Changeup
The original meaning of a changeup is a “change of pace”—a pitch designed to disrupt timing by changing velocity.
Put simply, it is a slow ball.
However, simply throwing a slow ball is easy to read, so technical skill is required to prevent the hitter from identifying it.
In addition to using the same pitching motion as a fastball, slowing down your arm speed to throw a slower pitch will allow the hitter to recognize it immediately.
It is crucial to throw with the same arm speed as a fastball and release the ball at an angle as close to a fastball as possible.
While the primary goal is changing pace, it is common to add horizontal movement using the mechanics of “taking something off” the pitch.
Because you do not push the ball firmly with your fingers like a fastball, it has a lower initial velocity, and by reducing spin to increase air resistance, the velocity drops further to disrupt timing.
The ball follows a slight arcing trajectory and drops gradually.
Since the goal is to disrupt timing, the greater the velocity difference from the fastball, the more effective it becomes.
Generally, any pitch intended to reduce spin and disrupt timing—excluding clearly defined pitches like the forkball or knuckleball—is categorized as a changeup.
As a result, there are many variations in grip and movement, including names like the circle change, Vulcan change, and “OK” grip change.
Unlike a forkball, which requires a tight grip and finger pressure, the changeup is thrown with a natural arm motion similar to a fastball.
This reduces stress on the arm, making it a relatively safe pitch with a lower risk of injury.
Grip and Release
To reduce spin, the ball should be held deeper in the hand.
Avoid applying pressure with the fingertips—slightly “float” the fingers to prevent generating too much spin.
The release should be similar to a fastball.
Do not rely on your fingertips; instead, let the ball roll off the base of your fingers as much as possible.
Another common method is to brush across the inside of the ball laterally at release.
This allows for an even softer pitch with slight arm-side movement.
This lateral-release style is widely used today.
Another variation involves spreading the middle and ring fingers and releasing the ball from between them, similar to a sinker-type motion.
Regardless of the method, there is no need to force spin on the ball when throwing a changeup.
The key to an effective changeup is maintaining fastball arm speed while reducing velocity.
No matter the grip or variation, be careful not to slow down your arm when trying to throw a slower pitch.