Editing Knuckleball (section)

==Use in other sports==
===Cricket===
{{main|Knuckle ball (cricket)}}
The knuckleball is also employed by [[cricket]] fast bowlers [[Zaheer Khan]], [[Bhuvneshwar Kumar]] and [[Andrew Tye]] as their slower delivery. The physics of the operation are largely the same. However, the seam on a cricket ball is equatorial, and thus the extent of erratic movement is reduced due to the symmetry (at least in the conventional release position where the planes of the ball's trajectory and the seam are nearly co-planar). In addition, the lack of backspin does shorten the length of the delivery, and also tends to make the ball skid off the pitch—faster than it would come off a normal delivery.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cricket World Cup: The writers' verdicts |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2011/apr/04/cricket-world-cup-writers-verdicts |access-date=7 October 2012 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=April 4, 2011 |location=London |first1=Mike |last1=Selvey |first2=Vic |last2=Marks |first3=Andy |last3=Bull |first4=David |last4=Hopps}}</ref>

===Volleyball===
In [[volleyball]], the [[float serve]] involves hitting the volleyball in such a way to minimize the rotation of the ball, causing unpredictability in the ball's movement. When done correctly, the float serve is hard for opponents to predict where the ball will end up, thus rendering it hard to pass.

===Association football===
In [[association football]] (soccer), the method of [[Shooting (association football)#Depending on the ball movement|striking]] the ball so that it produces almost no [[Curl (football)|spinning]] motion during its flight has been colloquially described as "'''knuckleballing'''" by commentators, due to the ball's motion that resembles a baseball thrown with a knuckleball pitch. This shooting technique is frequently used by players for long-range shots and [[Direct free kick|free kicks]]. A successful knuckleball shot will move, dip, or wobble in the air unpredictably, making it difficult for the goalkeeper to save.<ref name =fifa1>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=625416.html |title=Who is the free-kick master? |publisher=FIFA.com |date=30 October 2007 |access-date=27 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418062530/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid%3D625416.html |archive-date=18 April 2008 }}</ref> This technique has also been described as the "dry leaf" or "dead leaf" ({{Lang|pt|folha seca}} in Portuguese),<ref name="FIFA2"/> the "tomahawk",<ref name="dilemma"/> or even "the accursed" ({{Lang|it|maledetta}} in Italian).<ref name="maledetta"/>

