Charlie Hough Teaches the Knuckleball: Part 2

[@KnuckleballNation]

This is Benedict Gaffney from Morristown, New Jersey, and he's got a really nasty knuck for a high schooler. You should check him out on Twitter.

[@dalewiederholt573]

We need more knuckleballers. Thank you Charlie

[@KnuckleballNation]

I'm on a mission to change that. Watch out for Alex Blandino breaking through with the Reds

[@mnmaddict37532]

Great to see Charlie Hough. He was one of my favorite players on the Dodgers during the 70s.

[@KnuckleballNation]

He's one of my favorite humans. Great guy. Phil was great, too

[@CM-oo3tv]

He actually was my favorite player when I was a kid. Now, oddly enough my 11 year old is into trying to throw the knuckle ball. It’s so beautiful when he makes the ball dance

[@xXxjayceexXx]

I had his baseball card from his time with the marlins in the 90s, he had so many stat lines you had to use a magnifying glass to read it.

[@ronjon5386]

I was a catcher in high school so I know a bit about pitchers. We had a guy that could throw a breaking ball that I played with in pee wee league and he was throwing it that young. A great curve. By the time we got to high school he was throwing a beautiful knuckle ball. I love these videos. And these young pitchers should be so great full for getting these lessons. My dad was a really good pitcher and when we played catch he would throw me a knuckle ball or it looked like one to me because the bal would move all over the place. It he threw it so easy.

[@cidmontenegro8225]

Hough ballsy getting in the box.

[@easyazpie9091]

you need a slow mo camera for review....like instant replay. To get immediate playback while teaching. That'd be the ultimate class.

[@KnuckleballNation]

@@easyazpie9091 working on it

[@sdgsdg9534]

That was a great video. So much information and knowledge.

[@RNC_GSP_1969]

Great instructor! Keeps it positive and keeps it simple.

[@KnuckleballNation]

Thanks, man. I appreciate the positivity on the internet. Pretty rare to find.

[@phoustonnow]

I grew up watching the Dodgers in the 70s. I had a love-hate relationship with Charlie when he came out of the bullpen. It seemed like he always got Pete Rose out, so that was good

[@KnuckleballNation]

Charlie tells a story where Lasorda put him into the game on his down day (when a pitcher knows he's not pitching) with no warmup and with no spikes just to face Pete Rose. Had to send the clubby running for his spikes and glove, took his 8 warmup pitches on the game mound, and then got him out.

[@phoustonnow]

@@KnuckleballNation Thanks for sharing that story!

[@tradrlarryone1827]

Thank you, Charlie Hough and KnuckleBall Nation. It's great to see you guys keeping the pitch alive and going. The education in this video is amazing. I hope a wave of more and more k ballers go to the MLB in the future.

[@KnuckleballNation]

I've been working with Alex Blandino a few times a week for the last several months. He recently received the Charlie Hough stamp of approval and was re-signed by the Reds to be a full-time Knuckleballer. I think he's the best hope for the pitch's MLB revival

[@KnuckleballNation]

I'll be debuting a video of Alex's Knuckleball during live at-bats against Minnesota Twins Max Kepler this Sunday. Interesting close-up view really shows the seams and movement

[@aarond23]

Do the high school pitchers throw the knuckle curve as their curve ball or they throwing knuckleballs as their main pitch?

[@KnuckleballNation]

We don't really talk much about anything but the Knuckleball and a flat fastball. A straight-as-an-arrow fastball mimics the delivery and release required to kill the spin. Interestingly, Charlie preaches a screwball for a 3rd pitch.

[@KnuckleBen]

I throw the knuckleball as my main pitch.

[@isaacshaver6218]

If you can understand the concept of the finger push off with the knuckleball, then the wrist flip of curve should be easy. I always think the reason the knuckleball works so well is simple. Changing speeds & good control or no control always win out over tricks.

[@steve-wi3ch]

@@KnuckleballNation ascrewball ?That's like throwing a second knuckleball as the screwball is another rrare pitch

[@yell0wberry]

Charlie definitely has a point, Bob Gibson was legendary for looking like he was falling off the mound after his follow through. But I think you see a lot less of that these days because when a pitch falls down after a follow-through, now he’s in danger of being seriously injured from a batted ball. Most kids who are trying to get their follow through correct should look at footage of Mike Mussina

[@KnuckleballNation]

If you rotate your hips properly -- and you're not trying to throw 100 MPH -- then you should land in a position where you can protect yourself. And **ADDED BONUS** as a knuckleballer: you've got plenty of time to get your glove up as the ball butterflies to the plate.

[@yell0wberry]

@@KnuckleballNation although R A Dicky threw a knuckler as hard as 85 miles an hour?

[@KnucksAG]

Is there anything in particular you look for in terms of stride length when throwing a knuck?

[@KnuckleballNation]

You've gotta stay tall and your hand has to beat your chest to the plate, so the stride length can't be too far and the stride must be under control. Essentially, you can't stride so far and fast that it prevents you from landing on a completely flat foot

[@michaelroberts7374]

Unique skill❤

[@KnuckleballNation]

If more guys know how to do it right, then it may become more common. That's my goal.