Instead of flying with vicious speed and deadly spin, a knuckleball sails slower and as flat as possible. Rather than wrapping your fingers around the ball, you dig the nails of your index and middle fingers into it. Those two knuckles stick up in the air, giving the pitch its signature name. That unusual grip takes the rotation off11 the ball, allowing it to zigzag erratically in the air and befuddle batters.
