quote:Originally posted by Daque:
There is no need to teach the curve early as it is a simple pitch to learn but more difficult to master. The more rotational velocity, the more effective. Strengthen the arm with weights and by throwing (not pitching).
While I concur that poor technique can add to the potential for injury, overuse is the main culprit. Without overuse technique problems pale.
How many of you believe that the changes in pitching from the windup to pitching from the set will take a long time to learn? At the point of release both pitches are the same. If you throw a fast ball correctly it is a very small step to throwing a curve correctly.
Pitching lessons before showing proficiency on the full sized diamond is a waste of time and money. And for da**ed sure it is ridiculous at 4 through 6 years of age. Teaching the curve before it is effective on the full sized diamond is a waste of time and money. The curve is simple to learn and to teach.
Professional scouts don't give a tinker's dam about your curve, They are looking for your fast ball. That is because they know they can teach you the curve PDQ.
If it was not for the ridiculous over use and never ending seasons technique would never be an issue and sore arms would be a rarity. All of this prattle has to do with finding a way to protect kids while allowing them to be placed in harm's way by parents and coaches. Lunacy.
Great stuff Daque. Also good stuff from Infielddad.
Are CB more dangerous? Yup, IMO, because young pitchers throwing more CB often have success, which leads to overuse (let's use little Johnny more often he's a winner), the same as hard throwers being more dominant when younger (again let's use Johnny more often he is a winner).
Throwing 80-90% CB, IMO, is not learning how to pitch, but just about winning. The more you win, the more you play. The more you are overused.
The whole thing is about learning how to be a pitcher, not a thrower. When to learn which pitch in waht coutm you can't do that suing CB's 90% of teh time, sorry.
For every person that claims that CB's are safe if taught properly and a very young age, you will get another saying it is not. This is about sommon sense, pertaining to your player and what is right or wrong for them. Some people just won't take chances when a body is still growing.
BHD,
I'll bet your son threw more, pitched more (you often stated that he played several teams at one time) and obviously threw more breaking stuff, but not sure what that has to do with it.
I'll even bet he was a better pitcher too in LL.
Yes, you did say your son threw 90% CB when younger, and never had a hurt arm. That inference is that, "it's ok to throw a lot of CB when young".
Everyone is different, every situation is different, don't make it seem like it is ok, perhaps for your player, not for everyone.