At what age should a pitcher throw a slider?

The right age to start throwing a slider or curveball is between 14 and 15, which gives a player enough time to develop the pitch (takes 1-3 years) so that it's good by the time the college recruiting process heats up. But, every pitcher is different so be careful and choose for yourself when the time is right.
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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.
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Should an 11 year old throw a curveball?

Throwing a curveball prior to age 13 was not found to be a significant risk factor for the development of a serious arm injury, defined as one requiring shoulder/elbow surgery or leading to retirement from baseball.
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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.
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How hard should a 10 year old pitcher throw?

The average fastball velocity for pitchers 10 years old and younger is between 40-50 mph. The average change-up speed for this age group is about 10 mph slower, making the velocity between 30-40 mph.
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Safe And Effective Pitch Grips For Youth Pitchers Ages 9 - 14



How many mph does the average 10 year old pitcher go?

The average fastball velocity for pitchers 10 years old and younger is between 40-50 mph. The average change up speed for this age group is about 10 mph slower, putting the velocity between 30-40 mph. Pitchers in this age group are playing in the Majors division in Little League.
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What is the fastest pitch by a 14 year old?

Generally, 14 year old average cruising speed would be about 65 mph. Average freshman pitcher (14 to 15 year old) cruising speed would be about 70 mph. Average cruising speed for a good high school pitching prospect at 14 to 15 years old would be about 75 mph.
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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.
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How many pitches is too many for a 14 year old?

Ages 13-16 – 95 pitches per day. Ages 11-12 – 85 pitches per day. Ages 9-10 – 75 pitches per day.
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Should a 10 year old throw a slider?

Young pitchers who throw breaking balls–including sliders–report more arm pain than those who do not. The right age to start throwing a slider or curveball is between 14 and 15, which gives a player enough time to develop the pitch (takes 1-3 years) so that it's good by the time the college recruiting process heats up.
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Do sliders hurt your arm?

Sliders can also cause arm injuries if not thrown correctly so make sure you take care when practicing them. Throwing too many breaking balls too soon may actually lead to injury so keep your arm healthy and focus on developing your fastball first.
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How often should a 12 year old practice pitching?

11-12 year olds:

If your youth throws 21-35 pitches in a game then they will require a one day rest break. If your youth throws 36-50 pitches in a game then they will require a 2 day rest break. If your youth throws 51-65 pitches in a game then they will require a 3 day rest break.
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At what age can boys start throwing curve balls?

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.
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Does curveball hurt 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.
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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.
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Why is a slider so hard to hit?

Outside of the science of our eyes, so much of what makes a slider hard to hit, according to Phillips, derives from the increasing velocity of the average fastball. For a pitcher like Jordan Hicks, whose average fastball sits at 101 mph, a slider can be a devastating complementary pitch.
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Is a slider the same as a sinker?

What's the difference between a sinker and a slider? A sinker is a fastball variation that has slight armside movement–called “run”–and sinking action. A slider is a type of breaking pitch in baseball that moves toward the pitcher's gloveside of the plate with diagonal break.
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What are the hardest pitches to throw?

Each baseball player has their own specialties. However, the two pitches that stand out to be the hardest to hit are the splitter and the slider. This conclusion is backed by research that has been done to detect the whiff rate for various pitches.
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How fast was Nolan Ryan's fastest pitch?

The most widely quoted response is Nolan Ryan, whose fastball was "officially" clocked by the Guinness Book of World Records at 100.9 miles per hour in a game played on August 20, 1974, versus the Detroit Tigers.
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How fast did Nolan Ryan actually throw?

1. Nolan Ryan. There have been pitchers who can throw harder than Ryan's 100.9 mph fastball. But there will never be another strikeout pitcher who played as long as Ryan did (27 seasons) for as well as he did.
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How fast is 70 mph from 46 feet?

For example, 60' divided by 46' equals 1.30. Multiply 1.30 times 70 mph, and you have 91. That's why we say that 70 mph from 46 feet equals 91 mph from 60 feet.
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How often should kids long toss?

It can be performed year round, four to seven days a week. It takes about 10 minutes to do. Once or twice a week, you may want to "air it out" with some long toss beyond 120 feet.
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