Should youths throw curve balls
Coaches and parents are very scared of teaching how to throw a youth curve ball to younger players. However, youth baseball players want more. If they are pitching well..throwing strikes, the ball is going to start being hit. This frustrates the youth baseball pitcher because that is all he can do. There are ways to change your grip and pressure to get movement on the ball without hurting your arm. Safe yet effective.
I have heard it called the cutter and the chopping curve. I first heard of it from Bob Cluck a Major League Baseball Pitching Coach and Scout and from a great defensive baseball and pitching coach Brett Brock. It has been highly successful many youth baseball pitchers. This simple pitch can be called several different things. You have probably seen it. Or at least seen it attempted. It is sometimes hush hush because of the stigma behind younger players throwing curve balls. I’m here to tell you the number one cause of youth baseball pitching injuries is not curve balls but fastballs. Overexertion from throwing too hard and long.
How to throw a youth curve ball
The ball is held in a two seam grip, the middle finger and index finger together on the throwing side of the pitcher. The two fingers on the right seam for a right handed pitcher..the two fingers on the left seam for a left handed pitcher.
The middle finger should hold the ball tight and the index finger should hold the ball stable. This means the pressure will be coming from the middle finger.
The motion should be like a chop, thus why we have heard it call the chopping curve ball. When the ball is released, the ball should roll over the index finger and get a little snap from the middle finger. The hand should finish looking like a kid making a gun out of his fingers.
When to throw a youth curve ball
This pitch does not put as much impact on the arm as a traditional curveball, but more emphasis on the grip and release. It can move the ball just as much though. Only practice will make this effective. Using the fingers in this method is not done overnight, but can be learned by youth baseball pitchers very quickly.
When do you throw this? We recommend being ahead in the count. The ball does have moment and may not always be thrown for a strike. Many youth baseball hitters and coaches will be scared of it and not even attempt a swing. If the pitch is thrown for a strike that is a bonus. We actually want to be ahead in the count and then use this pitch to throw the hitter of balance. An 0 – 2 or 1 -2 count is the best situation for this pitch.
Here is an excerpt with more about pitches https://www.angelfire.com/sports/brookside/heresthepitch.htm , and be sure to avoid these common youth baseball pitcher mistakes
