Curveball Grip/Throwing Curveballs

[PBD]

Throwing the curveball is probably one of the most

desired pitches of all coaches, parents and young

pitchers.

As a private instructor I am frequently

asked to teach an aspiring pitcher how to throw a

curveball. Now there are different concerns, and

opinions of young pitchers throwing a breaking ball

(breaking ball, generally consist of curveball or

slider), most commonly it is thought that if you start

throwing breaking balls at a young age that you will

hurt your arm. And this does seem to happen to many

pitchers young or old, but it is not the pitch per

say, as much as it is the way the pitch is thrown.

Personally I think it is essential for young pitchers

to learn how to throw a fastball first, for a number

of reasons, in the same token I do believe if thrown

properly a curveball will not have any physically

damaging effects on a pitcher.

It's when it is thrown improperly or thrown to frequently that you
experience arm troubles.

Here are some helpful tips:

*First and foremost develop your fastball

This means starting out with having the proper grip

and arm action this will be the key to consistency and the

building of arm strength

When learning a breaking ball you have to start out

with the grip whether you throw a slider or a true curveball (this

is usually determined by the flexibility in the

pitchers wrist and the arm action) you want to grip

the ball making sure that your middle finger is on the

inside of a seam.-this will help in getting maximum rotation and

torque on the ball necessary to create spin, which is

what actually makes the ball break.

C. Rojas

PBD Baseball