Baseball and slow-pitch softball are essentially the same game but have some notable differences. Both sports have pitchers, catchers, bases, fielders and hitters. Both sports are played in innings and have an umpire enforcing the rules, and people of all ages and both genders enjoy both sports. What differentiates the two sports are some of the equipment, a handful of rules and the layout of the field.
Bats
At first glance, the bats used in baseball and slow-pitch softball may seem the same, but a few subtle differences exist in length, weight and diameter. A standard adult baseball bat weighs between 28 and 31 oz., while an adult slow-pitch bat weighs between 26 and 30 oz. The length of a slow-pitch bat is typically 33 or 34 inches, while a baseball bat ranges from 31 to 34 inches. Some Major League baseball players have bats in excess of 34 inches. The baseball bat has a slightly larger diameter at 2 5/8 inches, compared with the slow-pitch bat at 2 1/4 inches.
Balls
Perhaps the most noticeable difference in equipment between slow-pitch softball and baseball is the size of the ball. Slow pitch uses a standard softball, which has a circumference of about 12 inches and weighs between 6 1/4 and 7 oz. A baseball is quite a bit smaller, measuring between 9 and 9 1/4 inches in circumference and weighing 5 to 5 1/4 oz.
Field Dimensions
While the shape of the diamond is the same, the dimensions of the field are different between the two sports. In slow-pitch softball, bases are 65 feet apart, the pitcher stands 50 feet away from home plate, and the outfield fence is at about 275 feet. In contrast, baseball bases are 90 feet apart, the pitcher stands 60 feet 6 inches from the plate, and the outfield fence is usually about 320 feet down the baselines and up to 400 feet away in center field.
Rules
The biggest difference between baseball and slow-pitch softball regarding how the game is played involves the pitching. Baseball pitchers throw the ball overhand, sometimes at speeds in excess of 90 mph. Baseball pitchers also throw other pitches like curveballs, sliders, change-ups and knuckleballs that are meant to change direction on the way to the hitter. Slow-pitch pitchers throw the ball underhand in a slow, high arc. They may put different spins on the ball to elicit a pop-up or groundball, but the speed is always relatively the same. Another difference in rules between baseball and slow-pitch softball is that slow-pitch softball uses 10 fielders while baseball uses nine, and slow-pitch hitters are not permitted to bunt, steal bases or lead off any base until the pitch crosses home plate.
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