Using the wrist in pitching?

Hi Rusty

I am sorry to hear your son hurt himself.

One thought: The terms you used, "using his wrist" worries me. Without an extremely precise definition of those terms, we will have a hard time helping.

Instead let's shift the paradigm a little bit, by using different terms.

A. Done properly, a straight-ball throw automatically involves a "wrist FLICK" downwards and probably a little across his body to allow his elbow to move OUTSIDE his shoulder and hand.

B. That absence of that wrist FLICK is often called "pushing the ball" or "aiming the ball" or "shotputting" the ball...all of which will hurt an elbow,AND A SHOULDER, if the ball is thrown hard that way.

c.What you want to emphasize is the concept: "A natural RELEASE OF THE WRIST"...DOWN AND SLIGHTLY ACROSS.

D. In order to get maximum spin & movement on a ball, if and when his hand is big enough, simply have him "tuck" his thumb, and throw the ball off the inside of the thumb-knuckle.

E. Interestingly enough, more spin means more velocity too. Those raised seams on a baseball act as air-friction cutters...or as properly designated in a book called "The physics of Baseball",
"The laminar air flow and concomitant asymetrical surface tensions acting upon the sphere are interrupted, thus allowing the sphere.........."
(or words to that effect) :^)

Keep us posted on your boy's progress.

Best regards
Ken Bean (Bean's About Baseball)