One of the main proponents of this shooting technique was Brazilian playmaker [[Juninho Pernambucano]], who popularised it in particular during his time with [[Olympique Lyonnais|Lyon]] in the mid 2000s;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/7ff3d21d-6ff3-480b-b22c-3b198bad381f |title=Noughty Boys: No one hit a free-kick quite like Juninho Pernambucano |publisher=BBC Sport |last1=Anka |first1=Carl |date=16 December 2018 |access-date=26 October 2019 }}</ref> however, it is commonly thought to have been invented by compatriot [[Didi (footballer, born 1928)|Didi]],<ref name="FIFA2">[https://web.archive.org/web/20120617103741/http://www.fifa.com/newscentre/features/news/newsid=1551015/index.html "Kings of the free-kick"]. FIFA.com. Retrieved 20 May 2014</ref><ref name="obituary1">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2001/may/15/guardianobituaries.football|title=Didi|work=The Guardian|author1=Brian Glanville|date=15 May 2001|access-date=21 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="obituary2">{{cite web|title=Didi|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1330266/Didi.html|publisher=The Telegraph|access-date=21 February 2017|date=15 May 2001}}</ref> although Italian forward [[Giuseppe Meazza]] before him is also credited with using the technique.<ref name="The inimitable Giuseppe Meazza">{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/mensyoutholympic/news/y=2011/m=1/news=the-inimitable-giuseppe-meazza-1363217.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026180026/https://www.fifa.com/mensyoutholympic/news/y%3D2011/m%3D1/news%3Dthe-inimitable-giuseppe-meazza-1363217.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 26, 2019|title=The inimitable Giuseppe Meazza|publisher=FIFA.com|access-date=21 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1584379-pele-to-zico-to-beckham-to-ronaldo-evolution-of-the-free-kick-masters |title=Pele to Zico to Beckham to Ronaldo: Evolution of the Free-Kick Masters |publisher=Bleacher Report |last1=Tidey |first1=Will |date=23 March 2013 |access-date=26 October 2019 }}</ref><ref name="magliarossonera.it">{{cite web|url=http://www.magliarossonera.it/protagonisti/Gioc-Meazza.html|title=Giuseppe Meazza|publisher=Magliarossonera.it|language=it|access-date=3 January 2016}}</ref><ref name="Technical gifts">{{cite web |url=http://www.giuseppemeazza.it/en/goal-a-invito-meazza |title=Technical gifts |publisher=www.giuseppemeazza.it |access-date=26 October 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/fantasy/story/_/id/27910799/looking-deeper-el-clasico-hold |title=Giuseppe Meazza: Champion of the world |publisher=ESPN FC |last1=Hackett |first1=Robin |date=13 September 2012 |access-date=26 October 2019 }}</ref> This technique has also been used and even adapted by several other players, such as [[Andrea Pirlo]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://copadomundo.uol.com.br/noticias/redacao/2014/06/11/mestre-de-pirlo-juninho-pernambucano-ensinou-italiano-a-bater-falta.htm#fotoNav=21|title=Mestre de Pirlo, Juninho Pernambucano ensinou italiano a bater falta |publisher=[[uol.com.br|UOL]] |language=pt|first=Mauricio|last=Stycer|date=11 June 2014}}</ref><ref name="maledetta">{{cite news|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Squadre/Juventus/11-11-2013/juventus-pirlo-ma-che-punizione-hai-tirato-maledetta-che-sfida-fisica-201549826321.shtml|title=Juventus: Pirlo, ma che punizione hai tirato? La maledetta che sfida la fisica|work=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|last=Gerna|first=Jacopo|date=11 November 2013|access-date=21 January 2015}}</ref> [[Ronaldinho]], [[Cristiano Ronaldo]],<ref name="Shooters"/> [[Didier Drogba]],<ref name="Shooters">{{cite news |title=The Top 15 Best Shooters in World Football |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/748074-the-top-15-best-shooters-in-world-football |access-date=15 October 2020 |magazine=Bleacher Report}}</ref> [[Marcus Rashford]], [[Gareth Bale]],<ref name="dilemma">{{cite web |url=https://as.com/diarioas/2013/09/14/english/1379173980_744863.html |title=Set-piece dilemma: CR7 Tomahawk vs Bale Knuckleball |publisher=as.com |first=Pedro P. |last=San Martín |date=14 September 2013 |access-date=13 December 2018 }}</ref> and [[Barbara Bonansea]].<ref name="FIFA2019">{{cite web|url= https://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/news/bonansea-i-was-always-daydreaming-of-football-in-class |title= Bonansea: I was always daydreaming of football in class |publisher=[[FIFA.com]] |date=4 February 2019}}</ref>

===American football===
In [[American football]], a knuckleball is occasionally employed by [[Punter (gridiron football)|punters]]. [[Chris Gardocki]] achieved a knuckleball effect by [[Punt (gridiron football)|punting]] towards the left sideline with his left foot, leading to unpredictable results. [[Sam Koch]] developed the technique further, kicking the [[Ball (gridiron football)|football]] at an angle to reduce spin. Koch would often aim his knucklers towards the middle of the field in an attempt to bait the [[Return specialist|returner]] into trying to catch the ball. Because of the unpredictable nature of a knuckler, this could lead the returner to [[Muffed punt|muff the punt]] and cause a turnover.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seifert |first=Kevin |date=December 15, 2015 |title=Sam Koch has changed the punting game -- and almost no one noticed |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/191948/sam-koch-has-changed-the-punting-game-and-almost-no-one-noticed |access-date=November 2, 2022 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |archive-date=November 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102181700/https://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/191948/sam-koch-has-changed-the-punting-game-and-almost-no-one-noticed |url-status=live }}</ref> A knuckleball may also be used to describe a kick by a [[Placekicker|kicker]], either field goals or extra points, if the ball is not hit well.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tyler Bass tucks 52-yard knuckleball FG inside left upright |url=https://www.nfl.com/videos/tyler-bass-tucks-52-yard-knuckleball-fg-inside-left-upright |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}</ref>