Editing Changeup (section)

{{Short description|Baseball and softball pitch}}
{{For|the film|The Change-Up}}
[[File:Change up 1.JPG|thumb|The grip used for a changeup]]
A '''changeup''' is a type of [[pitch (baseball)|pitch]] in [[baseball]] and [[fastpitch softball]].

The changeup is a staple [[off-speed pitch]] often used in a pitcher's arsenal, usually thrown to look like a [[fastball]], but arriving much more slowly to the plate. Its reduced speed coupled with its deceptive delivery is meant to confuse the [[batter (baseball)|batter]]'s timing. It is meant to be thrown the same as a fastball, but further back in the hand, which makes it release from the hand slower while still retaining the look of a fastball. A changeup is generally thrown to be {{convert|8|–|15|mph|kph}} slower than a fastball. If thrown correctly, the changeup will confuse the batter because the human eye cannot discern that the ball is coming significantly slower until it is around {{convert|30|ft|m}} from the plate.<ref>Walsh, John (September 19, 2007). "[http://www.hardballtimes.com/pitch-identification-tutorial/ Pitch Identification Tutorial]". ''The Hardball Times''. Retrieved 2007-09-19.</ref> For example, a batter swings at the oncoming ball as if it were a {{convert|90|mph|kph|adj=on|abbr=on}} fastball, but instead the ball is coming in at {{convert|75|mph|kph|abbr=on}}—this means they will be swinging too early to hit the ball well (also known as being "way out in front").

Other names include a '''change-of-pace''' or a '''change'''.<ref name="mlbdef">{{cite web | url = https://www.mlb.com/glossary/pitch-types/changeup | title = Changeball (CH) | website = MLB | access-date = 1 August 2022}}</ref> In addition, before at least the second half of the twentieth century, the term "slow ball" was used to denote pitches that were not a fastball or [[breaking ball]], which almost always meant a type of changeup. Therefore, the terms ''slow ball'' and ''changeup'' could be used interchangeably.  The changeup is usually, but not always, pitched faster than a [[curveball]] and about the same speed as a [[Slider (pitch)|slider]].<ref>Brody, Shawn (Apr 8, 2016). "[https://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2016/4/8/11391612/looking-at-the-velocity-gap-between-offspeed-pitches-and-fastball Looking at the velocity gap between offspeed pitches and fastball]". ''Beyond the Boxscore''. Retrieved 2023-03-13.</ref>

The changeup is analogous to the [[slower ball]] in [[cricket]].