Mastering the Change-up

Coach Corral, nice presentation. I noticed you don't use the phrase, "throw your wrist to the ground." What are your thoughts on that? I might also add that for some players, they might want to experiment on the ball for the circle change. I taught my players to throw the circle very much along the lines of your presentation. However, one young lad couldn't seem to get movement at all. While taking speed off is the #1 criteria, certainly movement is desired. So, in experimenting, he had to rotate the ball and then, wow, did his change move. Again, very nice presentation.

Fred, I really enjoyed that video. But, what's a hockey puck?

quote:

Originally posted by CoachB25:
Coach Corral, nice presentation. I noticed you don't use the phrase, "throw your wrist to the ground." What are your thoughts on that?

Thanks for the comment.
There are many great cues out there and I am not familiar with the "throw your wrist to the ground" cue. My immediate thought is as long as it does not change the throwing arc or arm action and it works...Great. The reason for not changing the throwing arc or arm action is important is because you can hurt your arm by doing so. I firmly believe that a great deal of our problem has been the cue of "getting closer to the plate with extension"...and in like manner if throwing the "wrist to the ground" alters that arc, I would be careful with it. Kind of like "pulling down the window blinds" on the breaking ball.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...youtube_gdata_player

Altering the throwing arc can be a problem,and even though you may only throw 10-15% game Change-ups in a season, the work-up to that can still pose a problem.
Having more than one cue is like knowing more than one language, you will need them to communicate to all players.

Great explanation coach. I like the way that you explain the baseball has different parts and that analogy of how to get movement on the ball. It does work.
My favorite change-up to throw is the circle change Here is a great explanation of how to throw this pitch with proper pitching mechanics

Good stuff Coach. One question about follow through on circle change. I was always told that on a circle change you should follow through to the opposite hip. This will create more sideways rotation. What are your thoughts?