Softball is a game based upon many of the principals of baseball, and is popular both in the United States as well as in many parts of Asia and Australia. One of the principal differences between baseball and softball is pitching; softball has many unique rules governing how a pitcher can legally throw the ball.
Function
In officially sanctioned amateur and professional leagues, both in the United States and internationally, softball pitchers must deliver the ball to home plate using an underhand motion. This is in contrast to baseball pitchers, who throw the ball to the catcher using an overhand delivery.
Features
According to the International Softball Federation, softball pitchers are allowed to use a complete windmill motion during the pitching delivery. However, it is a violation for pitchers to use multiple windmill motions with the throwing arm before releasing the ball to home plate. A pitcher must be set, with both hands on the ball, before beginning the pitching windup. Once the windup has started, the ball must stay in one hand, and cannot be touched by both hands again during the delivery.
Types
Amateur and professional softball pitchers use an array of fast pitches to confuse batters. One of the most effective pitches is the riseball, which rotates such that the pitch breaks upward as it reaches home plate. Another effective softball pitch is the dropball, which breaks sharply toward the ground when reaching home plate. Professional and amateur softball pitchers use fast pitches, with speeds reaching as high as 70 mph. This is in contrast to softball pitchers in adult and recreational leagues, who throw intentionally slow, looping pitches.
Considerations
Softball pitchers only stand 43 feet from the back of home plate. This distance is much shorter than the distance between the pitching mound and home plate in baseball, which is approximately 60 feet. It is for this reason that the highest softball pitching speeds typically only reach 70 mph, while the fastest baseball pitches can sometimes reach 100 mph; softball pitches have less distance to pick up velocity than baseball pitches. However, reaction times for fast pitch softball pitches are nearly identical to those in baseball due to the short distance between the mound and home plate.
Warning
Softball pitchers are only allowed to use regulation softballs that are either smooth-seamed or have a flat surface. Pitchers are not allowed to alter the ball with foreign substances to increase rotation speeds and breaks, nor are they allowed to scuff or cut the ball to increase movement on their pitches.
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