Answer

Bobby,

I’m glad you like the new section. Thanks for the great question. And it is a very good question for young pitchers thinking they need to start developing another pitch. My answer is very simple: no matter the age, from little league to the pro’s; develop and establish a good change-up FIRST before you try to develop a breaking pitch. As for a specific age, do not attempt to develop a curveball or slider before 15 or 16. Attempting earlier while muscles, tendons and ligaments are still growing and stabilizing can result in serious injury to your shoulder or elbow.

Developing a breaking ball before other pitches will actually hinder your pitching progress by not letting you establish more important and more effective pitches such as the fastball, 2-seam fastball, and change-up. If you do not develop these pitches first, it won’t matter how nasty your curve is because hitters will not swing at it. Even if you are over 15, I would establish my other pitches before working on a curveball. If you are worried about a lack of arm strength, don’t be. A good change-up can make your fastball look 5 to 10 mph harder! There’s an easy way to increase velocity!
If you are serious about pitching and want to develop accuracy and consistency that will make you a dominant force on the mound (no matter the size or the age), follow this sequenced plan:

Develop your FASTBALL first

• Work on throwing a 2-seam (sinker) and a 4-seam
• Be able to throw strikes with both, working both sides of the plate
• Work on getting movement on the 2-seam (Movement is more important than velocity)
• Work on hitting spots with both pitches

Establish the Fastball

• Before moving on to throwing other pitches in a game, make sure your Fastball is consistent and effective.
• If you do not establish the fastball by throwing strikes and hitting spots, batters will not bite at other pitches.

Develop a Changeup

• A good changeup is the best pitch in baseball
• Try out different grips that will help give you a good differential in speeds between your fastball and changeup (About 7 – 11 mph slower than fastball)
• Most common grips are:
  • Palm ball - for beginners (dig ball deep in palm and throw just like a fast ball)
  • Circle Change – advanced
• **Work on maintaining the same arm speed as your Fastball**
  • The Goal is to make it LOOK like your fastball!
  • Let the grip do the work! Don’t try to slow your arm down.

Establish the change-up

• Be able to throw it for strikes early in the count, but then be able to drop it out of the strike zone when you are ahead in the count
• After your Fastball is established, and you can work ahead of the count, hitters will have a hard time laying off a good change-up down in the zone.

Start developing a breaking pitch (Curve or Slider)

• Not before age 15
• Only under supervision of a coach