My son who is 16 has a real good curveball. it is a true 12-6 and he had had good control the past two yeas. Over the past couple of weeks he has lost all feel for It. It not spinning and he is spiking it or throwing over the hitters head. His coaches think he is worn out as he has pitched a lot this year. He insists he has just lost the feel but acknowledges he is worn out. We are going to shut him down.
Has anyone else experienced this aand, if so, how long did it take to get the feelback?
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My oldest went through that around the same age. Just had to be patient and work through it. IMO, the worst thing you could do is stop throwing it or changing something mechanically. I am sure that if he is feeling worn out, fatigue is playing a big part and he is more than likely changing something in his delivery, which even if it's very subtle, will effect it. Some time off is would I would start.
S has gone through periods where he lost feel for one, some or all of his pitches - going so far as to tell me he couldn't even be certain the ball was round. I don't think what your S is going through is unusual.
To him, losing the feel was far worse then having a simple mechanical problem because he could just change his "sights" and throw strikes with a minor mechanical problem, but couldn't without the feel.
S's personal PC was always the solution as he had the longest relationship with the delivery and was best positioned to pick up the reasons for the problem. (The problem could be anything ranging from flying open, to arm drag, to front side issues, alignment, confidence, growth spurt, etc., so all you could get here are suggestions not based in actual knowledge of his particular issue.)
In fixing problems like this, his PC would always go back to basics (he breaks down the delivery into segments, with each segment building on the last)), minimizing moving parts until he isolated the breakdown(s). I found that once the physical problem was isolated, the confidence (mental) problem which emerged as a result also evaporated.
Great info by others. The most important thing, though, is the recognition of fatigue and resolving that to protect that arm. I'll bet when he comes back, his curve will be just fine.
A month or so ago, I shut down a hitter I was working with. Mechanics were just getting lazy and it was evident that he was worn out from the constant grind, particularly a lengthy summer travel circuit. We picked it back up a few days ago and he is back to fresh and sharp. And, of course, this doesn't have nearly the dangerous implications with potential arm issues.
Over the past couple of weeks he has lost all feel for It.
Unless you're about to go to Jupiter, why would any kid be pitching in September?
If he does not have big events left this Fall (WWBA/Ft. Myers or Jupiter, etc.), I would say shut him down. I bet his "feel" is just fine when he picks a ball back up this winter. If he needs to get it back right away, here below is what I would do...this is "back to basics", as someone put it, and it also really simplifies things and has worked for my son. Think about this as the "macro to micro" approach, and we first heard this phrase at my son's very first college camp (turns out he is now committed to that school), and the HC who was instructing him is former MLB RHP.
After loosening up with some light long toss, and as he he works his way back in to about 90 feet or so, have him spin some 12/6 in a light, toss manner, throwing the ball with as much arch as he needs to get to where he drops it just about chest high to the catcher (or whomever he is throwing with). This gives him margin for error, is low stress (he won't be inclined to choke the ball like he might if he was on a mound, in a game or even in the pen with a coach watching) and will allow him to regain confidence in his release point and spin rate/control. This is the "macro" portion. Do this for as long as he needs to to get the feel, then slowly have him (a) work his way in closer and (b) throw the ball a little harder with tighter spin and lower target. Do this until he gets to 60 feet and can simulate his stretch motion, with the C down and he can get it in the strike zone. Even at this point, he may need to throw it with slower spin than he might aspire to. But, his confidence will build. No pressure, no stress, clear the mind, no coach watching, no batter, no harm if he air mails one or spikes one.
Let us know if it works. Anytime I see my son bouncing curves (his grip is probably too tight, I assume) in front of the catcher early during a bullpen session, I might just say "macro to micro", and it triggers this process for him. He won't necessarily go back to 90 feet, but what he will do is take something off the velo, aim for the catcher's mask for a few pitches then work his way back down after he gets the feel back.
