More pitching advice needed

[Charger567]

Will a splitter harm my arm at age 13? My brother taught it to me a few months ago, and it works ok, but recently my pitching coach has told me that unless I want to have a surgery by the time I am 16, I should wait to throw it. Who is right here, my coach or my brother? If my coach is, when should I start?

[EdmondsFan#1]

your coach is right, splitters tear up your elbow.

I think you should start throwing splitters by the time you have to shave regulary. Just like a curveball.

At 13 you should really only throw fastball and changeup because those pitches will be by far the most useful.

[Chris O'Leary]

Will a splitter harm my arm at age 13? My brother taught it to me a few months ago, and it works ok, but recently my pitching coach has told me that unless I want to have a surgery by the time I am 16, I should wait to throw it. Who is right here, my coach or my brother? If my coach is, when should I start?

Throwing a splitter will probably not harm your arm at your age in and of itself.

What is more likely to harm your arm is all the times you will have to throw it (or a curveball) in order to learn to throw it well. What's more, you may not be able to throw it well at your age since your hands are small-ish (and it takes big hands to throw a splitter well).

In other words, don't waste your time with a splitter.

At your age, I think that time is better spent perfecting your fastball and your change-up.

[Charger567]

My hands are huge, but I'll take your advice and stop throwing it.