CU vs Off-Speed

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May 15, 2008
1,913
113
Cape Cod Mass.
Also keep in mind that it's not just the change in velocity that makes offspeed pitches effective. Research has shown that when hitters overestimate the speed of a pitch they swing over the top of it, slower pitches with topspin will increase this effect.
 
Aug 29, 2011
2,581
83
NorCal
Most good movement pitches are off speed pitches.

FPMark, you can't really believe that can you? The ball will move with a combination of the right spin and spin revolutions and the resistance of the air, which is greater when the ball is thrown harder. If you are talking about gravity aided pitches then I might see your limited point.
Sure, it is simple physics. A ball thrown with the same spin rate at a slower velocity will get a much bigger break than a ball thrown at a higher velocity with similar spin. The key though is getting the good spin rate.

The only exception would be a rise ball where if it isn't thrown hard enough the spin won't possibly be able to overcome the effects of gravity on the ball.
 
Oct 13, 2010
666
0
Georgia
Most good movement pitches are off speed pitches.

FPMark, you can't really believe that can you? The ball will move with a combination of the right spin and spin revolutions and the resistance of the air, which is greater when the ball is thrown harder. If you are talking about gravity aided pitches then I might see your limited point.


This seems to be a common misconception.
 
May 4, 2009
874
18
Baltimore
FPMark, not sure if you have ever pitched. I can tell you that when I did and the wind was blowing in my face my pitches moved so much more than when there was no wind. The wind coming at me increased the relative speed of the ball and put more pressure on the seams to make it move. It is that pressure that makes a ball move. A slower pitch needs many more revolutions to accomplish the same thing. There is that tradeoff.
 
Nov 11, 2009
55
0
A well known instructor on this board showed my daughter how to throw a flip change with a follow through to opposite shoulder. When thrown properly it moves outside and drops. We will see how it works against hitters. Looks good when thrown properly. Stay open and dont slow down.
 
Oct 13, 2010
666
0
Georgia
FPMark, not sure if you have ever pitched. I can tell you that when I did and the wind was blowing in my face my pitches moved so much more than when there was no wind. The wind coming at me increased the relative speed of the ball and put more pressure on the seams to make it move. It is that pressure that makes a ball move. A slower pitch needs many more revolutions to accomplish the same thing. There is that tradeoff.


Never pitched (well once in little league) but did catch. Did you consider that a head wind might slow the pitch down without affecting the spin rate? Plus, if the pitch curved, it turned the head wind into a cross wind, different effect entirely.
 
Oct 22, 2009
1,781
0
Ya my DD's "off-speed" is a slow drop which I guess is a rollover drop. I like that one better after seeing the CU get hurt a few times over the last year.....

I have a pitcher that throws a great change and a great off speed drop (peel).
These are great pitches to use in combination.
She has a catcher that she complains calls the change too much, and often back to back, I told her to throw the off-speed drop in place of the change every now and then, and also after a fast drop.

I prefer the off-speeds over change-ups.

I have kids that throw great screwballs, they begin to throw these screwballs a lot after they get a lot of success with them. By learning an off-speed screwball, it makes the pitch even more effective.
Same with pitchers that throw a lot of curves, having an off-speed curve really will help the curve.
 
Jun 10, 2010
554
28
midwest
I have kids that throw great screwballs, they begin to throw these screwballs a lot after they get a lot of success with them. By learning an off-speed screwball, it makes the pitch even more effective.

How do you teach an off speed screw and curve if you don't mind me asking?
 
May 4, 2009
874
18
Baltimore
FPMark, the wind's effect on the ball is not by slowing it down but by increasing the relative speed that the ball experiences. It is basic physics ie. relativity. The reason any ball moves is that the spin creates pressure either above, below or on a side of the ball. The wind or the speed of the ball increases such pressure and makes it move more. By inference, the slower a ball is thrown the more it must spin. Logically the faster it is thrown with the same spin it will move more. Besides the science here, I have done it many many times.
 
Jul 26, 2010
3,567
0
How do you teach an off speed screw and curve if you don't mind me asking?



Easiest way is to have them throw the same pitch, only holding it deeper in the hand (more skin = slower pitch). For girls with small hands this may be a problem as they may already be holding the ball deep. This would be a good time to work with them on holding the ball with less finger so the pitch gets faster, then revert to a deep grip for the off-speed.

Everything else is the same, the motion is not slower, the pitch appears to be a full speed pitch. Off-speed is most effective when mixed in with full speed during a count, especially against timing-centric batters.

-W
 

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