What age can 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.

Should a 9 year old throw a curveball?

James Andrews (renowned orthopaedic surgeon and medical director for the Andrews Institute) recommends that youth pitchers refrain from throwing curveballs until they have mastered the fastball and change-up and are at least 14 years old⁴.

Should a 12 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.

What age can you 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.

Should a 14 year old throw a curveball?

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 Age To Start Throwing a Curveball in Baseball

Do curveballs 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.

Why can't kids throw curve balls?

Throwing too many curveballs or throwing curveballs improperly could lead to ligament damage, coaches and doctors said, specifically tears to the ulnar collateral ligament, the tissue in the elbow that connects the upper arm to the inside part of the lower arm.

What age can a kid throw a changeup?

Players at the age of 9 or 10 years old can start developing a changeup. The key is to be able to throw strikes with a two seam and four seam fastball before moving on to other pitches. Everybody wants to have a trick pitch, instead of mastering the most important pitch in baseball.

How hard should a 10 year old 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, putting the velocity between 30-40 mph. Pitchers in this age group are playing in the Majors division in Little League.

Is it easier to throw a slider or curveball?

Definition. A slider is a breaking pitch that is thrown faster and generally with less overall movement than a curveball. It breaks sharply and at a greater velocity than most other breaking pitches.

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.

What should a 13 year old be pitching?

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.

Can Little League pitchers throw curve balls?

Little League did not institute a ban on curve balls, and, in light of new research suggesting that the pitch does not, contrary to conventional wisdom, put more strain on a young pitcher's elbow than other pitches (indeed, the research suggests curveballs place less stress on the elbow than a fastball), was perhaps ...

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.

Do boys throw harder than girls?

Numerous studies have demonstrated that boys throw balls faster, farther and more accurately than girls. This may be largely due to well-known anatomical and muscle-physiological differences that play a central role in overarm throwing.

How fast was Nolan Ryan's fastest pitch?

Nolan Ryan: 108.1 MPH

Nolan Ryan with a 108.1 MPH reading according to the doppler laser radar readings that were used in 1974.

What age should a kid start pitching?

A handful of online forums mention 9 or 10 as being the right age, but not as any sort of hard, fast rule; the official Little League site has kids pitching starting at age 9. Major League Baseball's official Pitch Smart guidelines recommend that players 8 and under throw no more than 50 pitches in a game.

How many pitches can a 7 year old throw?

Ages 7-8 – 50 pitches per day.

At what age can a child throw a ball at a target?

From about 18 months old, your toddler will start to get the hang of using her whole arm to throw a ball. But catching is more difficult and she probably won't be able to do this until she's about three years old. Your toddler will start learning how to throw by rolling a ball towards you.

Are curve balls allowed in Little League?

Pitching Rules

Curve-balls, sliders, knuckle-balls, and/or any other pitch where the ball changes direction on the way to the plate is not allowed. Both Major and Minor pitchers will adhere to innings pitched restrictions using the following guidelines: Pitchers may pitch a maximum of 6 innings in a week.

What is the oldest age for T ball?

The Little League® Tee Ball program is the first step in a player's Little League career, and provides opportunities for league age 4 to 7 years old. And, how your Tee Ball program is chartered is important in how you determine your players' league ages.