Didn't have radar gun on them.. but they were throwing heat
Yep the change up drops.. but these girls are out in front
Hitting the Change Up
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Yep the change up drops.. but these girls are out in front
IMO, the key is getting to the launch position at the proper point in time. Not too early. Not too late. One drill I have used with success is as follows.
Set up with a tee placed for a low outside pitch. The coach sets up in a side toss position. Explain to the hitter that she has to be able to hit either ball depending on what happens next. If the coach tosses a ball (try for inside or middle part of the plate), the hitter needs to hit that ball. If the coach fakes the toss, the hitter needs to be able to adjust and hit the ball off the tee instead. The coach has to be unpredictable for this. Even some pretty good hitters will struggle with this drill at first. But the better hitters will start figuring it out rather quickly. Hitters that tend to lunge (among other things) will struggle mightily.
That sounds like an awesome drill! I guess one way of being unpredictable is changing the speed of delivery as well. This is what I was looking for, thanks for giving me something practical.
Another good drill is bounce front toss with tennis balls. It’s front toss but with a bounce to the plate. I would recommend a screen if older than 12u. I like 10-15 straight then to mix them in with regular front toss. Lots of variation to this drill. This has helped a few of my players in the past.
I like FP26 drill above also,
I like FP26 drill above also,
- Jun 8, 2016
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With no strikes would you swing at that if it was a fastball? Anyway besides working on mechanics, makes sure some of the BP they take is difficult. Mix speeds, locations, etc. I am a cheap sonofagun but the only thing I would consider spending money on right now is hiring an older pitcher to throw BP to my DD from game distance. I cannot throw windmill effectively from 35 (never mind 40 or 43) and it will only get worse when she starts seeing riseballs, drops, etc. I had the advantage that my father pitched some in college. My BP from the age of about 10 on consisted of him throwing to me from game distance and he would mix in curves,changeups,etc. It helped...of course my father's arm was always sore but hey you sacrifice for your kid right
Yes she would swing at a first pitch fastball if it's in her target zone.f
With no strikes would you swing at that if it was a fastball? Anyway besides working on mechanics, makes sure some of the BP they take is difficult. Mix speeds, locations, etc. I am a cheap sonofagun but the only thing I would consider spending money on right now is hiring an older pitcher to throw BP to my DD from game distance. I cannot throw windmill effectively from 35 (never mind 40 or 43) and it will only get worse when she starts seeing riseballs, drops, etc. I had the advantage that my father pitched some in college. My BP from the age of about 10 on consisted of him throwing to me from game distance and he would mix in curves,changeups,etc. It helped...of course my father's arm was always sore but hey you sacrifice for your kid right
I use to pitch, never played baseball, only fastpitch, so that's not a problem. But I want a couple of drills to isolate/simplify how to hit a change up.. I like FP26 and 4 girl's dad's recommendations. And of course yours as well, but this is something we've already been doing. Thanks
- Jun 8, 2016
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I bolded "a spot too low in the zone".....
Best way to hit a changeup is to have good mechanics. Don't treat the symptom treat the cause..If
the drills suggested can help improve the swing mechanics great. I think at one point, when DD was being receptive to drills, I used the one FP26 gave.
Anyway good luck to your team.
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Unfortunately, it's a little late in the game to change all the girls mechanics.. also a good many of them have their own instructors, I'm not an instructor so I will not be messing with their mechanics. The girls will have to learn how to hit a change up without perfect mechanics
- Jun 8, 2016
- 16,118
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