Does a curveball hurt your arm?

Publish date: 2023-05-21

Turns out that the type of pitch a player throws doesn't matter nearly as much as how often the player throws any type of pitch. The curveball has long been blamed for arm injuries because it requires the pitcher's forearm to twist right before the ball is released.

How do you throw a curveball without hurting your arm?

All you have to do is keep your wrist firm and let the ball tumble out of your hand. Just as with the traditional change-up, it's important that you throw this pitch with exactly the same motion, exactly the same arm speed, as you do your fastball.

Does pitching damage your arm?

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.

What is a good age to start throwing a curveball?

In most cases, this means waiting until a pitcher is 12 or 13 before introducing the curveball, but it could be sooner, could be later.

What pitch puts the most stress on the arm?

Every subject threw fastballs and a breaking ball of their choice, and some subjects threw additional changeups. Sliders had the highest arm stress (54.6 ± 12.9 N·m) while curveballs had the lowest (46.8 ± 16.3 N·m). Fastball arm stress was 50.1 ± 16.8 N·m and changeup arm stress was 51.3 ± 15.5 N·m.

29 related questions found

How hard should a 11 year old throw?

11 and 12 Year Olds

The average fastball is between 50-60 mph. However, at this age the players may start to hit puberty, therefore it is not uncommon to see a pitcher throwing near 70 mph. The changeup velocity at this age is typically between 40-50 mph.

What is the curveball grip?

Curveball grip

Place your middle finger along the bottom seam of the baseball. Place your thumb on the back seam. When this pitch is thrown, your thumb should rotate upward and your middle finger should snap downward. The arm action is a little abbreviated at the end.

Should a 12 year old throw a curve ball?

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.

How fast should a 14 year old be throwing?

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.

What pitches should a 12 year old throw?

Conclusion. The four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball, and change-up are all the pitches a 12-year-old will need to throw.

Is a slider or curveball better?

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.

Where does Tommy elbow hurt?

Tommy John Surgery, more formally known as ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction, is used to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament inside the elbow. A UCL is a ligament on the inner side of your elbow that helps secure your elbow joint.

Should I ice my arm after throwing?

Should you ice your arm after pitching? If you have sharp pain in your arm after pitching, then yes – icing will help reduce pain, swelling and inflammation. However, if you do NOT have sharp pain, then ice only stands to reduce the amount of bloodflow to the pitching arm, which actually slows recovery.

What pitches should a 13 year old throw?

Pitchers who are 13-16 should throw a maximum of 95 pitches; 13- and 14-year-olds need four days rest when they reach 66 pitches, and 15- and 16-year-olds need four days rest when they reach 76.

What is the easiest pitch to learn?

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.

Can you throw a curveball in Little League?

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 ...

What is the fastest pitch by a 12 year old?

Cuba's Prieto records fastest pitch at U-12 Baseball World Cup. Cuban 12-year-old right-handed pitcher Alejandro Prieto recorded the fastest pitch of the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup 2019, at 123 km/h (76.4 mph) in his win against Mexico today in the Super Round.

How hard do D2 pitchers throw?

Lower NAIA/D2 Pitcher

Pitchers in this tier typically throw velocities of 77 MPH - 82 MPH. These pitchers will have control of at least one off-speed pitch and be developing another.

How often should a 10 year old pitch?

Ages 13-16 – 95 pitches per day. Ages 11-12 – 85 pitches per day. Ages 9-10 – 75 pitches per day. Ages 7-8 – 50 pitches per day.

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.

Is the curveball a breaking pitch?

A curveball is a breaking pitch that has more movement than just about any other pitch. It is thrown slower and with more overall break than a slider, and it is used to keep hitters off-balance. When executed correctly by a pitcher, a batter expecting a fastball will swing too early and over the top of the curveball.

Where can I release a curveball?

Curveball Release

Your middle finger should be driving the seam it's pressed up against downward so your thumb rotates upward. It's important to release the ball with the same arm speed as you would for your fastball so the hitter isn't tipped off and so you can get the ball to spin as fast as possible.

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