12–6 curveball
The 12–6 curveball is a baseball pitch that drops straight down, moving from 12 o’clock to 6 o’clock on a clock face. It breaks vertically with little to no horizontal movement, making it different from the more side-to-side curves like 11–5 or 2–8.
Known in MLB and by nicknames such as the yellow hammer and drop curveball, the 12–6 is one of the toughest pitches to hit because of its sharp vertical drop. Its effectiveness also depends on how fast it is compared to a fastball and how well a pitcher sequences it.
It’s usually thrown overhand. A three-quarter or sidearm delivery tends to produce a 2–8 break rather than a true 12–6.
The vertical break comes from topspin applied as the ball is released.
How well it works varies: it’s generally very effective against same-handed batters, but can be easier to hit against opposite-handed batters, where an 11–5 curve can be more effective. A pitcher’s ability to apply topspin is crucial to its success.
Grip and release: use a four-seam grip with the middle finger in the gap between the right-side seams, the index finger next to it, and the thumb underneath. This setup helps create topspin and good control. The pitch is thrown with a pronounced 12–6 motion, driven by the middle finger and thumb, with the index finger adding topspin. Mastering this pitch is difficult and makes it one of the hardest curves to learn.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 18:50 (CET).