Screwball for 10u

1bucketmom · Aug 13, 2014

Bringing an offline debate to the forum for input:

Situation: 10u pitcher being taught screwball. Has decent command of fastball and change up.

Question: Is 10u too early in the pitcher's development to learn the screw ball?

One side: No, if she is open and able to learning.

Other side: Too young, needs to be older for physical development. Needs to learn other pitches first.

What do you think?

smddad · Aug 13, 2014

I prefer this order:

Fast
Change
Drop
Rise
then in/out pitches

Some like to put the curve ball after the drop ball. You will find that the first three are the most commonly accepted order.

riseball · Aug 13, 2014

1bucketmom said:
Bringing an offline debate to the forum for input:

Situation: 10u pitcher being taught screwball. Has decent command of fastball and change up.

Question: Is 10u too early in the pitcher's development to learn the screw ball?

One side: No, if she is open and able to learning.

Other side: Too young, needs to be older for physical development. Needs to learn other pitches first.

What do you think?

After getting a good command of the FB/Peel Drop and the CU she should experiment with a few pitches. When she finds one that she likes, she should work to master it. There is no magic formula or order. She needs to find out what comes natural for her.

Many moons ago I spent weeks trying to get my DD to throw a traditional palm up curve ball. It was futile. She just could not do it. Then one day she tried it and dropped her hand and threw a great riseball. Told her to throw it again. We went with it and now in college it is her signature pitch. Still does not throw a curve.

Try a few things and see what comes natural. If she can throw it well it is a great pitch. Coaches do not care what pitches you do not have, they only care about which ones you make move and can put in a tea cup.

Rocketech1 · Aug 13, 2014

Out in Left Field said:
It is OK to learn the screwball first, that is common in my area, after the flip change because they share some of the same motion.

What same motions does a flip change have in common with the screwball?

To the OP, unless a 10YO have great command of her fastball, drop and c/u which is highly unlikely at this age, I personally would not introduce another pitch unless she is close to 50mph and has good command. From 35 feet with a 11 inch ball, it's difficult to get movement on the screwball.

I have seen too many kids that age that claim to have 6 pitches, but they all look the same and they have no real control of any of them. PC are notorious for pushing new pitches, frequently.

My DD started pitching at 7YO and she has performed well with only a four seam fastball (peel
drop) and very good changeup through first year 12u. Now that she just turned 12 and entering her second year in this age bracket, we started introducing more movement pitches, a curve and riseball. I think waiting has really helped her with these other movement pitches. Waiting also helped her focus on getting excellent spin and consistent location on her drop ball because she only needed to focus on two pitches for 5 years.

Remember, you really only need three pitches to be successful and if you incorporate off speed into the mix, you will have more fire power than you really need.

Dave619 · Aug 13, 2014

Rocketech1 said:
What same motions does a flip change have in common with the screwball?

To the OP, unless a 10YO have great command of her fastball, drop and c/u which is highly unlikely at this age, I personally would not introduce another pitch unless she is close to 50mph and has good command. From 35 feet with a 11 inch ball, it's difficult to get movement on the screwball.

I have seen too many kids that age that claim to have 6 pitches, but they all look the same and they have no real control of any of them. PC are notorious for pushing new pitches, frequently.

My DD started pitching at 7YO and she has performed well with only a four seam fastball (peel
drop) and very good changeup through first year 12u. Now that she just turned 12 and entering her second year in this age bracket, we started introducing more movement pitches, a curve and riseball. I think waiting has really helped her with these other movement pitches. Waiting also helped her focus on getting excellent spin and consistent location on her drop ball because she only needed to focus on two pitches for 5 years.

Remember, you really only need three pitches to be successful and if you incorporate off speed into the mix, you will have more fire power than you really need.

Yes, to everything above…stick with FB and CU…difficult to get movement from 35'. My DD was one of those pitchers that threw about 6 pitches within the first year of instruction….however, not effective or consistent. She is 13yo and in 14u she only throws FB, CU, and drop is her "signature" pitch.

I do agree with Riseball to let her experiment when the time comes on different pitches to see what she likes and comes more natural to her and go from there. My DD took to the drop fast while her friend took to the curve fast. I cannot stress enough to not rush the process. There are several guys on here that have DDs that are or were college pitchers and most only threw about 3 pitches.

javasource · Aug 13, 2014

I was going to make that comment Rocket made... but given the recent events... just thought I'd wait for someone else! I'm still scratching my head to the similarities... because I view them as total opposites.

I think the key that many have touched on is her age... and the other thing that I question is why that pitch? Do her current mechanics compliment that pitch... or is it the natural progression for her PC?

I typically let the pitchers general style dictate "the next pitch"... but at her age, I'd guess that lots of work can still go into her change and fb... to make them even more effective. It's not the quantity of pitches you can throw... but the quality at which you can throw them with.

Good post, OP.

1bucketmom · Aug 13, 2014

Thanks to all for providing input.......

I love being on the side of "more right" but honestly, I've gotten smarter about pitching because of all of you and this forum. I argued that physical development/maturity would be an issue and that full command of FB and CU are more important. "If she can place her FB then why would she even need a screw". But like some, the more pitches the better....I guess???

I hadn't even thought about the distance/movement relationship.

Thank you all - yet again.....

edited a grammar bug.

riseball · Aug 13, 2014

I have caught some 10U , 12U and even 14U pitchers who threw 4, 5, or even 6 pitches. Thankfully they were all telling me what they were throwing because I sure couldn't see it squatting behind the plate.

Amy in AZ. · Aug 13, 2014

I have 1 ten yo throwing the screw, but she is playing 12u. I find it easy to throw and I love the screw change up. But, here at 10U, I am lucky if the coach would call even a CU. No one calls anything at 10U.

RetiredCoach · Aug 14, 2014

riseball said:
I have caught some 10U , 12U and even 14U pitchers who threw 4, 5, or even 6 pitches. Thankfully they were all telling me what they were throwing because I sure couldn't see it squatting behind the plate.

This has been my exact experience as well.

Screwball for 10u

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1bucketmom

smddad

riseball

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Dave619

javasource

6-4-3 = 2

1bucketmom

riseball

Amy in AZ.

RetiredCoach

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