Adjustments for a better change-up (Part 2)
January 7, 2011 by Coach McCreary
Filed under Coaching, Pitching, Practice
Today is the second half of my ten adjustments for a better change-up.
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| Try adjusting the pinky finger placement. |
6. Move your pinky finger. Many times a change-up is held with the pinky finger on the side of the ball (right photo). Try moving the pinky finger up on top of the ball next to your ring finger. This can allow the ball to “come out of the side of your hand” and create a spin (think 2 to 8 on a clock) that can get a right-hander’s ball to tail away from a left handed batter and/or sink. If you have it on top, try it down on the side. This creates a spin (think 12 to 6 on a clock) that tends to keep a right-hander’s ball straight or even “cut” away from a right-handed batter.
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| Aim for the back / point of the plate |
9. Pressure point. The pressure pitchers put on the ball usually occurs at the fingertips, especially on a fastball. If a pitcher does the same with his change-up, it sometimes has too much velocity. Try moving the pressure point a little farther down your finger – the first knuckle maybe. This can help slow the ball down once you get the feel of it.
10. Your goal. Sometimes the best adjustment a pitcher can make is in his head. Many young pitchers’ goal is to get the batter to swing and miss. In most cases, a pitcher should want the batter to hit a change-up. Think of it this way. If I get a batter’s weight way out in front of the ball on a first pitch change-up, why would I want him to miss it? I’ve got him on that pitch! I should want him to put it in play because it’s probably not going to be hit well. One out. If he misses it, he gets at least one more swing in the at-bat and now knows more about my change-up. Pitch to contact with all your pitches but do it especially with your change-up.
There are many more adjustments that could be added to this list. Talk to other pitchers to see what they do and play around to discover some of your own!
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