I gunned my kid from about 11yo. I even gunned him every day he did bullpens. (You learn to catch with one hand and gun with the other
). We would try things we read about and see if they worked - or not.I also gunned the other pitchers on his teams during practices and games. After the first reading, the kids stopped paying attention to the gun.
They all still pitch and no pitchers were hurt.
I do not gun him in HS games, though. (I don't want his coach to know I'm obsessed)
Guns are great for:
- trying out techniques (in one day, he threw 3 mph faster just by lengthening his stride)
- watch for 3-5 mph speed drop during a game (may be sore/hurt/tired)
- make sure changeups and breaking pitches have enough speed difference (CU 8 mph slower than FB, etc.)
- make sure he is not slowing up his delivery for offspeed pitch (60 mph CU, not 55 mph)
- gun opposing team pitchers and throw BP at that speed (if it's significantly faster or slower)