Do curveballs hurt your arm?

Biomechanical studies evaluating different pitch types have not demonstrated higher stresses on the throwing arm with curveballs. In fact, the majority of studies concluded that fastballs place the greatest amount of stress on a pitcher's arm.

Does throwing curveballs hurt your arm?

“There was no association between throwing curveballs and injuries or even arm pain,” said Johna Mihalik, who wrote the study. “It was surprising in a sense because of the conventional thinking about curveballs, but we were well aware that the studies by Dr. Andrews and Glenn Fleisig had come to similar conclusions.

Is a slider or curveball worse for your arm?

Though the relationship between pitch type and arm pain is confounded by this, the difference between the odds ratio between curveballs and sliders is clear — youth pitchers that throw sliders seem to experience more arm pain than those that throw curveballs.

Is curveball not actually bad for your arm?

So do curveballs hurt your arm? Curveballs can absolutely be more risky, but it's not just a mechanical factor. It's a multivariate problem that isn't easy to distill into a single talking point.

At what age is it safe to throw a curveball?

So, what is the appropriate age? In regard to curveballs and sliders, I recommend a player wait until he is 13- or 14- years- old. It all depends on his physical maturation and muscular development. You want to avoid overloading the shoulder and elbow.

How To Throw A Curveball Without Hurting Your Arm

What pitches are bad for your arm?

Offspeed/breaking pitches such as the curveball and slider have received so much attention and scorn in the last few years that they are part of the reason for an increase in arm injuries.

Is it harder to hit a fastball or a curveball?

Hitting a curveball optimally is extremely difficult, and hitters are more likely to whiff at a curveball than a fastball. A hitter is more likely to contact a fastball, but curveballs have more power potential.

Should youth pitchers throw curveballs?

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.

What position in baseball has a weak arm?

The left field is often the position of athletes with strong bats and weak arms. Because almost all outfield throws go to second, third, or home bases, left fielders are rarely if ever, required to throw across the field to first base.

What is the most physically demanding position in baseball?

Catchers have an extremely demanding role on the team – both physically and mentally. Because the catcher must control and corral the pitcher, he has to be physically and mentally quick. Foul tips and long days squatting and blocking in the heat make for very long, draining days.

Does a 12 6 curveball hurt your arm?

However, field studies have not shown increased risk of elbow or shoulder injury with throwing curveballs. Furthermore, the curveball produces similar or even less force, torque and muscle activity about the elbow and shoulder than the fastball does.

Do curveballs cause Tommy John?

Throwing fastballs—not curveballs—linked to Tommy John surgery. Curveballs have been thought to wreck elbows, but new studies show it's throwing fastballs that lead to Tommy John surgery for baseball players.

How hard is it to hit a curveball?

In baseball, the curveball is a monumentally difficult pitch to hit. It turns out there's a very good scientific reason why. Right when a curveball crosses the plate, the spinning of the seams tricks a hitter's brain into thinking the ball is diving at a steeper angle than it really is.

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.

Does pitching ruin your arm?

Over time, high effort throws will result in physical changes to your arm. Good news, the body will adapt to pitching with the intent to make you a better pitcher. The bad news is, sometimes (not all the time), these changes can come with pain, injury, or discomfort.

How hard do 14 year old pitchers throw?

13 And 14-Year-Olds

An average fastball from this age range is anywhere from 55 mph (on the low side) to 75 mph. A pitcher throwing 75 mph is better than most people for this age, and their fastball is at a high school quality. An average changeup for this age is approximately around the 50-60 mph mark.

How often should 12 year old throw baseball?

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

At what age should a boy start pitching?

A handful of online forums mention 9 or 10 as being the right age, but not as any sort of hard, fast rule; the official Little League site has kids pitching starting at age 9. Major League Baseball's official Pitch Smart guidelines recommend that players 8 and under throw no more than 50 pitches in a game.

What is the easiest pitch to hit in baseball?

The first pitch that must be mastered is the 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.

Is it bad to throw a curveball?

The study of 149 pitchers under the age of 12 showed that players who did not follow pitch count limits had higher odds, ranging from 2.04–2.47, of developing elbow pain during a single season. Pitch type, specifically curveballs, remains one of the most controversial potential risk factors for arm pain/injury.

What are some illegal pitches?

An illegal pitch may be quick pitch (i.e. a pitch made before the batter is properly set in the batter's box), a pitch made while the pitcher is not in contact with the pitching rubber, or one in which he takes an extra step while making his delivery.

What pitches are banned in baseball?

What is the most common pitcher injury?

Forearm tendinitis

One of the most common pitching injuries is tendinits in the flexor and pronator tendons of the forearm. These tendons connect the wrist to the palm and stretch back to the bony bump on the elbow.