Glossary

Change-up

A change-up is a slow pitch thrown with the same arm speed and motion as the fastball, so the batter reads fastball and swings too early.

The change-up works on timing, not movement. The pitcher holds the ball deeper in the hand or off the fingertips, often with a circle grip, which takes speed off the pitch while the arm comes through as hard as it does on a fastball. The batter sees the same motion, starts the swing on fastball time, and is out in front of a ball that has not arrived yet.

It is usually the second pitch a young pitcher learns, because it is easy on the arm and needs no wrist snap. In fastpitch softball it is just as important: a hitter set for a fast riseball or dropball is helpless against a change thrown with the same motion. A good change-up is about 10 to 15 percent slower than the pitcher's fastball, enough to throw off the timing without giving the pitch away.

As a sign it is one of the pitch calls on the catcher's card or fingers. It is most often called after the batter has seen fastballs, in a count where the batter expects one, and down in the zone, where a hitter who is out in front rolls over it for a ground ball.

When to call it

A batter who is on time for the fastball and fouling it straight back.
A count the hitter expects a fastball in, such as 1-0 or 2-1.
After two or three fastballs in a row, low in the zone.

Put it on a card: Pitch calling cards.

Sample wristband and cheat sheet

Sample change-up wristband card in a wristband: a numbered grid of signs with the Change-Up sign highlighted — A wristband card with the Change-Up sign in color. The coach calls a row and a number, and the player reads the play in that cell.

Sample change-up cheat sheet in a wristband: the key to the wristband's abbreviations, including Change-Up — The cheat sheet for the same wristband: what each abbreviation on the card means.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much slower should a change-up be than a fastball?

A common guide is about 10 to 15 percent slower. Much less and the batter's timing is not fooled; much more and the batter can read the slow pitch and wait for it.

What age should a pitcher learn a change-up?

Many coaches teach the change-up as the first pitch after the fastball, because it puts no extra strain on the elbow. Breaking balls usually wait until the pitcher is older.

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