The curveball (also known as the bender, and Uncle Charlie), is a breaking pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that impart down and/or sideways spin to the ball.
When throwing a curve, the pitcher creates downspin by rolling his or her palm and fingers over the top of the ball while releasing it. The direction of the break depends on the axis of spin on the ball.
A "12–6" or "overhand" has a more or less straight downward action as it approaches the plate, while more sweeping curveballs might be described as "1–7" or "slurves".
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