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Don’t throw
a curve until you are 16…
How many times have
you heard that…or something to that effect?
It drives me crazy.
I think you all know
my stance on this one. Age has very little or
nothing to do with it.
I’m talking about it
because the subject keeps coming up to me via emails
and phone calls as well as talk around the academy.
Throwing a curve, or
any pitch for that matter, and minimizing the risk
of injury requires the pitcher to have efficient
mechanics and functional strength.
I wouldn’t teach a
young pitcher any additional pitches until he can
show the ability to throw properly and condition for
the sport.
I had a conversation
with Sean Cochran a few days ago about the curve and
change up for pitchers.
The conversation
revolved around the necessary strength for the arm
to be in the pronation and supination positions
(curve and change-up). Most young athletes don’t
develop the strength in the arm to be able to put
the body in the correct position.
Which leads me to the
subject on traditional lifting for the older
athletes. Make sure you put you arms in the
fastball, curveball and changeup positions when
doing exercises. This will help strengthen your arm
in the many directions needed to compete.
As Sean has put it,
there are no bad exercises, just bad exercises for
pitchers. More on that later.
Speaking of
exercises, we now have the 12-Minute Shoulder and
Elbow Endurance Solution DVD’s available on the
website. Click on the link above to get right to the
page on our website.
Until next time,
Happy Holidays and a productive and successful 2006!
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