forkball
1 of 1noun/ˈfɔ:rk.bɔ:l/
Forms:forkballs
1
(baseball) a pitch thrown with a grip that causes the ball to drop sharply before reaching the plate
A forkball in baseball or softball is a pitch that is thrown with a grip where the pitcher places their fingers between the ball’s seams, similar to a "fork" shape. This grip creates a sharp downward movement as the ball approaches the batter, making it drop suddenly as it nears the plate. The forkball is slower than a fastball and harder for batters to hit because of its unpredictable drop. It is considered a deceptive pitch because the batter cannot easily tell where it will end up, often causing them to swing too early or miss entirely.
- The pitcher surprised the batter with a devastating forkball.
- The pitcher's forkball dipped just below the hitter's bat.
- When thrown correctly, the forkball can be a pitcher's most effective weapon.
- Learning to control the movement of the forkball takes time and practice.
- Hitters often struggle to make solid contact with a well-executed forkball.