As a rookie last season, the young right-hander with the explosive knuckle curve was 9-2 and probably the ace of the staff by season's end.

He is also one of the few Japanese pitchers to have experimented with a knuckle curve.

Snap went the knuckle curve, not his shoulder.

Gene Nelson has a forkball, a knuckle curve that breaks down and a good fastball.

This time, though, he had his curveball, which he throws two ways: with a traditional grip and as a knuckle curve.

Hitters have learned to lay off his knuckle curve, especially now that he isn't throwing it for strikes.

He looked sharp in the second, however, striking out two batters, using his speed plus a nasty knuckle curve.

In all other respects, this knuckle curve is identical to the standard curveball.

This kind of knuckle curve is rare - it is easier to control than a standard knuckleball, but still difficult to master.

The third type of knuckle curve was thrown by Dave Stenhouse in the 1960s.