Baseball pitchers throw several kinds of pitches to keep hitters off balance. A circle changeup is a type of changeup or off-speed pitch that is designed to look like a fastball so hitters swing too early and either miss or hit the ball weakly. The circle change uses a distinct grip that differentiates it from other types of changeups.
Step 1
Grip the ball using all of your fingers spread over the baseball. The standard fastball grip uses only two fingers, so by using the whole hand you will slow the pitch down naturally. Gripping across the seams or with the seams of the ball is a personal preference and some pitchers use both to simulate both types of fastballs that they throw.
Step 2
Bring your index finger and your thumb together to form a circle. This can be done by touching the tips of the two fingers together. By folding up the index finger and wrapping the thumb around it, you can slow down the speed of the pitch even more.
Step 3
Throw the pitch with the same motion that you throw your fastball. You want the pitch to look like a fastball to the hitter, but you want a slower speed so they are out in front and off balance.
Step 4
Turn your wrist inward as you release the ball to create an action that puts more movement on the ball. According to pitcher Ryan Schnier, this puts a screwball motion on the ball that moves the opposite of a curveball. Another advanced technique is to stiffen the wrist upon release and pull the wrist straight down to make the ball move down or have the bottom fall out.
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