Throwing Little League sinkers?

[Redlightning]

Yeah, sorry that I keep changing the pitches I throw, but I think I've found a way to throw a very good sinker (I hold the ball with both fingers together or a bit apart on the smooth part of the ball, like a 2-seamer but with the altered finger locations. As a lefty, my thumb's at about 5.5/6'o clock level, and I put pressure on my middle finger and turn my hand while throwing like a curve or slider). It breaks really sharply down and away to righties, but my main concern is the strain on my elbow/forearm. I feel pretty comfortable throwing it and I haven't expirienced any pain on my arm. But is it okay for a 12-year-old to throw a pitch that hard with breaking-ball wrist action?

[EdmondsFan#1]

Yeah, sorry that I keep changing the pitches I throw, but I think I've found a way to throw a very good sinker (I hold the ball with both fingers together or a bit apart on the smooth part of the ball, like a 2-seamer but with the altered finger locations. As a lefty, my thumb's at about 5.5/6'o clock level, and I put pressure on my middle finger and turn my hand while throwing like a curve or slider). It breaks really sharply down and away to righties, but my main concern is the strain on my elbow/forearm. I feel pretty comfortable throwing it and I haven't expirienced any pain on my arm. But is it okay for a 12-year-old to throw a pitch that hard with breaking-ball wrist action?

Actually, for a good breaking ball there is no twist of the wrist. Watch the major leaguers, when they throw a breaking ball you do not see their wrist twist. If they twisted their wrist it would appear obvious to the batter that they were going to throw a breaking ball.

Also, no, it is not okay for a 12 year old to use the twist wrist action. Unless you don't plan on keeping your arm in high school/college.

[Redlightning]

Actually, for a good breaking ball there is no twist of the wrist. Watch the major leaguers, when they throw a breaking ball you do not see their wrist twist. If they twisted their wrist it would appear obvious to the batter that they were going to throw a breaking ball.

Also, no, it is not okay for a 12 year old to use the twist wrist action. Unless you don't plan on keeping your arm in high school/college.

Actually, the wrist twist is more of a twitch, not even half an inch. Most of the movement comes from the pressure to the middle finger.

[EdmondsFan#1]

Actually, the wrist twist is more of a twitch, not even half an inch. Most of the movement comes from the pressure to the middle finger.

Exactly, there isn't a twist of the wrist in a curveball or any other pitch. It seemed like you meant you turned your whole arm over , like some idiots say to do.

Actually, i just think the "twist" is more like a tilt of the wrist, Greg Maddux even does it on his fastball to put more movement on it.

Sorry for the mis-understanding, but yes, it should be o.k. to do it the way you are making it sound.


And, actually, pressure affects most movement on any pitch. Another way to get a sinker is grip it like a two seamer and put pressure on your index.

[Chris O'Leary]

...It breaks really sharply down and away to righties, but my main concern is the strain on my elbow/forearm.

Sounds like you could be throwing a curveball or a slider rather than a sinker.

A sinker (aka 2-seamer) doesn't have a sharp break. It just drops more than a 4-seamer.