Are curveballs bad for your arm?

No studies found increased force or torque about the elbow or shoulder. Three epidemiologic studies showed no significant association between pitching a curveball and upper extremity pain or injury.

Why shouldn't kids throw curve balls?

The study of 149 pitchers under the age of 12 showed that players who did not follow pitch count limits had higher odds, ranging from 2.04–2.47, of developing elbow pain during a single season. Pitch type, specifically curveballs, remains one of the most controversial potential risk factors for arm pain/injury.

Should 13 year olds throw curve balls?

While the research has not conclusively shown a connection between curveballs and injuries; it is safest for young pitchers to avoid throwing curveballs until they are more mature and can use proper mechanics.

Is a slider or curveball worse for your arm?

Though the relationship between pitch type and arm pain is confounded by this, the difference between the odds ratio between curveballs and sliders is clear — youth pitchers that throw sliders seem to experience more arm pain than those that throw curveballs.

What pitches are bad for your arm?

Offspeed/breaking pitches such as the curveball and slider have received so much attention and scorn in the last few years that they are part of the reason for an increase in arm injuries.

3 Baseball Pitches That Don't Hurt Your Arm! [SAFE PITCHES FOR KIDS]

Do pitchers ruin their arms?

As it does with the bicep tendon, the repeated motion of pitching can cause irritation in the rotator cuff, the foursome of muscles between your collarbone and your arm. Tendinitis in this spot can be felt both during pitching and at rest, depending on severity. It can also limit the shoulder's range of motion.

At what age should you throw a curveball?

So, what is the appropriate age? In regard to curveballs and sliders, I recommend a player wait until he is 13- or 14- years- old. It all depends on his physical maturation and muscular development. You want to avoid overloading the shoulder and elbow.

Is curveball the hardest pitch to hit?

A . 300 hitter, that rarest of breeds these days, goes through life with the certainty that he will fail at his job seven out of ten times.” And the consensus of the pros is that the curveball is the toughest pitch to hit.

Is it harder to hit a fastball or a curveball?

A hitter is more likely to contact a fastball, but curveballs have more power potential. Basically, a hitter is more likely to get on base by hitting a fastball, but a curveball has more capacity for extra bases. Hunting one pitch over the other may be situational.

How many inches does a curveball break?

A major league curveball can veer as much as 17 1/2 inches from a straight line by the time it crosses the plate. Over the course of a pitch, the deflection from a straight line increases with distance from the pitcher.

Is it bad to throw a curveball?

In fact, the studies were not able to find any link between throwing curveballs and an increase in injuries, and actually indicate that curveballs place less stress on the elbow than fastballs.

Is throwing a curveball hard?

The curveball should be thrown – just like all pitches – as hard as the fastball. The arm-speed for all pitches should be 100% at all times, but the output speed, the final radar gun speed, is determined by how much speed is converted into spin.

Should a 14 year old throw a curveball?

When Youth Baseball Players Should Begin Throwing Breaking Balls. As mentioned above, there is no singular answer to this question. Each young pitcher is built differently. The short answer is that many experts agree that pitchers can begin throwing curveballs between the ages of 13-16.

What pitches should a 13 year old throw?

Should I throw a curveball or slider?

Pitchers with tight wrists and fast, direct arm actions are better suited for sliders. Pitchers with looser wrists and slightly more windmill-type arm actions take better to curveballs.

What is the most nasty pitch in baseball?

1) Jhoan Duran -- 99.7 mph splitter, Aug.

Duran is the only pitcher in pitch-tracking history to throw a 100 mph "offspeed" pitch. His "splinker" -- a unique splitter/sinker hybrid that gets classified by Statcast as a splitter -- reached as high as 100.8 mph in this same game, but that one was a ball.

What is the rarest pitch in baseball?

Definition. A screwball is a breaking ball designed to move in the opposite direction of just about every other breaking pitch. It is one of the rarest pitches thrown in baseball, mostly because of the tax it can put on a pitcher's arm.

How rare is a 100 mph pitch?

In the pitch-tracking era (since 2008), there have been 223 MLB pitchers to hit 100 on the radar gun, according to Baseball Savant's Statcast.

How hard does a 14 year old pitch?

13 And 14-Year-Olds

An average fastball from this age range is anywhere from 55 mph (on the low side) to 75 mph. A pitcher throwing 75 mph is better than most people for this age, and their fastball is at a high school quality. An average changeup for this age is approximately around the 50-60 mph mark.

How fast is the average MLB curveball?

A typical curveball in the major collegiate level and above will average between 65 and 80 mph, with the average MLB curve at 77 mph.

What pitches should a 14 year old throw?

In general, a child can start throwing a fastball at age 8, a change-up at 10, and a curveball at 14. All other pitches should not be introduced until high school age.

Who has the best curveball ever?

1. Sandy Koufax, Los Angeles Dodgers.

How hard should you grip a curveball?

Curveball Grip

Your thumb should grip the seam directly below your index finger, so your hand creates a backward C. As previously mentioned, the knuckle curve is thrown with the same grip, only your index finger is curled and pressed against the baseball, creating a tighter break.