<P> A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball and fastpitch softball . The changeup is the staple off - speed pitch, 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's timing . It is meant to be thrown the same as a fastball, but farther 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 8--15 miles per hour 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 30 feet from the plate . For example, a batter swinging at the ball as if it were a 90 mph fastball when it is coming in at 75 mph means they are swinging too early to hit the ball well, making the changeup very effective . </P> <P> Other names include change - of - pace, Bugs Bunny change - up, the dreaded equalizer and change . The changeup is an off - speed pitch, although that term can also be used simply to mean any pitch that is slower than a fastball . 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 . </P>

What is a change up ball in baseball
find me the text answering this question