CHANGE-UP
Handshake (10-15 mps slower than fastball)
- Rotate hand early on the downswing so that the face of the ball comes straight through (thumb should brush by your hip)
- Keep wrist locked is if it is an extension of your forearm and bend elbow immediately after release (to create a consistent release point)
- Follow through by pointing the elbow in the glove just like a fastball
- Take a shorter/quicker step so that it comes across the plate right at the batter’s knees and drops down toward the back of the plate
- Keep the arm-speed up, sell it!
Backwards (15-20 mph slower than fastball)
- Rotate hand early on the downswing so that your hand is completely in front of the ball and the back of your hand comes straight through at the bottom of your arm circle
- Many people “flick” their wrist back at the release point, which can be effective but is very hard to control. If you are struggling with the flick, try keeping your wrist locked and letting the ball slide out of your hand, rolling off the fingertips
- Another pain point with this pitch is finding a consistent release point. If you find yourself throwing this high, then low, with very little control, try following through with the elbow point into the glove just like a fastball, but upside down. The palm of your should face the sky when you’re finished. Anytime you engage an elbow bend in your motion, it is like a trigger for your hand to release the ball at the same place every time.
- It's easy to over rotate the arm and scoot the ball out past the pinky, with the elbow pointing toward the third base line. If you constantly throw this pitch to the inside, that's probably what you're doing wrong. Think about your pointer and middle finger coming up in front of the ball, through the catcher's glove.
- Take a shorter/quicker step so that it comes across the plate right at the batter’s knees and drops down toward the back of the plate
- Keep the arm-speed up, sell it!
Drop