nothing ball

Noun

nothing ball (plural nothing balls)

1. a pitch which has neither much speed nor much spin
   • If he cannot throw a fast ball, he may be able to get by on a nothing ball (a term coined for Wes Ferrell's looping delivery, which, though it doesn't curve, is hard to hit).1941 Franklin P. Huddle "Baseball Jargon" (April 1943) American Speech Vol. 18, No. 2, pp. 103-111
   • two of the leading pitchers in the major leagues use the "nothing ball", a term used derisively by batters to describe change of pace deliveries.1951 August, Paul Horowitz, “They've Got Plenty of Nothing”, in Baseball Digest, pages 21–22
2. (UK) a ball which presents little attacking threat
   • I was very disappointed (with the first goal) because it was a nothing ball over the top, Brian Jensen was way out of position and should have been sweeping that up.2010 Harry Redknapp, quoted in "Relegated Burnley produce comeback" (9 May 2010) ESPNsoccernet