To much change of speed??

Golfclubgreg · Aug 23, 2016

My 12 DD just started "voluntary workouts" with the high school team and they were clocking her pitches (which we have never really done before).Clocked bat speed as well for that matter. Her FB was 54-57, most spin balls around 50, but her change was 27-29. Is that just to slow? She does very well in her age category and has played up quite a few times. It really does look like shes pitching a fastball until she floats it out there lol.
Thanks

Man10 · Aug 23, 2016

I'm no one and maybe those who know more can chime in but in my opinion it is, especially if the hitters you face are well developed. Most will have time to reset and hit it and probably hit it hard.

shaker1 · Aug 23, 2016

Gonna say too much. As good as it is to totally fool hitters, swinging at nothing, your gonna run into hitters that can make the adjustment to hit that floater. Gives em too much time to regroup, especially at 43'. Add some speed to it, an trade some of those strikeouts for grounders and pop-ups.

Rocketech1 · Aug 23, 2016

The absolute maximum is 25% less than fastest pitch. ex. 55mph - 25% = 41mph. This is low end that she should strive for. Also, nothing wrong with introducing an off-speed pitch (e.g. tuck a knuckle on the fastball) with a speed of high 40's to 50mph. DD has been experimenting with a knuckle drop ball that is a good compliment to her regular drop ball. Mixing speeds is never a bad idea. One caveat, make sure all of her pitches look the same. I have a feeling that your DD's is slowing her arm down to throw her change-up with is not ideal as it tips off the batter what pitch is coming.

Golfclubgreg · Aug 23, 2016

Thanks we will work on throwing a bit harder, it really looks the same but she throws it from her fingers and rotates mid stream to almost a flip, but finishes with her hand left of center if that makes sense.Kind of a rolling of her hand, but the ball only in her fingers. We saw it on a youtube video of a top Japanese pitcher and she loves it lol

riseball · Aug 23, 2016

Assuming a hitter is sitting on a FB, if your CU is only 10-15% less then they will miss the ball by about 4-6 feet. I would see that as pretty effective.

Golfclubgreg · Aug 23, 2016

just keep trying to soak it all in, daughter cant get enough

junkball · Aug 23, 2016

Rocketech1 said:
The absolute maximum is 25% less than fastest pitch. ex. 55mph - 25% = 41mph. This is low end that she should strive for. Also, nothing wrong with introducing an off-speed pitch (e.g. tuck a knuckle on the fastball) with a speed of high 40's to 50mph. DD has been experimenting with a knuckle drop ball that is a good compliment to her regular drop ball. Mixing speeds is never a bad idea. One caveat, make sure all of her pitches look the same. I have a feeling that your DD's is slowing her arm down to throw her change-up with is not ideal as it tips off the batter what pitch is coming.

Only thing with the off-speed is there is a fine line and the coach has to be on their toes. Throw an "off-speed" that is a tad slower than the FB to someone who struggled with the fastball, and it could very well be a double to the gap. The off-speed is best for those who are already on the fastball. Very important for whoever is calling pitches to recognize that. Been there, done that, have seen DD give up some shots after being up in the count vs batters that were struggling to foul off the FB and looked helpless up there, only to see the off-speed pitch get jacked to the wall.

Phathead · Aug 23, 2016

2 cents here. My rule of thumb is throw it as slow as you can sell it. I agree with all the comments so far concerning speed changes. The part about good hitters recovering is so true. Also seen very few but every once in while I've seen pitchers who have the batter all twisted up. These could sell ice to the north pole.

JAD · Aug 23, 2016

Golfclubgreg said:
My 12 DD just started "voluntary workouts" with the high school team and they were clocking her pitches (which we have never really done before).Clocked bat speed as well for that matter. Her FB was 54-57, most spin balls around 50, but her change was 27-29. Is that just to slow? She does very well in her age category and has played up quite a few times. It really does look like shes pitching a fastball until she floats it out there lol.
Thanks

Most college coaches are looking for 10-15 MPH differential. Anyone who is taking 15+ MPH off their change up is more than likely slowing their arm down, which works at 10U, 12U and 14U, but no so much at 16U, 18U and college...

To much change of speed??

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Golfclubgreg

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