I need a little help teaching the Change.

The grip we've been teaching the kids is one where they grip the ball with their thumb on one side and their ring and pinkie finger on the other. They keep the other two fingers off the ball. It takes a while to get really comfortable with but all the kids can handle that grip and they learn to throw it with a good fastball motion. In the long run the spin and keeping the fingers off the ball ends up giving the pitch away for more advanced hitters but it will work all the way up into HS at which time their hands should be large enough for other grips and they should have built confidence in throwing a change. Just one way of doing it.

Teach them the right way to throw a CU. It may not work now (while their hands are small), but they will be easier to correct as they get older and bigger.

A good grip is the Fosch grip...3 fingers with the ball back in the palm. Our smaller guys get the right rotation and get a few mph's off.

My 11-12 pitcher really got the change-up down last year after struggling for 2 years with it. Two things really helped (although I think the second one was the real key.)

First, I showed them a number of grips and we tried different grips for about a week, with them being told they will need to settle on one at the end of the week.

Second, the biggest help, I had them throw the CU during Long Toss (every practice). I feel this forced them to throw it hard(same arm speed).

Other factors that probably helped were: I told them they either developed it or they would eventual lose mound time to kids who had it. And, once they saw it work (of couse I really played it up) they finally bought into it. I feel like before that they were half-heartily trying it "to humor the old guy".

That's how I got younger kids to get it. Now, I have not been able to get all my HS guys to buy into it yet. Especially the one's that are at the "Lamber" stage in their lives.

Coach L,
Most of those HS pitchers have probably been throwing curve balls with at least some success. I had a decent curve and slider in HS and was never able to get myself to trust the CU. The young guys who are learning the change now will have a leg up in HS.

CADad,

True.

and True!

rocket,

The CU my 14U pitchers have been throwing for the last 3 years is gripped like a 4 seam fastball. Have them drop the index finger and pinky from the top of the ball to the underside. Tell them to be sure the pinky finger is resting on the bottom seam - as they release it this will create a rotation to that side that will cause the ball to move in that direction. It is imperative they throw the pitch exactly as they do their FB, the grip will take the necessary speed off. It was a good suggestion to have them throw it in long toss - I had never thought of that but will start that with my pitchers as well.

http://www.highviewheat.com/index.asp

http://www.kristensfastpitchworld.com/index.asp

Thanks for the advice.


Now, what can we do to help them locate the CU(once they develop it)?

I have read somewhere that you should start them at a shorter distance(maybe 35ft. instead of 46ft.), then work them back to normal length. Does this help with control, or is it used to get a better "feel" for the pitch?

Have a great day!

By the way, I love the long toss idea for arm action.

Thanks

I follow the practice of Coach Labeots. When warming up, we have them throw it to a target. This gives them confidence when they take the mound.

As a mental cue, we tell them to bury it (make sure they are down in the zone).

I think it always a good idea to work on new pitches from a shorter distance while you are getting used to the grip.

http://www.highviewheat.com/index.asp

http://www.kristensfastpitchworld.com/index.asp

While not a true CU per se, I taught my 11 Yr. to throw a fork ball, with split finger grip. He has fairly large hands, and learned it incredibly quick, while he had struggled with other CU grips. Literally was using the pitch confidentally in games within 3 weeks of trying it the first time. He can throw the pitch with same arm speed and downhill release as FB, but ball tumbles 10-12 MPH slower with diving action away from RH batter. It's become a strikeout pitch.

Should he still learn a conventional CU grip, or is this "Forkball" a good pitch to maintain as CU for future development?

Given the stress a forkball/split creates on the arm, I would work on another pitch.

Thanks for note back. I was unaware forkball stressed the arm. We're very careful, not allowing him to throw curve in games/pitching practice (guaranteed he throws curve playing catch w/friends!), so we'd curtail any other non arm-safe pitches.

How exactly is the fork stressing the arm?

Thanks.

A good resource is ASMI.org

Here is their recommended timeframe for pitches:

Recommended age for learning various pitches
Fastball: 8 Slider: 16
Curve ball: 14 Forkball: 16
Change-up: 10 Knuckleball: 15