secondary pitches

[Stampede]

What is the first secondary pitch that you teach a young pitcher (10-11u)? Why? My son has had some success with a palmball, but can't get a circle change over very well.

[Standballdad]

What is the first secondary pitch that you teach a young pitcher (10-11u)? Why? My son has had some success with a palmball, but can't get a circle change over very well.

In my opinion either is fine, they both are off speed. I would continue to learn to throw the fastball for strikes hitting spots maybe change grips etc... The fastball should be his bread and butter pitch and can always improve upon.

[songtitle]

The one that works. My son has been practicing 10 grips since he started pitching at 10.

[clayadams]

I'll toss in my 2 cents and say the pronated curve. Safer on the arm than the fastball and can be flat out wicked if done properly. Feel free to PM me for vid and discussion if you'd like.

[Roothog66]

I'll toss in my 2 cents and say the pronated curve. Safer on the arm than the fastball and can be flat out wicked if done properly. Feel free to PM me for vid and discussion if you'd like.

Would a pronated curve be a screwball?

[songtitle]

Would a pronated curve be a screwball?

It would be a ... home run

[jbolt_2000]

I teach the 4 seam and 2 seam fast balls first. Then when they can throw either of those for consistent strikes, I move on to the circle change. I explain the grip to them and allow them to have a wide circle (with index finger and thumb) but insist they work on getting the circle smaller and smaller as they get better (and grow!).

[clayadams]

Would a pronated curve be a screwball?

Not even close. I'll shoot ya a PM.

[tg643]

Some kind of change is the best secondary pitch. It depends what your son's hand can grip. I taught my son how to throw a knuckle curve at eleven. It has a nasty break that's all about the grip.

[Dirtberry]

Stampede,

“What is the first secondary pitch that you teach a young pitcher (10-11u)?”

The powerfully pronated Screwball with the triangle youth grip that will later be changed over to the powerful middle finger screwball grip when their hands can handle the motor skill.

Why?

Because it helps enhances the first pitch I teach them the tailing (maxline) to the ball arm side pronated fastball.

“My son has had some success with a palmball”

This is a great beginners changeup but it is usually supinated intuitively because of the traditional leg lifted over early rotated body past the field driveline and will lead to degradation of the elbow by having the Ulna slam into the Humerus ballistically. This pitch can be learned to be driven in pronation also but has to be taught by voluntary motor mechanics where the elbow pops up during drive and release.

“can't get a circle change over very well”

Only the highest motor skill proficient can handle this precariously gripped pitch because it is released with the lesser talented Middle, Ring and little fingers with a lesser thumb involvement. This pitch is basically a weak screwball and normally pronated that makes it a healthy pitch on the elbow.

[scorekeeper]

I teach the 4 seam and 2 seam fast balls first. Then when they can throw either of those for consistent strikes, I move on to the circle change. I explain the grip to them and allow them to have a wide circle (with index finger and thumb) but insist they work on getting the circle smaller and smaller as they get better (and grow!).

I think its great to teach virtually any change, but why only the circle? There’s no way in the world it can possibly be the “best” change for every pitcher, so why must it be the only one to teach? That’s the kind of thinking that I believe has caused so many problems through the years, where people get into a one size fits all, or cloning situation.

[tradosaurus]

What is the first secondary pitch that you teach a young pitcher (10-11u)? Why? My son has had some success with a palmball, but can't get a circle change over very well.

The secondary pitch only works if the first pitch is thrown with reasonable accuracy.

IMO, the off speed pitch such as a change-up is a good pitch for a 11U kid.

Master that secondary pitch because if you are playing competitive ball you really need a good curve ball by 14U level.

[bbrages]

I think its great to teach virtually any change, but why only the circle?

I know that it's the grip my son has the hardest time throwing accurately. For that matter, I can't throw it myself...

[Stampede]

anybody have luck with a knuckleball? Which grip?

[songtitle]

anybody have luck with a knuckleball? Which grip?

We had better luck with a knuckle than a changeup from 10 to around 12 yo, when knuckleballs started getting hammered. Regular old knuckleball grip, thrown like a fastball.

Knuckles have a greater speed differential than a change. They don't actually knuckle/wobble of course, since they are moving too slow at that age.