Change-Up Versus Curveball - Which Should A Youth Pitcher Learn How To Throw First?

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Change-Up Versus Curveball - Which Should A Youth Pitcher Learn How To Throw First?
By Joshua S Stickel

This is a question that comes up all the time in youth baseball. Coaches, Parents, and Players are concerned about throwing the curveball because they are afraid of the damage it could inflict on their arm. However, some youth players decide to try to learn how to throw the curveball anyway because they feel it is a more effective pitch than the change-up.

There are multiple problems with this idea of learning the curveball first. The most important problem is youth pitchers try to teach themselves how to throw the curveball which almost always leads to arm problems. The arm problems usually originate at the elbow which can cause major damage and take a long time to recover from. If you want to learn how to throw a curveball I would suggest that you wait till you are 12 years old. In addition, you should always learn how to throw a curveball from someone who is a professional coach and knows what they are doing. I would still advise you not to start throwing a curveball too early.

So, if you can't learn a curveball right away and you want to have more than one pitch to be a very effective pitcher you have to learn how to throw a change-up. The change-up is a much underrated pitch. It is very deceptive because it looks just like a fastball coming out of your hand, but is 5 to 10 mph slower. The change-up can also break down and away giving the pitch movement along with the change of speed. One of the best parts is the change-up will not do any additional damage to your arm and it is easier to learn how to throw. In fact the difference between a fastball and a change-up is a fastball is gripped on the finger tips and the change-up is gripped deeper in the palm. Your arm angle and arm speed stay the same, which is why the pitch is so deceiving.

I hope this article helped you decide to choose to learn how to throw a change-up before you learn how to throw a curveball for the sake of the health of your arm. It is an easy pitch to learn and once you learn how to throw it is an easy pitch to locate. I really hope that you learn the change-up first, then learn the difference between a two seam and four seam fastball before you learn the curveball. The difference between a two seam fastball and a four seam fastball is the grip. You grip the two seam fastball where the seams come together. You grip the four seam fastball on the side of what looks like a horseshoe on the seams. The two seem fastball will move more but the four seem fastball will be faster.

If you liked this article then you should check out my main site the #1 youth baseball site. In it there is one on one coaching, free tips, contests, practice equipment, the best baseball equipment, instructional programs, youth leagues and camps, and of course exactly how to throw a change-up. You want to be the best on the diamond? Then click here The Youth Of Baseball Once you learn the change-up how about you Add 5 to 10 mph on Your Fastball

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