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Your breaking pitch is a lot like being a left-handed fielder. If you’re a lefty, sorry – you’ll never be allowed to play third, shortstop, second, or catcher. If you throw from a low arm slot, sorry – you’ll never be capable of throwing a good curveball. It’s just life.
In a few months we will have the privilege of teaching breaking balls for the first time to some of our high school freshman, kids who have been in our program and trusted us enough to abstain thus far. Our goal is for kids to throw only a fastball and changeup during middle school and for them to learn ONE breaking ball in high school. Too often we see amateurs trying to throw four pitches at a young level, which prevents mastery of any of them. We want quality over quantity.
Which Pitch, Then? Slider or Curveball?
Research has shown that the fastball is the most stressful pitch on the throwing arm, followed by the slider. So, while many parents are afraid of the slider, if they’re agreeing to let their son pitch at all, then there’s no reason to shy away from any single breaking pitch; they’re all less stressful than the fastball when thrown properly. The little league “doorknob” curve and slider are NOT proper ways to throw either. When you learn a slider or curveball, you want to learn the pro way, the correct way.
The Answer: It Depends Mostly On Arm Slot
Watch the in-depth video below on slider vs curveball for detailed explanations:
If your arm slot is low-3/4 or sidearm, you’re throwing a slider.
Why can’t a low armslot pitcher throw a curveball? Simple: you can’t get over top of the ball to impart the proper downward-breaking topspin. Changing your arm slot from one pitch to the next is not a solution, either. Throwing a curveball grip from a low arm slot will result in a soft-breaking, junky slurve that won’t get college hitters out.
If your arm slot is 3/4 or over-the-top, you can choose either.
From here, we will choose the pitch that has the tightest spin, which your hand dexterity and flexibility will also somewhat predetermine. Pitchers with tight wrists and fast, direct arm actions are better suited for sliders. Pitchers with looser wrists and slightly more windmill-type arm actions take better to curveballs.
If you throw high over the top, you can impart the correct spin type for either pitch, so it just comes down to which one you can “figure out” better. Everyone is different.
Slider or Curveball: Which Should You Pick?
Nothing frustrates me more than kids who give up on a pitch they’ve worked on for months when they hit a rough patch with it. Nothing good comes easily.
It takes YEARS to develop the feel for a legitimate breaking ball that will get swings and misses at the collegiate level. Even longer for the pro level. Find the best one for you and consider it, “Til Death Do Us Part.”