In What Order Should You Learn Movement Pitches?

Should you learn softball movement pitches from easiest to hardest? Most effective to least effective? Should every pitcher master a dropball before learning a riseball? Or should you start with whichever pitch comes most naturally?

At Practice Pro, we take a different approach: 

We introduce all the movement pitches at the same time. 

Ideally, by fifth grade, I want every Practice Pro pitcher to demonstrate the correct spin for each movement pitch from the snapping position. That's the foundation. Turning those spins into effective pitches is a much longer process.

Now, at the risk of contradicting myself, I'm going to explain which pitches I've found players typically catch on to the fastest, even though they are learning about them at the same time. Some are easier to execute than others. Every pitcher is different, of course, but after years of teaching, I've noticed that certain pitches tend to click sooner than others.

That doesn't mean I expect a fifth grader to throw five different movement pitches in a game, although some pitchers can do some by that age! My goal is for young pitchers to understand how each pitch works long before they're expected to execute it effectively.

Which Movement Pitches Are the Easiest to Learn?

Even though I introduce all the pitches together, some are generally easier to execute than others, especially when a pitcher's mechanics are still developing. I've also seen plenty of exceptions. A pitch that comes naturally to one athlete might be extremely difficult for another, depending on her mechanics and how her body moves.

However, by sixth or seventh grade, I've noticed that most pitchers begin executing movement pitches in roughly the following order, from easiest to hardest.

1. Peel Dropball

The peel drop is generally the easiest movement pitch to learn because it's so similar to the fastball. Young pitchers can often pick up the spin fairly quickly, and there's another advantage: when you're young, small, and still struggling to get the ball all the way to home plate, almost everything looks like it's dropping!

I've watched plenty of young pitchers throw a peel drop and get excited when the ball falls toward the ground. Is it actually breaking downward because of the spin? Probably not. It might simply be falling because of gravity, but that's okay! The pitcher sees the ball drop, gets excited, and begins to understand what she's trying to accomplish.

I actually like that early encouragement because it makes learning movement pitches fun instead of intimidating. Eventually, I'll teach her to recognize the difference between a ball that falls because of gravity and one that actually breaks downward because of its spin. But when she's first learning, I don't think we need to make that distinction a major obstacle.

2. U-Screwball

The U-screwball is generally the second easiest pitch because its spin is similar to the bullet spin we teach on our U-fastball. Since our pitchers are already familiar with that movement, the transition to learning the U-screwball spin is often fairly natural.

There is one important consideration I want parents to understand about the screwball. Depending on how it's thrown, it can place additional stress on the elbow,. As pitchers get older, throw harder, and increase their practice volume, it's important to pay attention to their mechanics, workload, and any discomfort as tendinitis seems to creep up more with this one.

3. Curveball

The curveball tends to be the third easiest for young pitchers because it requires a different spin and body position than they're accustomed to using on their fastball. Some of my pitchers pick it up almost immediately, while others struggle to create the proper spin axis or position their bodies correctly.

One of the reasons I love teaching the curveball is that learning it can actually improve a pitcher's fastball mechanics. A good curveball requires the hand to be supinated at the 9 o'clock position, which can also be referred to as the layback position or “K”. This is also a factor in the fastball delivery.

When I teach pitchers to achieve that position correctly, it can help them develop a better arm path and more whip in their fastball instead of throwing with a straight, stiff arm. So even if a pitcher isn't ready to throw a curveball in a game, I still see tremendous value in teaching her the movement. Sometimes learning a new pitch actually helps us fix something in an old one!

4. Drop Curve

The drop curve is one of my favorite pitches because it combines two directions of movement. Instead of simply moving downward or across the plate, the ball is intended to move both down and sideways, which makes it much more challenging for hitters to track.

Think about how difficult that can be for a hitter. She's not just adjusting to a ball moving in one direction; she's dealing with a pitch that changes both vertically and horizontally. That's one reason I place such a high value on pitches that move in two directions.

So why don't I put the drop curve ahead of the curveball? Because I've noticed that young pitchers frequently confuse the drop curve with a changeup. Instead of producing the correct spin and movement, they'll slow the ball down or unintentionally throw something that resembles a changeup.

5. Riseball

For most pitchers, the riseball is the hardest movement pitch to learn because it requires a very specific body position in addition to the correct spin. I've worked with pitchers who understand the riseball spin perfectly but still struggle to position their bodies correctly to execute it.

That's why I spend so much time teaching body positions without even throwing a ball. I'll have pitchers practice in front of a mirror so they can see what their shoulders, hips, posture, and entire body are doing. I want them to understand that throwing a movement pitch involves much more than just moving their hand a certain way.

And because the riseball is so difficult, I think that's even more reason to introduce the concept early rather than waiting until a pitcher is older. She might not be physically ready to execute it yet, but she can certainly begin learning what the spin looks like and how her body needs to move.

6. Other pitches

These aren’t the hardest to learn, but deserve an extra note. 

In addition to these five movement pitches, I also teach a few others, including the clip, an off-speed pitch that's faster than a changeup but slower than a fastball; the turnover drop, another way to throw a dropball; and the C-screw, an alternative way to throw a screwball.

The clip is relatively easy to learn once a pitcher's hands are big enough to grip the ball properly. The turnover drop and C-screw, on the other hand, are alternatives I introduce when a pitcher struggles with the traditional versions or has certain physical characteristics that make a different technique a better fit. Not every pitch works the same way for every pitcher, so I like having options!

And let's not forget the changeup! Although it's not technically a movement pitch, I consider it more important than any of the movement pitches I've discussed. That's why we introduce the changeup in Week 7 of our New Recruits Pitching School, long before pitchers are expected to master their movement pitches.

My goal

My goal  isn't to rush young pitchers into throwing movement pitches in games. It's to give them the knowledge, coordination, and foundation they'll need when they're ready. By introducing all the spins early, I can give pitchers more time to experiment, understand their bodies, and eventually develop the movement pitches that work best for them.