STOP Teaching the Safety Curve - Complete Chiropractic Healthcare

STOP Teaching the "Safety Curve"

May 6, 2016

The 5th of my "STOP" Newsletters:

In this newsletter we address coaches teaching a "safety curve" to young pitchers. When I worked in California they called it a "low-torque slider".

While the goal is correct...to protect young pitchers from getting hurt by throwing the curveball.

The premise is incorrect...that the snapping of the wrist is how the curveball injures pitchers.

It's NOT the snap of the wrist that damages the elbow.

It's the tilt of the shoulders.

I've done 4 newsletters highlighting how severe shoulder tilt increases arm stress:

2008 Title

2008 Study

2008 Data

2008 Conclusion

2013 Study title

2013 10 degrees

What does 10 degrees of shoulder tilt look like?

Zambrano Fastball

2013 40 degrees

What does 40 degrees of tilt look like?

2013 40 degrees pitcher

2013 Title

2012 Study

2013 Data and conclusion

2015 Title

2015 study

2015 data and conclusion

If a young pitcher can throw his curveball with the same mechanics as the fastball, there is NO increased risk of injury.

BUT...very few young pitchers have consistent throwing motions just like very few young hitters have consistent swings.

SO...establish a consistent throwing motion, learn the changeup,

THEN learn the curveball.

It's not the snap. It's the tilt.

Questions About This Newsletter?

Contact (PitchingDoc@msn.com / 631-352-7654) Dr. Arnold!