For decades, parents have been warned that curveballs destroy young arms. The belief is so widespread that many families still think the curveball is the most dangerous pitch in youth baseball. But the research paints a very different picture. When you break down the biomechanics of pitching, the curveball actually places less stress on the elbow than a fastball. Studies from Dun, Fleisig, and Makhni have shown this again and again.
So if curveballs are not the main problem, what is. The answer is simple. It is not the curveball. It is the calendar.
Youth baseball injuries rise when kids throw too often, pitch year round, or fail to recover. Fatigue, poor mechanics, and high pitch counts place far more torque on a young arm than the type of pitch ever could. Children who pitch and catch on the same team or who play nonstop in warm states face much greater stress than those who get a true offseason.
The primary cause of elbow pain, shoulder pain, and youth baseball overuse injuries is volume. When the arm never gets time off, tissue never gets a chance to recover. Growth plates stay irritated. Tendons stay inflamed. Mechanics break down under fatigue, and injuries follow.
This is why Little League and MLB Pitch Smart guidelines are clear and supported by science. Keep pitch counts reasonable, usually around seventy five pitches. Follow rest day requirements. Never let a child pitch on multiple teams at the same time. And most importantly, make sure every young pitcher gets at least three to four months away from throwing each year.
Downtime is not wasted time. It is how the body repairs tissue, strengthens tendons, and protects the developing elbow and shoulder. Recovery is what creates longevity in youth baseball, not more throwing.
If you are a parent, coach, or young athlete, the take home message is simple. The curveball is not the threat. The real danger is ignoring the calendar.
For more guidance on injury prevention, youth pitching mechanics, or year round training plans, contact our clinic. We help young athletes protect their arms and stay strong through every season.
Sources
Dun et al 2008
Fleisig et al 2011
Makhni et al 2014
MLB Pitch Smart 2024