When should a pitcher learn the curve ball

There is a lot of disagreement on this issue. Some nationally renowned pitching instructors (Tom House, Dick Mills) don't believe it's appropriate before the age of 15-16. Others (John Bagnozzi) believe you can throw it a little younger. Still others (Dr. Mike Marshall) don't believe you should ever throw a pitch until your growth plates have closed. It seems the national instructors are split on this one. Leo Mazzone doesn't believe it's a problem, provided you are throwing it correctly, but he hasn't worked with kids for several decades. Several others agree.....

Hmmmmm .....

There isn't any answer. It's not cut/dried. To some people the spin comes naturally, to others, they have to really work at it. For some people, they don't feel anything abnormal in their arm, to others, it hurts a lot worse after curveballs than after just throwing fastballs/changeups.

Like most things, this is individual. You can't make a blanket statement like "It's Ok to throw a curve...." It may not be for that particular person. You don't know the growth plate development, arm slot, stress they are placing on the elbow from technique, etc etc etc.... And you can't make a blanket statement that it's wrong to throw a curve ... same arguments.

Get to a good pitching instructor .... learn how to throw it .... don't throw any pitch that hurts to throw .... If the instructor says you're not ready, then don't throw it.

Don't learn how to throw curves from Johnny down the street just because he has a good curve ball.

 

Metro, who or which organization turned down Tom House as a pitching coach?

 

Geez phantom ... I don't think he would take the cut in income to work as a pitching coach for 1 mlb team.

 

Metro no offenses, this is just my opinion but your a moron and i hope if you have kids or plan on having them dont make them pitch because their wee little arms wont last long throwing your curves.

 

ok, glad you know better.

 

Throwing a curve properly is just like driving a nail with a hammer.

wrist , hand , fingers.... no elbow's .

 

Metro- I very much respect your opinions and agree that you are very much entitled to them. However, for you or anyone for that matter to come out and say that Tom House is a complete clown is just flat out wrong. I was taught many of Ton House's theories and drills when I was 13. I have since then been working on them and applying them into my everyday pitching regiment. Whether I am in the weight room, in practice, at home,on the field before a game, during a game or after a game, I am applying his teachings to what I do. His "new" stuff" is right on. He admitted to me personally that the "old Tom House"was often wrong, however it allowed him to continue his research to better his own knowledge of pitching. And that can be proven through reading his books. The point is, he does not claim to have always been the best. He admits that his past theories were simply that. But now, he has the research and resources to prove his new teachings to be true.
To say that he attached himself to Nolan Ryan after he was a Hall of Famer is also not true. This is proven through Nolan's Hall of Fame inductee speech. Watch it for yourself. I dont think that Nolan would take a a couple of his minutes to thank Tom House if Tom had not helped him along the way. It is simply a fact.
As I said earlier, I have practiced Tom House's theories for the past 5 years and I am "knock on wood" yet to wake up the next morning with sore or stiff arm. I would not have become the pitcher that I am today without him.
He has taught me how to make better mental and physical adjustments immediately after one pitch, as opposed to accepting the idea that "Oh I it's just not working for me today." Now I am able to recognize what in my mechanics causes me to miss high/low or in/out. If I miss high or low, it is my glove. I need to extend it more forward directly at my target and allow my chest to move towards it. Thus, my arm will extend as opposed to "pulling" the glove, which would cause me to miss high/low and in the long run hurt my arm. If I miss too far in or too far out, it is my head. That means that my head is either leaning too far left or too far right. And all I need to do is "square" my head to my target and make sure that my eyes are level. Those are 2 things that I learned at a young age from Tom House. Had I not ben taught that, I would have continued to have the lower back pain that I had in middle school. Which was caused by every pitching coach telling me to pull my glove to my chest. Along with the back pain, I would have had more stress put onto my elbow from the lack of extension. It is impossible to extend if you pull your glove to your chest.
On the mental issue. I read books before every start that I pitched in and 9 out of 10 starts it would be a Tom House book. I will admit that that is a personal preference, but it is another important aspect in my regiment.
In conclusion, there is plenty more that I could discuss in regard to pitching and Tom House, but I have a final to continue studying for so I got to run. Again Metro, I respect your opinion and I recognize that my post is not going to change it, but I thought that I would touch on how much Dr. House has hepled my career.
I cannot wait to fly to San Diego August 5th to work with that "clown". He is legit, and everyone is entitled to "take or leave" his information, but all I have to say is if no one else but me is taking it, that is just going to make me that much better than my opponents.

 

Well said Up and In

:thumbup: :applause:

 

I'm glad this thread has produced some feedback.....unlike me to start some contoversy

 

up and in, glad you like House. whatever works. I will tell you that in the baseball industry, Tom House is a lightening rod, as this thread is proving. Some people love his gimmicks and alot of people think he is a clown. Say what you want about Nolan Ryan, I was his son's roomate and watched hours of Tom House video with him. Some of his theories are fine, but alot of baseball people dismiss his thoughts. Tom House did help Nolan stay in shape late in his career, but long before Tom House came along, Nolan was throwing 100mph for 20 years. Tom House was fired from the Rangers and has yet to coach in the pros since because people are afraid of his techinique. I would compare him to Walt Wreniack, the guy who taught all the White Sox in the 90's to swing ackwardly.