12-to-6 커브, 12-to-6 curve

12-to-6 커브는 앞선 슬로커브, 파워커브와 달리 속도가 아닌 궤적에 대한 구분이다. 오버핸드 스로 투수가 제대로 커브를 던질 경우에는 횡적인 변화가 줄고 시계의 12시에서 6시 방향으로 수직으로, 말 그대로 폭포수처럼 떨어지는 움직임이 생기는데 이를 12-to-6 커브라 부른다. 당연히 커브의 낙차도 커야 가능하다. 이러면 타자로선 히팅 포인트가 말 그대로 점 하나로만 형성이 돼서 굉장히 위력적이다. 일본 야구계에서는 '드롭 커브'로 불리며 국내에서는 흔히 폭포수 커브라는 명칭으로도 불린다.

과거 샌디 쿠팩스와 놀란 라이언이 경지에 이르렀었고, 현역으로는 클레이튼 커쇼가 있으며, 전성기 때의 배리 지토의 폭포수 커브나 조시 베켓, 케리 우드, 크리스 틸먼의 커브볼도 유명하다. 국내에서는 최동원의 폭포수 커브가 현재까지도 회자될 만큼 KBO 최고 수준의 커브볼로 평가되고 있으며, 김원형, 윤성환, 임정우 도 12-to-6 커브볼로 유명하다.

박찬호가 전성기 시절 빠른 패스트볼과 12 to 6 커브의 조합으로 타자들을 잡아냈다는 이야기가 있지만, 사실 일반적인 커브에 비해 횡 변화가 크고 80마일대로 구속이 좋았기 때문에, 슬러브/파워커브로 분류하는게 더 맞아보인다. 이후 허리 부상, 햄스트링과 노쇠가 겹치고 텍사스 시절 오렐 허샤이저의 지도 아래 투심의 위력을 높이는 과정에서는 전형적인 스리쿼터 투수가 되었고, 이 공을 던지기도 어렵게 되었다.

 

 

 

 

The 12-to-6 curve, unlike previous slow curves and power curves, is a division of trajectory, not velocity. If a pitcher throws an overhand throw curve properly, lateral change decreases, and a movement that falls vertically from 12:00 to 6:00 on the clock occurs, which is called a 12-to-6 curve. Of course, a drop in a curve is required. If this happens, a batter can get a heating point literally formed with a single dot, which is very powerful. In Japanese baseball, the batter is called a drop curve, and in Korea, the batter is also called a fall curve.

Sandy Koufax and Nolan Ryan reached the point in the past, Clayton Kershaw is an active player, and Barry Zito's waterfall curve in his heyday or Josh Beckett, Kerry Wood and Chris Tillman's curveball are also famous. In Korea, Choi Dong-won's waterfall curve is considered the best curveball in the KBO, and Kim Won-hyung, Yoon Sung-hwan and Lim Jung-woo are also famous for their 12-to-6 curveballs.

There is a story that Park Chan-ho caught hitters with a combination of fast fastballs and 12 to 6 curves in his heyday, but in fact, it seems more appropriate to classify them as sloves/power curves because they have a large lateral change and good speed in the 80-mile range compared to general curves. Since then, he has become a typical three-quarter pitcher in the process of overlapping back injuries, hamstrings and old age, and increasing the power of determination under the guidance of Orel Hershiser in Texas, making it difficult to throw this ball.