The variations of grips for this pitch seem to be endless. There are common ones for sure but with different thoughts on finger pressure, finger locations and release, there are many options. I suggest experimenting with all ideas until you find what works for you.
The most common we will hear is the “Circle Change Up” meaning the pointer finger and thumb touch in a manner to create a circle. You will see many high level pitchers use a variation of this grip. The issue with this grip comes with teaching it to the young ones. The problem is with their hand size and with the ball in their hand when they adjust the grip to touch their pointer and thumb it pulls the ball closer into their palm and now they are essentially trying to throw a palm ball which is a tough pitch to throw with proper arm speed and when they do it tends to go straight down into the ground so in order to throw it for a strike they slow down their arm speed.
**I’m sure there are some out there that have seen success with this grip. Remember, this is in general, for all, not just you or your child.
Let’s try to debunk the myth that says to throw a change up you need to touch those fingers together. It’s most definitely not a rule and not necessary to throw a change up. Try this…
– Start with your FB grip.
– Leave your thumb where it is and move your pointer to the inside of the baseball while shifting your middle finger to the position where the pointer was and now move your ring finger up to where the middle finger was.
– Now you have your middle finger and ring finger on top with your pointer and pinky on the sides.
– Make small adjustments to find a comfortable feel. This may mean moving the ball around in your hand so the seams touch your fingers different.
Now for the most important and missed part. PLAY CATCH WITH IT EVERY DAY!! Change up development and feel is done during catch. Every young player who is a pitcher should be throwing it a least 10-15 times at the end of their catch play (same thing with breaking balls when they start throwing them). Also make sure your weekly bullpen routine involves multiple reps with it too. Try this…
– Keep your grip loose.
– Keep the ball out of your palm and on your fingers just like a fastball.
– Feel it roll off your middle and ring fingers.
– Take away the snap in your wrist we feel when throwing a fastball. Think loose or limp wrist.
– Think you are throwing an egg with fastball arm speed but don’t want the egg to break in your hand.
– If done properly it will feel slow out of the hand while the rest of our body feels like we are throwing a fastball.
I read a comment somewhere recently on this topic saying this is a hard pitch to throw and takes a long time to master. Sounds a lot like pitching in general to me! With a plan, trial and error and patience it can be done. I’ve found the above tips to be the most helpful and easiest to learn even with the youngest pitchers. It’s not as hard as we make it to be. Coaches, I would HIGHLY suggest you get out there and play catch with it yourself. Learn the feel yourself. Anything is easier to talk about and teach if we have done, and are doing, ourselves.
Founder of Baseball Dudes. Blessed with three beautiful children and an amazing wife. Baseball is my life, after my family, and I love sharing what I have learned from it. Thanks for taking the time to view what we offer here at Baseball Dudes.
