Intermediate
Changeup
Also known as: change, off-speed
A changeup is an off-speed pitch thrown with the same windmill motion as the fastball but much slower, disrupting the hitter’s timing so they swing early.
In a game built on reaction time, the changeup’s value is deception: identical arm speed, far less velocity. A hitter geared up for a rise or fastball commits early and rolls over or swings ahead of the ball. The best changeups are thrown in fastball counts, making the hitter’s timing the pitcher’s weapon.
Example
Ahead 0–2, the pitcher throws a changeup off the same windmill action; the hitter is way out front and taps weakly to the mound.
Related terms
- Reaction WindowThe reaction window is the fraction of a second a fast-pitch hitter has to read, decide, and swing. The short pitching distance makes it one of the tightest in all of sport.
- WindmillThe windmill is the underhand fast-pitch delivery in which the arm makes a full circle before release, generating the velocity that defines the game.
- Drop BallA drop ball is a fast-pitch pitch thrown with topspin so it sinks sharply as it reaches the plate, inducing ground balls and swings over the top.
Related guides & benchmarks
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