What age should you start throwing curveballs?

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.

Can a 10 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.

Why should kids not throw curveballs?

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.

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.

When should you throw a curve ball?

A curveball is often thrown when pitchers are ahead in the count because it is harder for hitters to make solid contact with the bat. The main difference between a curveball and a slider is that a slider does not have as much of a downward break as most curveballs do.

What Age To Start Throwing a Curveball in Baseball

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Can little leaguers 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 pitches is safe for a 12 year old?

Ages 11-12 – 85 pitches per day. Ages 9-10 – 75 pitches per day. Ages 7-8 – 50 pitches per day.

How hard should an 11 year old pitch?

11 And 12-Year-Olds

The average fastball is between 50-60 mph. Although at this age the players may begin to reach puberty, and for that reason, it is not unusual to see a pitcher throwing around 70 mph. The changeup velocity at this age is generally between 40-50 mph.

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.

What's the hardest throw in baseball?

What is the hardest ball to throw?

4-seam fastball

This pitch is the hardest of the fastballs, it rotates backwards keeping the ball straight with not much movement.

What is the easiest pitch to throw?

Four-Seam Fastball

This is usually the easiest pitch to throw for a strike. If released properly, four laces of the ball rotate through the air, helping to keep the throw in line with the target. Pitchers should hold the baseball with their pointer and middle finger on the top laces or seams of the baseball.

Do lefties throw curveballs?

The left-handed curveball can be one of the most difficult pitches to hit, especially if it breaks sharply. Batters rarely see this pitch and it is difficult to get a read on it. Put your middle finger on the outside seam. This is the seam that is closest to your small finger.

Is a slider or curveball better?

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 rarest pitch?

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.

What pitches are illegal in baseball?