curveball
baseball
Also known as: drop ball
Quick Summary
There's curve in that ball
Diagram showing how a baseball curves. The spin of the ball creates different levels of air resistance on either side of the ball, which then moves toward the direction of lower resistance.
A curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with spin, causing it to swerve downward and sideways as it approaches the batter. This pitch is typically slower than a fastball and is designed to deceive the hitter by breaking away from a straight trajectory. The curveball was first used in baseball around 1936. The term "curveball" is also used metaphorically to describe an unexpected problem or situation.123
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