Change up

slingnit · Aug 19, 2014

Try all the above and then some. Like it was said earlier, the cu will change many times over her ball career. My dd started with the ball buried in her palm and just released with knuckles up. VERY simple and easy to hide. She was throwing a horse shoe that she could roll over this summer but that may change in college. But you two can play with different grips and pressure points, burying g the ball, taking away fingers, adding knuckles. Just about anything you can think of you can try. Like it was said there is no best cu just best for her. Good luck.

coach james · Aug 19, 2014

The flip change is pretty nasty if she learns how to add a touch of side spin. By simply rotating the thumb downward during the release the ball will will spin down and out creating an off speed drop curve.

T.J. · Aug 19, 2014

Ken B said:
I like riseball's advice to try many. There are many (maybe more than any other pitch) ways to throw a change. The best changes look like they'll be fast and are easy to control. It can take some tinkering and playing with different cues, feels and grips. Hope these help:

http://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-pitching/18165-do-do-3.html#post230916
Untitled Document
http://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-pitching/19397-lacey-waldrop-change-up.html
http://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-pitching/18866-trouble-change-up.html

Some good stuff Ken...thanks as always.

Question/observation....the change by PaulyGirl (last clip) is very similar to the one my DD's are learning/use. I really don't know if it has a name, but this is the grip they use....

The ball is tucked back in the hand...When you release the ball you basically reach out like you are going to shake someone's hand...inside of palm would be facing first base line at release.

What I noticed about PG is that she is doing a similar grip & release, but she has the ball in her finger-tips. I was taught to keep the ball tucked in the palm to maximize contact, which maximizes friction, which will reduce speed.

Thoughts/feedback/comments?

Thanks in advance...

T

CLM265 · Aug 19, 2014

My guess is that she is probably trying to get more spin on the ball.

javasource · Aug 19, 2014

JJsqueeze said:
Ask hitters who faced Lacey Waldrop about how good a flip can be. My DD doesn't throw it but I think it would great to have, that backspin can really make a batter think it is travelling faster than it is.

JJ,

Lacey throws a flip? The pitches I've seen her throw have me thinking that the flip is not one of them... just curious if she says she does, or if you're going off your own... or the words of someone else.

I've seen her throw: a full speed screw that she keeps super low (63-64mph), an off-speed curve that she throws low to mid (54-55mph), a level 3 rise (57-58mph), roll-drop (61-63mph), and two change-ups... one at 40-41 and that 'Walchange' which is usually 42-44 mph.

What I've noticed with Lacey... is that her level of 'brush' gets further away from her body the lower the speed of the pitch. The change-up she throws... to me... she's palming that ball... and flipping something in your palm is kinda difficult. I call her "Walchange" the "chickenitis change"... she's working hard to get her hand AROUND the ball... almost like some bad curve/backdoor instruction you still see from time-to-time. Her elbow wings way out... and then proceeds to straighten into a hyperextended snap (the 'itis' in tendonitis). Perhaps it's a palm/backdoor... or some other combination... but I just don't 'see' the flip.

I'd genuinely be curious to hear what she calls it... so let me know where you're getting that info.

ArkFastpitch · Aug 19, 2014

What I tend to see more from the younger girls struggling with is trusting the grip and release regardless of what type of cu they are throwing. I see the majority of young pitchers (DD included) who slow everything down to make the pitch slower.
Right now DD throws a flip change and I have to constantly remind her to throw it as hard as her fastball. She has had some success with it but it will be short lived once the batters get better at picking up the difference in her motion.

Ken B · Aug 19, 2014

T.J. said:
Thoughts/feedback/comments?

Yes! If it works--use it!

Have fun with this stuff. Play around, try different things and you (as the bucket dad) get to evaluate what sells the best. Like any spin, if she finds something that throws you off; ask her about it, how it felt, how she gripped it, etc... Experimentation makes learning fun. It helps her learn how to manipulate the ball and takes practice from drilling to a much higher level.

Ken B · Aug 19, 2014

javasource said:
JJ,

Lacey throws a flip? The pitches I've seen her throw have me thinking that the flip is not one of them... just curious if she says she does, or if you're going off your own... or the words of someone else.

I've seen her throw: a full speed screw that she keeps super low (63-64mph), an off-speed curve that she throws low to mid (54-55mph), a level 3 rise (57-58mph), roll-drop (61-63mph), and two change-ups... one at 40-41 and that 'Walchange' which is usually 42-44 mph.

What I've noticed with Lacey... is that her level of 'brush' gets further away from her body the lower the speed of the pitch. The change-up she throws... to me... she's palming that ball... and flipping something in your palm is kinda difficult. I call her "Walchange" the "chickenitis change"... she's working hard to get her hand AROUND the ball... almost like some bad curve/backdoor instruction you still see from time-to-time. Her elbow wings way out... and then proceeds to straighten into a hyperextended snap (the 'itis' in tendonitis). Perhaps it's a palm/backdoor... or some other combination... but I just don't 'see' the flip.

I'd genuinely be curious to hear what she calls it... so let me know where you're getting that info.

This is why you get all the mad props. You friggin study the heck out of every pitcher you can record. This, folks, is what takes a CBD (Crazy Bucket Dad) to the level of SPCTNATKL (Super PC That's Not Afraid to Keep Learning.) If more folks could follow the lead of people like Sue Enquist, John Gay, Candrea, Balswick, BM, Mark H, Pauly, JS and so many others that aren't afraid to admit they don't know it all and can learn more; our kids would be the beneficiaries.

Doug Romrell · Aug 19, 2014

Ken B said:
This is why you get all the mad props. You friggin study the heck out of every pitcher you can record. This, folks, is what takes a CBD (Crazy Bucket Dad) to the level of SPCTNATKL (Super PC That's Not Afraid to Keep Learning.) If more folks could follow the lead of people like Sue Enquist, John Gay, Candrea, Balswick, BM, Mark H, Pauly, JS and so many others that aren't afraid to admit they don't know it all and can learn more; our kids would be the beneficiaries.

And I think this is relatively rare in those who work with pitchers. That is, most ARE afraid to admit they don't know it all. Most don't realize they can learn more.

javasource · Aug 19, 2014

Doug Romrell said:
And I think this is relatively rare in those who work with pitchers.

Pitching is sorta fashionable/trendy... something I see in all sports.

As Lacey is all the rage (headlines), many schools are familiar with and interested in the next version of her, so I owe it to some of my showcase pitchers to 'dress' them properly for their auditions. Never an overhaul... but a little window-dressing can go a long way and give them a little more of an edge. Thanks, Ken... I'm glad you read that post as I intended.

Change up

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slingnit

coach james

T.J.

CLM265

javasource

6-4-3 = 2

ArkFastpitch

Dont' I know you?

Ken B

Ken B

Doug Romrell

javasource

6-4-3 = 2

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