Elite Baseball Development Podcast: Kids and Curveballs
Written on May 2, 2019 at 6:53 am, by Eric Cressey
We’re going to deviate from the normal single-guest model for this episode, and instead rock a collaborative effort between me and Cressey Sports Performance – MA pitching coordinator, Christian Wonders. We’re going to discuss the debate on when kids should start throwing curveballs and sliders.
A special thanks to this show’s sponsor, Athletic Greens. Head to http://www.athleticgreens.com/cressey and you’ll receive a free 10-pack of Athletic Greens travel packets with your first order.
Show Outline
- What research says about youth pitchers throwing breaking balls
- When the right time is to begin integrating a breaking ball into a young pitcher’s development
- How Christian introduces a young pitcher to spinning a curveball for the first time
- What steps Christian takes to progress a young pitchers from simply learning to spin a baseball to consistently throwing breakers in a game
- Why youth pitchers should prioritize commanding fastball and changeup before jumping to learn a big breaking ball
- How the delicacy involved in throwing curveballs takes young pitchers away from working late arm speed and powering through the baseball
- What common mechanical compensations arise as young pitchers try to throw a quality curveball
- How Christian plans to develop a curveball with his 10 year old brother
- Why it is so crucial for pitchers to find a consistent and comfortable curveball grip that works for them
- Why Christian never has any of his pitchers, youth, high school, or college, throw more than two off speed pitches in a row in bullpens
- Why it’s important to replicate fastball arm speed on breaking pitches
You can follow Christian on Twitter at @csp_pitching, and on Instagram at @csp_pitching. Also, for more information about our upcoming CSP Elite Baseball Mentorship, be sure to check out www.EliteBaseballMentorships.com.
Sponsor Reminder
This episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens. It’s an all-in-one superfood supplement with 75 whole-food sourced ingredients designed to support your body’s nutrition needs across 5 critical areas of health: 1) energy, 2) immunity, 3) gut health, 4) hormonal support, and 5) healthy aging. Head to www.AthleticGreens.com/cressey and claim my special offer today – 20 FREE travel packs (valued at $79) – with your first purchase. I use this product daily myself and highly recommend it to our athletes as well. I’d encourage you to give it a shot, too – especially with this great offer.
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