Sticking with the change

Regular Life in the Fastpitch Lane readers know that I am a huge fan of the changeup. I believe it’s essential if a pitcher is going to keep hitters off balance instead of getting comfortable in the batter’s box.* Still, it can be tough for a pitcher to stick with it when it’s not working. […]

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I watched a lot of college softball this season and got to see Kelly Barnhill and Matty Moss pitch on several occasions. They are both phenomenal freshman who can throw 70 MPH, and neither one has a decent change up. When you throw 70 MPH in TB and HS you don't need a change up....but guess what, players in the SEC can hit 70 MPH pitching, and not having a change up diminished their effectiveness. As Ken mentioned, a change up does not have to be a 40 MPH pitch that paints the outside corner. It just has to throw off the batters rhythm and get into the batters head that they have to watch for it....

As I have worked with my DD to try to develop hers, the biggest challenge is to get my DD to realize that keeping her arm speed up and allowing the grip to take speed off the ball is more effective than trying to slow down her arm and guide the pitch. When she slows down her arm she loses her timing and ends up throwing the ball 38' or over the catchers head. While my DD does not throw 70 MPH, she has always relied on her full speed pitches, but thanks to [MENTION=10413]riseball[/MENTION] and others we have made developing a change up the top priority this season!

Great story, JAD. I agree. At the top college levels, the odds tend to even out a little more. You can't just dominate with speed. You'd better be able to do something else or those well-trained hitters will figure you out pretty quickly.

Agree on the arm speed. It has to be the same. So does the launch and everything else about the pitch. If you have to let up to throw the pitch it isn't a change. It's just a bad fastball. A true change can and should be thrown with every ounce of energy you give every other pitch. That's when it gets fun - and effective.

IMHO- I think the flip (which I believe is the most difficult to control) and the Pauly change up are the best to throw as hard as you can. Flip is tough and finding accuracy takes years IMO. However, the Pauly change up takes all you have to get it there and if you do manage to get it there it is freakishly slow. It is the best IMO but takes some time to master as well. But once you do, it is bad news bears for the batter!

Totally agree with JAD. I think it was Riseball a couple months ago in a 'what do you regret about pitching' thread who said command of a changeup on the corners was his only regret and his DD is pitching in the SEC. Not that mine can throw 70, but we changed some things and now can consistently changeup on the corners. Plus added an off speed for aggressive batters...

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It's been an interesting journey with my DD's change up. When she learned it she took to it instantly. At first it was way more consistent than her fast ball. She only throws 3 pitches but that was her strongest one for awhile. Then she had the tendonitis and we took a month off, came back and hit her mechanics hard. Her fast ball got awesome - gained speed and accuracy - but her change up got worse. It started being a rainbow about half the time. So we turned our focus back to the change up (it's her only pitch I can catch anymore anyway) and have it mostly fixed again, though she'll still pitch a rainbow sometimes. When she nails it she really nails it though. It's awesome to watch! I love a good change up.

Last tournament our starting pitcher who is faster than my daughter had an absolute bomb hit off of her. After getting rocked my daughter replaces the starter an inning or so later and up comes the #3 hitter who hit the homerun off the starter. DD throws 3 consecutive change ups and makes the girl look absolutely ridiculous. She was so far out front it made her look silly. Now my daughters normal speed is like a change up compared to a lot of girls but then you throw in the bugs bunny gashouse gang change up and at times it becomes comical.

inde53546 said:

Last tournament our starting pitcher who is faster than my daughter had an absolute bomb hit off of her. After getting rocked my daughter replaces the starter an inning or so later and up comes the #3 hitter who hit the homerun off the starter. DD throws 3 consecutive change ups and makes the girl look absolutely ridiculous. She was so far out front it made her look silly. Now my daughters normal speed is like a change up compared to a lot of girls but then you throw in the bugs bunny gashouse gang change up and at times it becomes comical.

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The 1.20 BPF stamp on bats indicates the ball will leave the bat 20% faster than it arrived.....

Scouted one inning of a pitcher last weekend who is one of the faster 10u pitchers in our area before we played them. She has a deadly change up as well. Saw her pitch two change ups for strikes, then strike the batter out on a fastball. We scored 5 runs against her in the first inning when we played her. 2nd inning she was struggling. 3rd batter I said to myself, she's going to go back to the change up to get her groove back. We lost the game 5-7.

At the early ages they need to throw the change for a strike. Worry about arm speed and presentation later. I am not saying arm speed and presentation aren't important but it's all for not if you can't throw it for a strike.