Curveballs

[Gashouse6]

Should high-schoolers throw curveballs?

[MrUniverse09]

Yes most definitely. By the time you hit high school you're arm should be developed enough to throw a moderate amount of curveballs. I don't think that curveballs ruin pitchers arms in high school as much as overwork does. At my old high we had a kid with Division I capability that was thrown out on the mound every other day, at least. Needless to say his ligaments eventually got all messed up and he had to quit baseball senior year. Quite sad what some high school coaches will put kids through in order to win.

[MrUniverse09]

By the way, as a hitter, I was facing curveballs by age 12 and was taught to throw one at age 13. A lot of younger kids don't know about arm care or rehab so they'll run into trouble trying to throw curves at a young age.

[Riverdog]

Most scientific data that I have seen recently supports the notion that a curve ball does not hurt a players arm if he is shown the correct method. Unfortunately, that last part is the key and most Little League and High School coaches think they know what to do and how to teach. That's the part that hurts the kids. If you don't throw properly, any pitch can hurt your arm. The biggest threat to a kid's arm today is still the coach that doesn't insist that the players warm up properly and doesn't keep them warm. I've seen more shortstops ruin their arms by throwing out of the 6 hole late in the game because their arms aren't loose any more than any pitcher throwing curve balls.