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How to throw a changeup


The Change Up - Pitching Professor


The most popular change-up today is the okay or circle change for the very reason that it gets good action on the ball when thrown low. 

Pedro Martinez claims that his circle is his most effective pitch.

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Jamie Moyer demonstrates the changeup grip 
Watch the video >>

Other than a fastball, I think the changeup is the best pitch in the game of baseball. 
-- Jamie Moyer

As taught to him by Quirk, Moyer holds the ball in an unusual fashion. With the open horseshoe of the ball facing toward first base, he lays his middle, ring and pinkie fingers on top of the ball. Moyer's thumb rests underneath the ball and his pointer finger wraps around the outside of the thumb. The loose grip pulls the rip cord on the pitch.

He throws the change-up with fastball arm speed to deceive the batters.

Read more: Rockies' Jamie Moyer relies on changeup to foil batters - The Denver Post 

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Mastering the Change-Up with Fred Corral

Fred Corral, one of the most respected pitching coaches in the country, has been named an assistant coach for the Georgia Bulldogs. (June 2013)
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How To Pitch a Changeup - The Complete Pitcher


The change-up is the best pitch in baseball. You don't need curve balls or knuckle balls, if you mix in a good change-up and change speeds on your fastball. The batter will be so confused, his timing will never be the same. 

For a youth pitcher, the change up must be thrown often in order to develop it. However, once perfected it must be used sparingly, at the right time, to fool the hitter. The important component of the changeup is it MUST look like a fastball during the windup and delivery.
-- Stephen Ellis, former Chicago Cubs pitching pro

The key to an effective changeup is deception. A changeup must look like a fastball, but come in slower and lower in the strike zone.

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Henry Knight, a high school switch pitcher, throws the circle change from both sides. He throws the changeup hard away or low inside using fastball arm speed. The pitch looks like a fastball to the batter, but it moves 8-10 mph slower and has a late drop – so it throws off a batter's timing.

How to throw a changeup with Tim Collins - LHP for the KC Royals

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