Horseshoe Change, Speed and Spin?

[coach james]

Grip, schmip.... If dd drops out of her glove to back swing, DO NOT tuck a finger or create a circle etc... as these are really easy for a batter/coach to spot.
How you hold the ball is largely irrelevant. As long as we're eliminating the whip.
Be deceptive 1st and foremost!!! Look and act as if you're about to burn one in there.
Drive mechanics are identical to the FB.
Like Java said, Get the fingers outside the ball (brush the thumb into the hip), make sure the ball is leading the elbow in a shoving fashion from 9:00 into release, and visualize the imaginary table in front of you, and simply release under the table. Be sure to keep stiff (kung fu grip) fingers and a stiff forearm, release the ball violently acting as if you're splashing a cup of water onto your catchers knees.
Speed reduction will be approx. 1/3 her top speed
For added spin, in that split second of release, as you're "splashing that cup" orientate the thumb downward. This will add a drop curve spin.

 

[inde53546]

Rick Pauley has a great instructional video on his web site. Well worth the $5. She'll have a basic understanding with in 10 minutes

Sent from my LGLS775 using Tapatalk

 

[CoachJD]

Your goal should be 10+ MPH speed difference between her change up and fastball. The key to a good change up is the wind up and pitching motion needs to look exactly like the fastball. A pitcher can achieve this by modifying her grip on the ball, pushing the ball into the palm or her hand, and stiffening her forearm during the pitch to eliminates some of the "whip" from IR.

So 10+ mph difference doesn't give the batter too much time to recognize and adjust?

 

[Chris Delorit]

JD,

It's certainly conceivable, expecially if there are mechanical clues or even as that 10 mph increases as a percentage of average speed. In other words, a -10 change and a 40mph non-change do not equate to the same batter reaction time as a -10 change and a 60mph non-change. There's no magic number, as a change can be effective at many different speeds within complementary mechanics.

There's also many other ways to take velocity off of other pitches, without relying solely on a single change-up to play chess with a batter's reaction timing.

Chris

 

[JAD]

So 10+ mph difference doesn't give the batter too much time to recognize and adjust?

If the pitcher does a good job of selling the change up by not slowing down her pitching motion it is too late by the time the batter recognizes it.