Help with change up?

[Coach JV]

My DD throws the flip CU effectively. She learned the pitch at 11U
but was not consistent with it until she was 14U. In between, she threw the
Knuckle but found that the knuckle was easier to see at the older age groups
and she stopped using it entirely once she started playing 16U. She drives
hard off the rubber with the flip and is able to locate outside as well as drop
it in front of the plate. IMHO this is how to use it most effectively. Bear in mind,
a novice catcher struggles with the one that bounces at front of plate on strike 3
as she needs to both drop and block as well as be prepared to throw to 1B for the out.

Her fingers are on the short side and she really struggled with the circle change.
When practicing the CU, she started at 15' throwing into a trash can backing up one step
after she could locate 5 in a row into the can until reaching full pitch. Like anything else,
practice, practice practice......

 

[Jojo]

What would you call this change-up? The cats paw, the claw, the backhandcirclecurveknuckler?

I had a student throw a similar CU, as she rolled her wrist over the top of the ball, she just let go of it, letting it slip out. Sounds difficult but after failing at all the other CU's she actually threw this quite well.

 

[Rocketech1]

A couple of things to keep in mind, if she is throwing low it might be as simple as she is releasing the pitch too early not just because she is slowing down the arm circle. Also, to be the most effective, her follow through should end up in the same spot as her fast ball and other pitches so as not to tip off the batter that she is throwing the c/u. Deception is key.

 

[coach james]

Do not slow down. Do not let the hand pass the belt. Release at the thigh/hip area for the flip.

 

[starsnuffer]

I've always liked this curve ball better. I've never understood why so many females are taught to hold their hand under the curve. This severely limits the length of their levers. I'm guessing someone in the 70's figured girls weren't strong enough to hold a softball properly.

That said, no idea why this is in a change up thread.

-W

 

[Pitchermom28]

The most important thing is keeping everything quick. It must look like the fastballl or other pitches. For CU many players attempt to "aim" the CU which they slow everything down. My DD throws the flip and does quite accurately. When it tends to be high or too low she has slowed down and is not pushing with her legs enough. Any pitch whether high or low is a timing thing. Releasing too early or too late. The pitcher must sell every pitch so it must appear the same

 

[NVfishing]

My DD just turned 9. It is a work in progress. She wants to continue with the flip change. I may look at trying the pitch knightsB has the clip of. Seems simple enough.

 

[softballmom77]

Try the knuckle change. My 14U DD throws that and uses it with her drop change as well....

 

[SoftSocDad]

I'm trying to get my DD to throw a change up. We've been working on the flip change but can't seem to get the pitch far enough. If I try and get her to throw it low then she's way short of the plate. She wanted to give up on it today because it wasn't working. Tried to get her to throw a circle change also. Same problem.

What are some good drills to use for keeping a change low and getting the proper distance when the girls are first learning?

Is this the pitcher that some posters here previously advised against directing her to throw a CU in 8u TB?

 

[coach james]

Hendersons CU looks very similar to my dd except with my dd the fingers lay flat across a seam, but the turn over is the same. I would imagine Henderson has several ways to throw it, but this "knuckle ball" style of release looks like it prevents any back spin at all. Rotation appears to be a curve ball at first. Just one more tool in her bag of tricks!