A changeup looks like a fastball but arrives slower. The hitter swings early and either pops up or whiffs. Done well, it’s the most useful second pitch a young pitcher can have. The grip is everything: deeper in the hand, more fingers, less force.
What you need: 10 baseballs, a glove, a catcher, a target.
Setup: Pitcher on the mound. Catcher 46 feet away.
How to run it:
- Show the grip: ball deeper in the palm, three fingers across the top of the ball, thumb underneath. Fingers wrap further than on a fastball.
- Have them set the grip 5 times before throwing. Check it.
- Cue: Set, Lift, Stride, Throw. Same motion as a fastball. Same arm speed.
- Throw 10 changeups. Each one with the same arm action as a fastball.
- Last 5: alternate fastball and changeup. The catcher and pitcher both work on hiding the difference.
What to watch: The arm speed. If the pitcher slows their arm down to throw the changeup, the hitter sees it coming. Same arm speed, different grip, slower ball. That’s the whole pitch.
If they’re struggling: Drop the changeup. Throw fastballs only at this age. Add the changeup later.
If they’ve got it: Add target zones. The changeup should land low in the zone or below the knees. High changeups get hit hard.