Change Up

Change Up

There are many grips for a change-up. A common one is thrown with your first three fingers spread evenly around the ball and with the same delivery as the fastball. Its slow speed is intended to fool hitters, making them swing too early or off balance. Use it as a complement to your fastball and keep hitters guessing.

"This is a good pitch to teach kids early on. It does not risk their arms like the breaking pitches, yet it lets them change speeds effectively."

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Step 1

Grip the ball

First three fingers each running across two seams about a half-inch apart

Thumb and pinky close together beneath the ball

Keep the ball loose but very deep in your hand

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Step 2

Make your pitching delivery

Release the ball directly toward home plate

Palm behind and under the ball

Use normal arm speed

Keep fingers very loose upon release

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Skills Drills

Practice

Unlike breaking pitches, the change-up is easy on the arm, so the best way to get comfortable with this pitch is to just throw it. Any time you are warming up or tossing with a friend, try the change-up. In no time, you should feel right at home with it on the mound

Crow hop drill

Throwing the change up with the long toss "crow hop" drill will help develop fastball arm speed, which is critical in this pitch.

Troubleshooting Tips

Trouble with Control?

If you are having trouble with control, you may be gripping the ball too tightly. A loose grip lets the ball roll off your hand slowly. Because the ball is so deep in your hand, a tight grip can direct the pitch straight into the dirt.

Stay Low in the Strike Zone

Always concentrate on keeping the change-up low in the strike zone. If you leave it up in the zone, it's sayonara baseball, hello home run.

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by
Jon Anderson
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