I would say there are four problems with most change-ups in softball.
1. Deception. Few pitchers work their change-up enough so that the delivery looks just like the delivery of their other pitches. Its sad how many pitchers slow down their entire body to throw the change-up.
2. The speed difference of the change-up. A lot of people seem to believe the change-up needs to come in super slow. It doesn't. A 10-15% difference from their fastest pitch, and a slight difference from their off-speed pitches. If your fastest pitch comes in at 60 and your change-up is coming in at 40, that's too much. Changes in speed don't have to be drastic to throw off the batters timing.
3. Most coaches, for whatever reason, don't call the change-up enough. The only reason to not throw a change-up is if the batter doesn't have a prayer of catching up to the pitcher's heat. If batters are making contact, change-up (and off-speed) should be called liberally. My DD's coach calls a change-up very frequently and it is very effective.
4. The old thinking that the change-up is called with 2 strikes only. The thinking should be a change-up can be called at any time. First pitch, 2 balls, full count, etc. If the batter is expecting the change-up, its nowhere near as effective.
1. Deception. Few pitchers work their change-up enough so that the delivery looks just like the delivery of their other pitches. Its sad how many pitchers slow down their entire body to throw the change-up.
2. The speed difference of the change-up. A lot of people seem to believe the change-up needs to come in super slow. It doesn't. A 10-15% difference from their fastest pitch, and a slight difference from their off-speed pitches. If your fastest pitch comes in at 60 and your change-up is coming in at 40, that's too much. Changes in speed don't have to be drastic to throw off the batters timing.
3. Most coaches, for whatever reason, don't call the change-up enough. The only reason to not throw a change-up is if the batter doesn't have a prayer of catching up to the pitcher's heat. If batters are making contact, change-up (and off-speed) should be called liberally. My DD's coach calls a change-up very frequently and it is very effective.
4. The old thinking that the change-up is called with 2 strikes only. The thinking should be a change-up can be called at any time. First pitch, 2 balls, full count, etc. If the batter is expecting the change-up, its nowhere near as effective.