Change up
- Thread starter cbullard
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If she can nail it every time and it is effective it is a change up. There is no "best" change up. It is all about which one the individual pitcher can master. Try many and find what works best.
This will get you started. 
The Best Change-Up Great softball pitching hints and recommendations for girl softball pitchers
DD throws a flip change, sort of.
The Best Change-Up Great softball pitching hints and recommendations for girl softball pitchers
DD throws a flip change, sort of.
- Feb 7, 2013
- 3,188
- 48
I would have her practice throwing the flip change into a bucket from close range, say 15 feet and as she gets accurate, move the bucket back farther and farther each practice. This drill might take several practices or weeks but is a good way to get her use to flipping the ball with good backspin before she even performs the full motion. One thing to keep in mind with the changeup, throw it hard just like her fastball, the grip and technique will automatically take the speed off the pitch. It should be about 25% slower than the fastest pitch. Lastly, practice the changeup as much as her other pitches. For some reason, pitchers don't practice the c/u as much as they should and lots of coaches who call pitches don't call the c/u enough during games.
- Dec 7, 2011
- 2,368
- 38
There has got to be a reason why the flip change is mostly "gone" at the older ages.......?
The dominant one I see is circle-change.
The dominant one I see is circle-change.
How old is your DD? What stage of development? The first change up my DD learned to throw at 10 was a knuckle change. She started with one knuckle, then went to two, then three by 12. A knuckle change is not as deceptive as a backspin, but was easier for her to master. Her pitching coach was also not a big fan of teaching young players a flip change because the growth plates in the wrist are not fully developed.
- May 12, 2013
- 88
- 6
Circle change is the easiest to learn imho. Also the flip change is usually so slow it gives the hitter time to reset and its not used as much when you get older.
- Jun 7, 2013
- 984
- 0
The above is exactly true. However, I personally would not recommend the flip change. I think it is one of the harder ones and both of my DDs have abandoned it. My oldest DD, I think, invented a new changeup that works for her. My youngest DD returned to using the horseshoe change. She gets good spin on it and makes it move a bit. I think the spin really helps confuse the hitter.
