Drop Curve (Fast-Pitch)
Also known as: drop curve, drop-curve, drop curveball, how to hit a drop curve, hitting a drop curve, drop curve pitch softball
A drop curve is a fast-pitch breaking ball that dives down and slides sideways at the same time. It blends a drop ball with a curve. To hit it, track it deep, keep your back shoulder from dipping and match its downward path. Lay off the ones that start at your knees, because they finish below the zone.
A pitcher makes a drop curve by tilting the spin between the topspin of a drop and the sideways spin of a curve. The ball moves on a diagonal. From a right-handed pitcher it usually breaks down and away from a right-handed hitter. Some pitchers throw it as their main breaking ball because it gets grounders and swings over the top.
Hitters miss it in two ways. Some swing where the ball started and go over the top of it. Others pull off early and roll it weakly to the pull side. A hitter who dips the back shoulder to lift the ball often pops it up or misses under it.
The fix starts before the pitch. Pick a start point a little higher than the zone you want, because the good ones finish lower than they start. Let it travel and drive it up the middle or the other way. With two strikes, some hitters move up in the box to meet it before it drops. Against a pitcher who lives on it, sit on the ones that start belt-high.
Tips by skill level
Watch the pitcher's warm-ups and notice where her drop curve starts and where it ends. Use that gap to pick your start point.
Track which counts she throws it in. Many pitchers lean on it when ahead, so sit on it belt-high when the count tells you it is coming.
Example
A 14U hitter keeps rolling over a lefty's drop curve to second base. Her coach tells her to look for it starting belt-high and to hit it back up the middle. She lines the next one into center field.
Why it matters
The drop curve is a common out pitch in fast pitch. Hitters who cannot read its diagonal break chase it into the dirt or roll it over for easy outs.
Common mistakes
- Swinging at drop curves that start at the knees
- Dipping the back shoulder to lift the ball
- Pulling off early and rolling it to the pull side
- Trying to pull a pitch that is breaking away
Frequently asked questions
What is a drop curve in softball?
It is a breaking ball that drops and moves sideways at once. It mixes the topspin of a drop ball with the sideways spin of a curve.
How do I hit a drop curve?
Track it deep, keep your back shoulder level and match its downward path. Swing at the ones that start belt-high and drive them up the middle or the other way.
Is a drop curve the same as a drop ball?
No. A drop ball mostly falls straight down. A drop curve also moves sideways, so it travels on a diagonal.
Related terms
- Drop BallIn fast-pitch, a drop ball is a pitch thrown with topspin that makes it dive sharply near the plate. It induces grounders and swings over the top of the ball.
- Curveball – Fast-PitchA curveball is a fast-pitch pitch thrown with lateral spin that causes the ball to break sharply to one side as it reaches the plate, disrupting a hitter's timing and eye-line.
- Hitting the Curveball (Fast-Pitch)To hit a fast-pitch curveball, read the sideways spin early and let the ball travel a little deeper. When it breaks away, keep your front shoulder closed and drive it up the middle or the other way. When it breaks in toward you, keep your hands inside the ball and turn on it.
- Hitting the DropHitting the drop means angling the bat path down through the zone to match a drop ball's late break. It avoids a flat swing that rolls over the top.
- Recognizing a Drop Ball EarlyRecognizing a drop ball early means reading its topspin before the late break. The hitter can then adjust the bat path down instead of rolling over the ball.
Related guides & benchmarks
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