Competitive softball is a game that is dominated by pitching. Top pitchers can throw their fastballs at speeds approaching 70 miles per hour, which, at the shorter distance, is the equivalent of a baseball thrown at 93-plus miles per hour. They can also throw risers, drops, curves and a change-of-pace pitch. These pitches can be thrown from a variety of deliveries.
Windmill Delivery
This is the primary delivery used by most top pitchers in competitive softball. With this windup, the pitcher's arm comes over the top of the shoulder and then through the release zone a second time before delivering the ball with power and accuracy. With the windmill delivery, you must take a jump step with your stride leg (left for right-handed pitcher), and get the leg on the ground before you deliver the ball to the plate.
Sling Shot Delivery
The sling shot delivery is to be used when your dominant pitch is the windmill. The batter comes to expect that full over-and-around windmill delivery on each pitch. You are not bound to use that type of windup on every pitch. Changing your delivery--and doing it in a legal manner--can give you a great chance to fool the batter. With the sling shot, also called the submarine, you bring your arm back until it is at shoulder blade height and then come forward. You don't bring it all the way around. This is a good motion to use for a fastball because the batter will think that a lesser rotation will result in a slower pitch. She will be shocked to see how fast the ball goes despite the shorter rotation.
Delayed Arm Rotation Delivery
The delayed arm rotation delivery will leave opposing batters with their mouths open, coaches in shock and may even fool some umpires. However, this delivery is perfectly legal. When pitching with a windmill style, the windup is fast and the delivery and release is even faster. On some changeups, pitchers slow down just before they let go of the ball. On the delayed arm rotation delivery, the pitcher will have the normal speed on the first part of the windmill, slow down at the midway point and then speed up at the end. This is a very effective way to throw the change up.
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