Throwing a curveball at 12 years old

[BuzzBaseball]

What do you experienced guys think about 12 year old pitchers throwing a curveball? Personally, I am against it. However, there are an overwhelming number of kids this age throwing curveballs in tournaments and my son's regular league. My son throws a fastball and change-up. He throws them well, his fastball measured 71mph on the Jugs and he has very good control. His change-up is seldom called upon but he can throw it well and the difference in speed from his fastball is almost where it needs to be...

However, most of the other pitchers on his team are throwing a curveball. I have not allowed my son to throw it, not even to learn how to grip it. The pressure is just now starting to subtlely surface to throw a curveball. Am I being to overprotective by not allowing any talk or instruction of the curveball?? Is there a better option than a curveball? Maybe a split finger? I have heard that can just as damaging to a young arm.

My gut feeling is to just stay the course and not allow any curveball instruction at all until he is at least 14 or 15. Any thoughts.....

[Bluesteve32]

I tend to agree. You son may be pitching high school and some of the other just may have sore arms.

[BadKarma]

My brother was throwing a curveball at 12 years old, and it didn't hurt him at all. He was already one of the harder throwers in the league, and that helped that much more. Now, he didn't go overboard with it, but would use it on occassion. He pitched all the way through College as well, so again, I don't think it hurt him at all. I believe the majority of the arm trouble comes with overuse of the curveball. I don't see anything wrong with teaching him how to throw the curveball, as long as he understands to use it in moderation, and not to go overboard in practicing it.

Having said all of that, I would advise you to go with your gut. Everybody is different, just because my brother, and other kids, can handle throwing curveballs at a young age does not mean that everyone can handle it. If he is pitching effectively, no need to fix what ain't broke. Definately get him throwing curves at 15 or 16 though. In High School and beyond those fastballs tend to travel long and far off of a good hitters bat

[Sultan_1895-1948]

What do you experienced guys think about 12 year old pitchers throwing a curveball? Personally, I am against it. However, there are an overwhelming number of kids this age throwing curveballs in tournaments and my son's regular league. My son throws a fastball and change-up. He throws them well, his fastball measured 71mph on the Jugs and he has very good control. His change-up is seldom called upon but he can throw it well and the difference in speed from his fastball is almost where it needs to be...

However, most of the other pitchers on his team are throwing a curveball. I have not allowed my son to throw it, not even to learn how to grip it. The pressure is just now starting to subtlely surface to throw a curveball. Am I being to overprotective by not allowing any talk or instruction of the curveball?? Is there a better option than a curveball? Maybe a split finger? I have heard that can just as damaging to a young arm.

My gut feeling is to just stay the course and not allow any curveball instruction at all until he is at least 14 or 15. Any thoughts.....

I threw curves that young and no arm troubles from it.

The only advice I would give you, is that by making something taboo, or something he "can't have," you are in a sense making it more intriguing for him.

If other kids are throwing it, he's eventually going to want to try and throw it and become even more curious about it. You might as well show him the proper way to throw it; but also explain to him why it's important he waits until he's older before he adds it as a regular part of his repetoire (if that's how you feel). Maybe it's just me, but I would want to make sure he knows the right way, cause it's probably gonna happen one way or another.

In terms of danger, a circle changeup could be pretty dangerous as well. You never mentioned what type of change he throws, but most who try to throw the circle change really exaggerate the inverse wrist movement, trying to get the ball to move away from a lefty or in to a right just a bit. If he keeps his same arm slot, and doesn't over-do it, it shouldn't be a problem, but nah, I see no reason for not throwing a curve as long as you show him the proper way.

[chesspirate]

I agree somewhat with the above, overuse is the real problem, and misuse is the killer.

Knowing how to throw a curveball properly and not 'snappin' or 'turning' the wrist with extra force.

There is also another way to throw a curve that some youth coaches taught a while ago. They figured, if the kids were gonna throw it anyway, might as well teach them a way that they wont kill themselves. This pitch worked well for me when i was his age, eventually i had to learn a 'real' curve but this might be a nice bridge in the gap. Go a head and think about throwing a football, where instead of in baseball, your fingers on top, think of throwing a spiral pass with the fingers on the side, use all four fingers to grip one side with the thumb on the opposite side. The simple idea or 'cue' of throwing a football takes out the thoughts of 'snapping' and all that stuff, the grip will slow the ball down and the football sideways throw should create enough spin to make a decent 12 to 6 curve.

The horseshue of the ball should be roughly in the same diretion as the 'u' formed by your hand when in front of you after a 'football' throw. I enjoyed using this pitch very much, and because you don't really change much, you still try and throw it hard. Easing up doesn't help it

[East Coast Bat Co]

I would say stay away from it until he is at least 14 years old. However, if you are going to throw it, make sure his arm isn't getting extended at the elbow. Make sure it has some flex in it. This will help absorb the pressure put on the arm.

[wogdoggy]

whats the reason to encourage a 12 yr old kid to throw that pitch?You guys need to win that badly?12 yr old baseball guys nothing really matters....gotta love these chest pounding fathers teaching their twelve year old the hook.

