What Is the Kick Changeup?

The kick changeup—also referred to as the spike change—has surged in popularity, especially among athletes in remote pitching training programs looking for alternatives to traditional side-spin changeups. While this pitch isn’t new, its effectiveness for pitchers who struggle to manipulate spin has made it a staple in modern development arsenals.

At VeloU, one of the best remote pitching coaching platforms available today, we see this pitch gaining traction with high school and college arms alike.

Why the Kick Changeup Works So Well

The grip often mimics a modified split/changeup hybrid:

• Middle finger is slightly spiked to reduce spin.
  
  
• Fewer fingers engage the baseball, helping kill spin and let gravity dominate ball flight.
  
  
• Resulting spin rates can drop dramatically—some pitchers record RPMs under 1,000, mimicking splitter-like behavior.
  
  

🔑 Primary Benefit: Reduced spin = decreased lift = sharper vertical drop
🧠 Secondary Benefit: Unique axis (around 3:00 tilt) retains some arm-side fade despite minimal spin

How It Plays In Practice

When I first experimented with the kick change, I expected only minor differences from my standard changeup. I typically generate:

• 18–20 inches of horizontal break (HB)
  
  
• 5–8 inches of induced vertical break (IVB)
  
  
• ~2200 RPM spin rate
  
  
• ~2:30 spin axis
  
  

This created a deceptive, side-spinning pitch that mimicked fastball tunnel characteristics.

But the kick change? A completely different profile:

• ~10 inches HB
  
  
• 0 inches IVB
  
  
• ~900 RPM spin rate
  
  
• ~3:00 axis
  
  

It felt like a splitter, but one I could actually control due to my smaller hand size—something that made traditional splitters challenging.

Pros and Cons of the Kick Change

✅ Upsides:

• Accessible to pitchers with small hands
  
  
• Kills spin effectively for sharper movement
  
  
• Adds a distinct weapon with a new movement profile
  
  
• High upside with enough repetition
  
  

⚠️ Challenges:

• Command issues early on (occasional spiking of the ball)
  
  
• Wrist pressure due to finger positioning
  
  
• Inconsistent movement when thrown improperly
  
  

Still, for athletes in remote programs who struggle with changeup feel or fail to generate meaningful movement, this pitch is worth exploring under guided coaching.

Application in Remote Pitching Coaching

Our remote pitching coaches at VeloU often recommend testing this grip to athletes who:

• Struggle with side spin on their current changeup
  
  
• Can’t command a traditional splitter
  
  
• Need to reduce pitch redundancy with their fastball
  
  

We use video analysis, TrackMan reports, and spin axis visualizations to help each athlete understand how this pitch fits into their arsenal.

Final Thoughts: Should You Try It?

If you're looking for a pitch that doesn’t require elite spin manipulation and still creates meaningful arm-side action, the kick changeup may be the perfect fit.

It’s not plug-and-play—but with focused intent, mechanical guidance, and consistent remote coaching, it can become a reliable off-speed option.

📌 Want to Learn More?

🎯 Sign up for a free evaluation with a remote pitching coach at VeloU