what is a changeup pitch

A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball and fastpitch softball. It is an off-speed pitch that is thrown to look like a fastball but arrives much more slowly to the plate. The goal of a changeup is to make the hitter think a fastball is coming, so his timing will be thrown off by the slower pitch. There are several variations of changeups, which are generated by using different grips on the ball during the release of the pitch. The most common type is the straight changeup, where the ball is held with three fingers (instead of the usual two) and closer to the palm, to kill some of the speed generated by the wrist and fingers. The circle changeup is another well-known grip, where the pitcher forms a circle with the index finger and thumb and lays the middle and ring fingers across the seams of the ball. By pronating the wrist upon release, the pitcher can make the pitch break in the same direction as a screwball. A good changeup will cause a hitter to start his swing well before the pitch arrives, resulting in either a swing and miss or very weak contact.