The Secret To A Good Off-Speed Change-Up

I firmly believe that my change-up enabled me to get the opportunity to play professional baseball. Indeed, body size, fastball velocity, a good work ethic, and quality mechanics are important. However, you essentially can't make it in the big leagues on one pitch.

This baseball season, make a point to work on your change-up. It's important. It'll give you another look, another dimension.

Now, let's take a closer look at the pitch: The key with any off-speed pitch -- such as a change-up -- is throwing it with fastball arm speed. It's true: The best off-speed pitch is the one that "looks" like a fastball. Case in point: The picture at right is 1955 World Series MVP Johnny Podres. Some say he had one of the best change-ups in baseball because he threw it with fastball arm speed.

The off-speed pitch is difficult because it's human nature to want to slow down your pitching mechanics when throwing an off-speed pitch in order to get a desired decrease in velocity.

To overcome this obstacle: do the opposite: Throw your change-up with faster arm speed than your fastball arm speed. The grip is what reduces speed on an off-speed pitch. So grip it properly, and throw it fast!