Does throwing split finger fb cause arm problem?

I have heard a lot of wive's tales that this pitch is bad on the arm. Haven't seen anything scientific though.

Hopefully someone will post a study of some kind.

Edit:
Steven Ellis

quote:

I decided to take this pitching question to Coach Bill Thurston, head baseball coach at Amherst College and a pitching consultant for ASMI, a baseball pitching biomechanics research facility in Birmingham, Ala.

...the splitter is no more or less dangerous a baseball pitch than the curveball or slider.

I think the issue is more with the fork-ball version of the split finger FB. Just putting more space between your throwing fingers doesn't do much harm IMO. I did that without any issues. Guys who jam the ball between their two fingers (forkball) did say that it can effect something in the elbow when you separate the fingers that much. I'm not a doctor so it may just be theory.

BaseballByTheYard

As a pitching coach myself I get this question a lot. I teach the split finger as a third pitch sometimes. I agree with Bill Thurston when he stated that it doesn't do more damage than a curve or slider. The problems arise with this pitch when youngsters twist this pitch. The thumb and middle finger are not splitting the ball in half like a curve, slider or fastball, so students have the tendency to twist the ball when throwing it. If a pitching coach teaches this pitch properly, fastball release with split fingers then he's okay. In addition, any pitch will hurt without proper pitching mechanics. Students should not throw any other pitch until they have mastered their fastball mechanics first.
Once they are in check then teach them how to throw an additional pitch keeping their fastball mechanics. The only thing that changes is the grip and wrist and forearm angle.

Thanks for the thoughtful responses.

It never ceases to amaze me how much knowledge exists in this place.

I keep waiting for osmosis to kick in.

Make sure the grip is such that the thumb is centered below the "V" formed by the index and middle fingers. The NPA claims that when the thumb moves up the side of the ball towards the index finger there is more of a tendency to supinate (i.e. "twist").

My son has thrown this pitch for eight years with a bent thumb which helps him pronate at release. The pitch is deadly, if set up with a fastball the pitch is unhittable. There has been no ill effects on the arm.

quote:

Originally posted by igball:
Son has been throwing this pitch since he was 8 but a scout and now college pitching coach warned him against it. Is there a problem inherent with this pitch ?

Wow, from age 8? How big his hands must have been then? They must be freakishly large now!

IMO the only downside is falling in love with it and not throwing enough fastballs.

quote:

Originally posted by Roger Tomas:
Make sure the grip is such that the thumb is centered below the "V" formed by the index and middle fingers. The NPA claims that when the thumb moves up the side of the ball towards the index finger there is more of a tendency to supinate (i.e. "twist").

IMO i would agree with this, make sure you throw it with your thumb directly underneath and a stiff wrist. Splitters i don't believe are that bad, throwing fork balls (same as splitter but fingers are wider apart) definitely puts more stress on your forearm but I'm not sure if it is enough to directly give you arm problems.