it would've translated up to higher levels. For me, the only way I would have wanted to make it as a pitcher was as a knuckleballer, that's the only joy I found in pitching. My last year of legion ball, we had a new coach who didn't want me throwing knucklers. He wasn't wrong, my results were better, I threw harder when I went to conventional mechanics...my curveball was sharper, etc. Pitching wasn't enjoyable to me anymore. I'm grateful for the coach that let me pitch the way I wanted to, and I'm grateful for the one who had my development in mind, for different reasons. One let me be myself and walk my own path, the other provided me a better understanding of pitching, and therefore baseball as a whole. I guess that's a lot of words to say that I don't disagree with any of the points you're making, because I understand your target audience is young players, and their parents and coaches that are looking at the next level and are looking at pitching holistically. The point I want to make is more to other knuckleball nerds like myself who may be reading. If your aspirations aren't to go pro, pitch in college, etc. and you just really love knuckleballs and wouldn't love pitching any other way, there's nothing wrong with throwing them and enjoying yourself in the process, I don't think that's what Coach Blewett is saying, you aren't the target audience if that's you. Take a moment to think about what your goals are, and if they're serious baseball aspirations, I'd listen to coach here. If on the off-chance you're the obsessive weirdo like me, who only cares about throwing knuckleballs and doesn't care if it goes nowhere, then follow your heart, it's okay to not want more out of baseball than the simple pleasure of throwing a no-spinner. Sorry for the long comment, thanks for the video coach, you made me think and reflect, and you gave me some helpful insights for if I ever get roped into coaching legion ball again. 😅

Sounds like you just don't know how to analyze knuckleballs. If you know how to judge a good curveball it's because you've seen lots of curveballs. Tom Candiotti, some seasons, was topping out at 78 mph. If you can throw 95 mph, maybe don't waste your time on knuckleballs. Not everyone is going to be able to throw in the mid-90s. I've seen players who can't hold runners on who throw hard. If scouts don't know how to spot a good knuckleballer they need to work on developing metrics for it.

if knuckle ball pitchers started learning late in their careers and pitched in their late 40's, what do you think will happen if they learned the pitch early? they were learning on the go against major league hitters, imagine if they mastered it when they were young? phil niekro was drafted as a knuckleball pitcher and he was the best to ever do it. Matt Waldron is paving the way for a whole bunch of youngsters, and hes pitching great with it. imagine telling him when he was young that hes wasting his time throwing a knuckleball. if you want to learn to throw the knuckleball the right way search Knuckleball Nation. theres a whole new generation of knuckleballers coming up

Why not develop a knuckleball along side conventional pitches and have it in your back pocket like most mlb k-ballers did?

Yeah, I think this is correct. Besides, you will have knuckle balls that go flat and you might as well just put the ball on a T for the batter. The more competitive things get, the more your flat pitches will be 400+ feet behind you. You can get away with a bad knuckle ball at lower levels because most hitters you face wont punish your flat ones.

Thank you coach. It was very educational for me.

Hey coach. What if you can throw a knuckleball with the same mechanics as your other pitches? My son (17) mixes in his knuckleball very well with his FB, CH, SL, and CB. Funny part is his primary position is CF and is lockdown there so does not get much mound time. Went to a PBRFL State games last fall and they did a pretty interesting post on him throwing very high strike percentage while striking out 5 of 6 batters he faced with it. 1 pop fly to SS was the other out. 1 dibbler that snuck thru was the 1 hit allowed.

I'm 13, and suck at throwing change ups, but I can throw a splitter, do you think I should still learn the change up, or will a splitter work?

It's the classic saying: learn the rules, and master the rules, before you break the rules. You're not going to become the knuckleball Picasso revolutionizing the art of pitching. And even Picasso had to master the "boring standard stuff" before he could do his own thing.

Very interesting I see your point and understand your reasoning I always wanted my daughter to learn how to throw a fast pitch knuckle ball I’m glad I never tried to introduce it now Thanks

It seems to be a pitch of last resort; if all your other stuff has gone (or was never there), then try the knuckleball.

will use it but not in game

Love ur work keep it up plz my son follows u closely

There’s no way anyone thinks that throwing a knuckleball as a kid is good for development

Wow, you removed a bunch of comments. Need that echo chamber, huh?

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