Change up for small hands.....

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May 12, 2014
833
28
DD has really small hands. So, we are struggling to find a grip for her change up that she can actually hold. Any suggestions?
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
Grip, schmip..... Doesn't matter.
All that matters is how the speed is taken off, WHILE BEING DECEPTIVE!!!
Use your fast or drop ball grip, then instead of palm up at 9:00, get to palm down. A good verbal que is to say "thumb on the hip"
We want some form of brush on every pitch... (The upper thumb area close to the wrist brushes the thigh on a CU)
And finish the pitch Palm down JUST LIKE THE FAST OR DROP!! This will force a bit of a pushing motion with fingers beside the ball rather than behind it. She'll have effectively removed all whip and IR snap... BOOM, awesome change up
Again, it's gotta look the same to the naked eye.
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
I would suggest trying a circle change with a stiff wrist. Stiffening the wrist will take the "whip" out of her motion and create an off speed pitch. The circle change grip and pushing the ball into her palm will make it a change up.
 

Axe

Jul 7, 2011
459
18
Atlanta
My DD's both have small hands. As youngsters they started off with the flip change with the same grip as their fastballs. They eventually evolved to a horseshoe change which I wouldn't think would be very effected by hand size either.
 
May 12, 2014
833
28
Thanks, everyone.....we'll experiment with all suggestions and see which one she feels comfortable with.
 
I would echo what Coach James says. If she can grip a dropball/fastball then use the same grip for her change up. It isn't really the grip on the ball that reduces the speed.....therefore things like knuckles or circles or pushing it deep in the palm are kind of band aides.....they may be needed in the early learning process but may become a detriment later in the career. Later on in life when coaches are trying to pick her pitches her dropball and change up grip will look identical.....nice.
 
Mar 24, 2014
450
18
Grip, schmip..... Doesn't matter.
All that matters is how the speed is taken off, WHILE BEING DECEPTIVE!!!
Use your fast or drop ball grip, then instead of palm up at 9:00, get to palm down. A good verbal que is to say "thumb on the hip"
We want some form of brush on every pitch... (The upper thumb area close to the wrist brushes the thigh on a CU)
And finish the pitch Palm down JUST LIKE THE FAST OR DROP!! This will force a bit of a pushing motion with fingers beside the ball rather than behind it. She'll have effectively removed all whip and IR snap... BOOM, awesome change up
Again, it's gotta look the same to the naked eye.

What coach James said!
 

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