[Stealth]

"There is also another way to throw a curve that some youth coaches taught a while ago. They figured, if the kids were gonna throw it anyway, might as well teach them a way that they wont kill themselves. This pitch worked well for me when i was his age, eventually i had to learn a 'real' curve but this might be a nice bridge in the gap. Go a head and think about throwing a football, where instead of in baseball, your fingers on top, think of throwing a spiral pass with the fingers on the side, use all four fingers to grip one side with the thumb on the opposite side. The simple idea or 'cue' of throwing a football takes out the thoughts of 'snapping' and all that stuff, the grip will slow the ball down and the football sideways throw should create enough spin to make a decent 12 to 6 curve. "

This works well - we have three kids on our 11 year old team that throw this pitch. Try it! Think of it like holding a coke can, point your fingers and thumb toward the plate and throw normal. It works really well and is easy to learn at this age.

[BuzzBaseball]

I think I'll I'll just make my kid stick with the fastball and changeup for a couple more years. If the coach doesn't like it my son can play elsewhere.

[riverhawk]

I just graduated from college, where I was in the rotation for all 4 years. During those four years I worked on developing a change up every off season and was unsuccessful in doing so. I had a good circle change when I was a kid, but once I started throwing a curve (when I was 13 or 14, I forget), I pretty much stopped throwing it. My advice would be to keep him throwing the change as his second pitch for the next few years, not because a curve will hurt his arm, but because it is, in my belief, a much more effective pitch.

[XFactor]

Just to reinterate what most have already said (some good advice too, it makes me so proud *tear*)

Why, if he is throwing 71 mph fastballs with good control and has a change up he can locate and it has good movement, would you need a curveball?

He can strike out just as many people with fastball/change up then just using a curveball.
When he gets to the HS age, would you rather have a pitcher that just knows how to throw a curveball or one who knows how to pitch? Changing speeds, changing location. Being able to hit his spots 80 out of 100 times instead of 60 of 100.

Usually kids who rely on the curveball at that age tend not to want to learn how to master their control of a fastball or a change up until they are just a specialty pitcher, someone who is good for about 1 inning and thats about it.

Good luck with you n your son! I hope he kicks some butt

[Riverdog]

Being able to throw a curveball is a status thing. Lots of kids can and the others talk about it. The kid in the league with the best curveball is a hero and is looked up to. Your kid will try to throw a curveball as soon as you're not looking.
My advise is to teach him the proper way to throw it and do your best to regulate how much he uses it. There's few things more harmful to the arm than a LL curveball. On the other hand, if it's properly thrown, it shouldn't hurt.
If you're not absolutely certain what the correct way is, find someone in your league with a pitching background and get him to help.
Like some of these other guys, I threw curveballs when I was very young. I played some pretty serious baseball and now, several years later, can still throw BP for 20 hitters without a break. My dad was a pitcher and he taught me the proper way.
Be afraid of what he doesn't know, not what he does know.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

Being able to throw a curveball is a status thing. Lots of kids can and the others talk about it. The kid in the league with the best curveball is a hero and is looked up to. Your kid will try to throw a curveball as soon as you're not looking.
My advise is to teach him the proper way to throw it and do your best to regulate how much he uses it.

Very sound advice imo. Better off teaching him the proper way to throw it and explain to him your reasons for not wanting him to use it this early in his "career." At least then the curiosity factor is out of his system. Think of it as cracking a beer with him so he gets a taste and doesn't go off to a party and get totally trashed. Ok, bad example. Seriously though, it's in our nature to want what we can't have, and the more you tell him no, the more he'll want to eventually do it, most likely whether you're around or not.

[Ursa Major]

For 12 year olds, throwing a curve is like having an Ipod and a cellphone; ya lose face if you don't have one. And, I agree, if you're not there all the time, they're going to throw 'em in warmups anyway.

If he's throwing seventy-one -- and is this in LL, with the mound at 46? Geez, a change-up oughta do it. You're doing most kids a favor by throwing a curve if you're throwing that fast. And few kids that age can throw it without telegraphing it.

That football 12-to-6 is pretty easy on the arm and is pretty effective. But definitely, throw the change more often and save the curve for two strike pitches to the top three or four guys in the opponent's lineup. Maybe show it early to get 'em thinking, and it'll make the high heater that much harder to catch up with.

[wogdoggy]

Yesterday, 05:21 AM
Riverdog
Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 32

Being able to throw a curveball is a status thing. Lots of kids can and the others talk about it. The kid in the league with the best curveball is a hero and is looked up to. Your kid will try to throw a curveball as soon as you're not looking.
My advise is to teach him the proper way to throw it and do your best to regulate how much he uses it. There's few things more harmful to the arm than a LL curveball. On the other hand, if it's properly thrown, it shouldn't hurt.
If you're not absolutely certain what the correct way is, find someone in your league with a pitching background and get him to help.
Like some of these other guys, I threw curveballs when I was very young. I played some pretty serious baseball and now, several years later, can still throw BP for 20 hitters without a break. My dad was a pitcher and he taught me the proper way.
Be afraid of what he doesn't know, not what he does know.
__________________

,,Just look at your kids bone structure if he's a little immature for his age,WHY take the chance,growth plates etc.who knows?problem is the kids will try it,I just keep telling him its bad for his arm till he gets older.We have alot of baseball left.its not worth it yet.