The one regret, the one mulligan I wish I had would have been to insist that she develop a lights out, buckle their knees, make them look silly change up while still in High School.
Sticking with the change
- Thread starter Ken Krause
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The one regret, the one mulligan I wish I had would have been to insist that she develop a lights out, buckle their knees, make them look silly change up while still in High School.
- Feb 7, 2013
- 3,188
- 48
Regular Life in the Fastpitch Lane readers know that I am a huge fan of the changeup. I believe it’s essential if a pitcher is going to keep hitters off balance instead of getting comfortable in the batter’s box.* Still, it can be tough for a pitcher to stick with it when it’s not working. […]
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Good point, but many times its the person calling the pitches (HC, catcher) that abandon the change-up way too early after a good hit off of it. With my DD, she needs to throw it a lot to get comfortable (consistent) with it during the game and sometimes the coaches don't have the patience to stay with it.
- Feb 7, 2013
- 3,188
- 48
I have not seen a correlation to how effective the change-up is and at what age they throw it for a strike. In fact, one could argue that the more experienced (older) the batter is the more likely they will take the change-up for a strike with less than two strikes in the count, waiting for their pitch to hit hard. At the younger ages, the batters are less disciplined and with the shorter pitching distance (e.g. 30 feet), the reaction time is just as short as when the older girls are pitching from 43 feet and many times will swing early even when the pitch is out of the strike zone. The bottom line is teach pitchers at all ages not to slow down their arm and to use the same pitching mechanics for all of their pitches.
Couldn't agree with this more. Too many coaches abandon it if it gets hit, or they bounce one or it wasn't located well....
Got to be brave.
Is the Pauly change slower based on a different grip or release or both? We have been trying to find an effective way to slow down DD change for a while now. Tried circle, horse-shoe, palm and as she gets more comfortable with them and increases arm speed they all come in faster than we would like. Have not tried a true flip yet, but have tried different releases on the others.
The problem with using different grips on the change is that often that's all they are - different grips. To create a definite reduction in speed without slowing down the arm you have to defeat the things that create speed to begin with, particularly whip. That's what the Pauly change does, as well as the backhand change (without the flip). You lead the ball through the release zone rather than having it fire through at the end, you prevent the wrist from snapping, you put the arm in a weaker position by bending the elbow slightly so the release flattens out, and so forth.
Megan Betsa from Michigan has some great drop ball spin on her C/U. Very effective against LSU tonight.
That spin has been a point of emphasis this year to get DD's C/U to drop like hers does. It's been extremely effective this season as she'll throw it on any count.
That spin has been a point of emphasis this year to get DD's C/U to drop like hers does. It's been extremely effective this season as she'll throw it on any count.
As we get further into RB allstars it seems to me that being able to throw the change at any count is very important. Against aggressive hitters I have em throw it first pitch sometimes.
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- Mar 9, 2015
- 321
- 18
Any slo motion video of the Pauly change up? Was looking around but can't find any examples.
