Is there an advantage for pitchers to have fingernails as opposed to pitchers who are nailbiters and bite their nails down to the quick? Does it affect their grip/control, thus their velocity? I've often wondered about this so I thought I would ask. Thanks.

Had a friend in high school(loooong time ago) that was real particular about trimming his nails just right a day or so prior to when he would pitch...but then again, he liked to throw the "knuckle" alot! Don't see where it would make a lot of difference on the other pitches.

Talent Is Never Enough!

My son is very tidy with his nails. He's never bitten them, but keeps them trimmed and cuticles trimmed, too. He doesn't like tender, torn cuticles, or finger tips.

Now, if he'd just adopt the same philosophy in his room, with his equipment bag, school work!!

My son keeps his trimmed, and trims them a day or two before he starts. I think it is a lot easier on the pitcher because he is less likely to get those annoying and often painful hangnails.

ShapsMa

Shoot, I was hoping this thread was going in a different direction........
My son has to keep his index finger nail cut VERY short, but still it continues to gouge his thumb.
Several times last year he had to come out of games because his thumb was bleeding too much all over the ball. It would seem this would eventually callous over, but that's not happening so far.
It's kind of gross really. Looks like raw hamburger after an outting.
Anyone else have a problem w/ this? Or better yet...a solution?
Seems to me I recall a pitcher at the CWS have a problem like this.........??
Or is my son just a freak

_______________________
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." Rogers Hornsby, Hall of Famer

Mr&Mrs - Your son is a freak! LOL. Actually, that sounds like a great idea - bleed all over the ball!

Our son bites his fingernails all the way down whether he's pitching or not. Just likes 'em short. Whatever - it works.

________________
"The only people I ever felt intimdated by in my whole life were Bob Gibson and my daddy," Dusty Baker.

Colleen ...

This probably sounds weird but don't' knock it if you haven't tried it ... when a finger splits during a game, lots of guys super-glue the skin closed to keep it from bleeding. Might want to try it when he doesn't have a ball in his hand ...

ShapsMa

I've got another problem it'd be nice if someone had a remedy for. Nearly every time I pitch, the fingernails on my thumb and forefinger rip away from teh skin at the tip. Kind of blisters up then. Anyone know what to do there?

Brice

Our son had that problem for several years. Especially with the index finger...he'd bleed all over the ball and eventually get thrown out by the ump who didn't like the blood sprays off his hand. Believe it of not crazy or super glue did the trick - stings like hell though. He's now playing at an elite level and throws at least 120 pitches and 120 other throws (long toss etc.) per week. Seems his calluses have toughened up the finger as we only had to pull out the super glue once last year. Many recommended pails of sand, rice and products like liquid skin, etc. but they never helped us out. Finally, he's a fanatic about nail care and trims daily.

Justbb, he takes after the Mr. "dont-cha-know"

HMom and Akuna, thanks for the Crazy glue advice. Only think I'm worried about is it's pretty deep-(think scooping cantelope-ugh). He uses nu-skin to practice until it's game time again and then it's usually not long before he's bloody again.

Akuna, isn't it funny.......those umpires start looking at the balls and are none too happy!

Okie, sorry, don't have any advice for you, hope others will.

_______________________
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." Rogers Hornsby, Hall of Famer

Just an observation from an umpire.....NFHS rules are quite clear on Blood.

Bleeding must be stopped, the open wound covered and if there is an excessive amount of blood on the uniform it must be changed before the athlete may participate.

Now for a pitcher, since no type of bandage can be on the throwing hand, he would be removed. We do not have any leeway in this issue.

piaa_ump - Aren't there rules about foreign substances? Wouldn't using a superglue-type liquid bandage also disqualify a pitcher?

yes, although the new skin and super glue cures would work for a position player, the rules for pitchers are very clear.

NFHS rule 6 section 2 Infractions by a pitcher.
Art 1: Illegal acts include:

G- wearing or placing tape, bandages or other foreign material (other than rosin) on the fingers or palm of his pitching hand that could come in contact with the ball.

Clearly super glue would fall under the other foreign material catagory.

thx piaa_ump. I just wanted to clarify the earlier comments for any players out there reading this thread. It's OK to use a liquid bandage material to help heal between starts, but the material MUST be taken off before you pitch.

Thanks, Guys, for the discussion. I always felt that a pitcher with fingernails, trimmed or untrimmed, had an advantage over a pitcher with no fingernails at all. I guess it does not matter one way or the other.

Super glue ... hadn't thought of that. I guess our son uses it between outings ... tho he hasn't had to use it very often.

ShapsMa

Catfish, In the case of Dennis Cook it is an important part of his game.



"There is among us a far closer relationship than the purely social one of a fraternal organization because we are bound together not only by a single interest but by a common goal. To win. Nothing else matters, and nothing else will do." Sandy Koufax

OUCH!! My fingers hurt reading this thread!

Is this heaven?...

Catfish,
As an aside since this was your question, I have heard that Knuckleball pitchers would have longer squared off finger nails so that they would have more "bite" into a ball.

I also remember an interview with Greg Maddux who was saying that the major league balls now are harder than they used to be. Seems he noticed that he couldnt compress the cover with his nails anymore.

Now this seem only to apply to "major league" pitchers because the seams on a major league ball are rolled flat. Most youth leagues and HS balls have raised seams that allow a better grip for those type pitches so nails are not neccessary.

Piaa-ump, so for some knuckleball pitchers nails may help to add more "bite" into a ball and nails can provide a better grip on the ball for college and beyond since the ball seams are not raised as much. Thanks for the explanation.