My 12U son is dropping down to throw a sidearm changeup. I was wondering what kind of grip he could use to get the ball to move ?
Thanks.
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Why is he dropping down to throw a change-up?
Movement of a ball is affected by 2 things- one is arm slot and the other is what the fingers/wrist impart right at the last moment of contact. A change-up is most effective when it can be thrown having the same appearance as the fastball. This means it is thrown fromt he same arm slot and has the same look as the fastball (same spin) coming out of the hand. It also has the same initial plane out of the hand as the fastball. A good change-up may not really move at all side to side but just drop quicker due to the slower velocity at which it is thrown.
Movement of a ball is affected by 2 things- one is arm slot and the other is what the fingers/wrist impart right at the last moment of contact. A change-up is most effective when it can be thrown having the same appearance as the fastball. This means it is thrown fromt he same arm slot and has the same look as the fastball (same spin) coming out of the hand. It also has the same initial plane out of the hand as the fastball. A good change-up may not really move at all side to side but just drop quicker due to the slower velocity at which it is thrown.
Exactly. If he drops down to throw a change up its not going to take hitters very long to figure out he drops down to throw a change up. I wouldn't be playing around with different arm slots at 12u. Find his natural arm slot and let him learn how to pitch from that arm slot. Learning to throw all his pitches from the same arm slot with the same arm speed. JMO
At age 14 or so my son was invited onto a travel team by a pro scout who advocated he throw from multiple arm slots. I nixed that one right fast. Bum, Jr. throws all of his pitches from the same arm slot so you don't know which one is coming.
You should work with your son so that he does not drop down his arm on any pitches. The best pitchers keep their arm slot exactly the same from one pitch to the next. Yes, some pitchers are side-armers in the big leagues, but they pitch like that regardless of whether they are throwing a fastball, change up, curveball, etc. I recommend that young players always throw with an overhand or 3/4 arm slot. Only once they mature (through and beyond high school) should they begin to experiment (under a coaches supervision) if they want to. Cheers!
quote:The best pitchers keep their arm slot exactly the same from one pitch to the next.
Too bad Juan Marichal didn't know that. He might have been a better pitcher!
Same for Pedro Martinez.
These two guys routinely changed their arm slots for different "looks."
I think there is entirely too much "molding" of today's pitchers and they are starting to all look the same.
I agree that it is important to throw strikes first. And if that requires a consistent arm slot, then so be it. But don't stifle the natural creativity of being a kid.
Hi there, my name is Geoff Freeborn. I'm an ex pro pitcher from Canada. I
was on HS bBaseball Forum and saw your post looking for sidearm
instruction? I have started a website on sidearm/submarine pitching. It's
basically a whole bunch of interviews of current/ex AAA/MLB pitchers who
pitched from down there. Some good stuff in interviews on mechanics and
how to pitch to hitters etc... hope it can be of some help!
www.sidearmnation.com
Thanks, Geoff
was on HS bBaseball Forum and saw your post looking for sidearm
instruction? I have started a website on sidearm/submarine pitching. It's
basically a whole bunch of interviews of current/ex AAA/MLB pitchers who
pitched from down there. Some good stuff in interviews on mechanics and
how to pitch to hitters etc... hope it can be of some help!
www.sidearmnation.com
Thanks, Geoff