Trouble with the change-up!

Bo Gentry has problems with the curve...well my 13yo DD is having lots of problems with having a consistent change up. PC is working with her on a flip change...some days she has it...some days she doesn't. Even when she can throw it correctly is usually takes her about 5 pitches to get it correct. She will begin TB at 12U this year and her team will jump to 14u later this summer. My concern is she will really need a CU in 14u.

She usually pics things up fairly quickly, but for some reason with the CU she is consistently inconsistent with her mechanics. IMO it is time to start trying another CU. Right now, she will throw an off-speed drop to compensate for not really having a good CU.

I started looking back in older posts on this forum and youtube videos, etc. I found a post by Ken Krause and he talked about having his girls throw a backhand change. Sounded similar to the flip, but you simply don't flip your wrist.

Can someone give me more info. on the mechanics to throw a backhand change or a good video. I assume you just keep your arm straight, no flip, and release at the correct time.

If you don't like the backhand change please tell me what the disadvantages are, etc and what do you think is an effective change to learn. I am open to all suggestions at this point! Thanks!

Try this. I've had much betters success with this than a flip

I love this video!

This Hillhouse clinic video made all the difference in the world with my daughter's change up. At about the 15 minute point in this video is where he discusses it. Fastpitch Softball TV Network » Blog Archive » The Bill Hillhouse Pitching Clinic Part 3 – Episode 91

My DD has always struggled with a flip change. She can throw a knuckle ball, a knuckle curve and a C-change, but struggles with the flip. My suggestion would be to learn another change up that she can master quickly, but continue to work on the flip. Having more than one way to change speeds can be an asset!

The trick to a flip change is to not allow the ball in hand to get any higher than her waist.
A verbal cue to use is: " throw it under the table"...
Have her imagine in her minds eye that she literally has a dining room table in front of her. If she has a late release, the back of her hand will slam into the bottom of the table. As always keep the ball on third base through the windmill and internally rotate the arm to a palm down position at the back thigh. Speed up. Faster arm circle is mandatory here! Be sure her drive posture, her face grimaced up, and even an occasional grunt are all telling the batter "here comes the heat"
***Caution!!! The negative to the flip change is a lot of girls will start leaning forward into the release. Be sure her ball hand clears through her hips before she starts to close up her upper body. Its real easy for flip beginners to close the shoulders early and bow through the release. Keep it identical to her fast stuff (except for the release of course!)... good, luck, James

Flip change is very difficult to throw consistently especially for girls with small hands. My DD tucks her index and middle
fingers and throws just like a fast ball. It leaves her hand with almost no spin and she can control it very well.

This can be where HE mechanics actually can help. My DD simply rotates the forearm early (about 9:00 to 8:00 down the backside) so she can't "snap" the ball. She gets as much skin on the ball as possible (palms the ball), holds on fairly tight and releases at the same point as the rest of her pitches. She uses a C grip or circle grip depending on the day. She struggled with the flip change so developed the one described above along with a knuckle change. With a good drop (turn over) and good peel fb the change mixed in is very effective. She throws the change with varying speeds. It works well.

I just realized this is not answering the question in the OP as this is a different change up not a back hand change. Sorry, but it works.

We gave up on the flip after about 2 months. Really hard for dd to get consistent. Went to a Backdoor change and it works really well. Ball buried in palm, turn hand around outside of the ball at release, should come off with DC spin. Added benefit is that it has a little movement.