Change up for player with small hands

My DD is struggling to find find a grip for the change up because of her hand size. Tried the circle change, but the ball slips out sometimes...any suggestions?

cbullard said:

My DD is struggling to find find a grip for the change up because of her hand size. Tried the circle change, but the ball slips out sometimes...any suggestions?

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Use the exact same grip as her fastball.......fingers across the four seams.....then just paralyze the fingers which should get 6-7 mph off the speed. In the end it is the fingers that put the energy into the ball, so if you can paralyze the fingers vs. allowing the fingers to snap as in a fastball it is an effective way to take speed off the ball.

Now if she can also get the fingers rotated some toward the outside of the ball instead of directly behind the ball she will not be able to get as much energy into the ball....good for a few more mph off the speed.

Thirdly, if she can shorten/"crook" her arm so the ball leads the elbow in a pushing fashion it will take a few more mph off the speed. Put these three things to work and you will have a great change up with drop spin action.

My 14 yo DD does not have large hands, but does have long fingers. I would suggest taking some time to experiment and see what comes naturally. DD tried what I would consider a true flip change and she simply could not control it. She started with that and it morphed into a change that comes more out of the backside of her hand. As she comes by her hip she simply rolls her hand over the top and this takes the speed off. I like this for DD because 1) her body does not have to slow down and 2) the ball somewhat mimics her drop. 3) She has much better control to throw it for a strike or drop it out of the zone. If you go to Coach Pauly's website paulygirlfastpitch.com there is a great video of what he is describing above with the fingers being paralyzed and the "crook" in the arm.

It is hard to offer a suggestion after Mr. Pauly has spoken, but the horseshoe change has worked very well for my DD since she was in 10U.

I am positive there is an older thread with this exact title, you should be able to find it. I think it was a few pages long but I am old and my memory is going.

Hahaha...Quincy. thanks everyone. I'll have her try your suggestions!

Horseshoe positively

Not really a change up...more of an offspeed...but DD has had some success with using her 4 seam fastball grip, just choking it all the way back in her palm and releasing with what she calls "The Death Grip". Likely has the same effect that Rick was talking about... squeezing the ball has that paralyzing quality.....takes away the whip. Effective for her because her CU (flip) is about 12-15 mph off her fastball. This offspeed variation is about 7-8 mph off her FB.

dmaeganx2 said:

Horseshoe positively

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I second this.

http://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-pitching/9274-best-change-up-grip-small-hands.html
http://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-pitching/26227-change-up-player-small-hands.html
http://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-pitching/24545-change-up-smaller-hands.html
http://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-pitching/17331-left-handed-change-up-grip-small-hands.html

Something else to try: push the ball with the thumb. Back of hand on top, wrist cocked back, knuckles leading and ball comes off the thumb last. Use brush to trigger the release.