Industry trade group Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association reports that slowpitch softball is one of the top seven most played team sports in the country. The sport earns its name thanks to a slow-moving, high-arcing pitch that is easily thrown and hit. Players who take their pitching seriously bring breaking and gimmick pitches to the mound in order to get players out.
Pitching Motion
Before you can throw the best pitch from the mound, you should ensure you have the best technique. Quoting from the fourth edition of "Coaching Youth Softball," Human Kinetics reports that, for a right-handed pitcher, she will keep the heel of the right foot on the rubber, with the toes of the left foot behind the mound with the toes touching the rubber. The pitcher's hand should grip the ball in the glove above the waist, then lower the arm in a downward motion, swinging it back, then forward to release. "The throwing-arm motion is not whiplike but rather an easy, semicircular movement," the article states. On the back swing, the arm should come parallel to the ground.
Straight Pitch
Slowpitch softball has everything to do with how the pitcher grips the ball with his hand. The straight pitch is a basic toss, with no curves or gimmicks. According to Brooklyn Softball, right-handed pitchers grip the ball with their index finger on the left narrow seam and the middle finger next to it. The thumb fits underneath the ball in the grip, seated between the seams, and pointing straight at home plate. Lefties line their index fingers up on the right narrow seam of the ball with middle finger next to it. The thumb sits in the same position on the ball's bottom. Changes in release points and throwing force will affect pitch speed and delivery heights. Straight pitches can either be fast moving or slower, off-speed pitches.
Slider
The slider is like a straight pitch that trails off at the end. Using the same finger grip as the straight pitch, set your thumb on the side of the ball and steady it with your ring and pinky fingers. According to Brooklyn Softball, you should throw the pitch like your thumb were on the ball's top and keeping your wrist steady. Left-handed pitchers will see their pitch pull right and vice-versa. Sliders are off-speed pitches, or ones that move slower than a fastball.
Curveball
Like the straight pitch, the grip for the curveball keeps the thumb underneath the ball. Unlike the straight pitch, your middle finger is the key to a successful pitch. Right-handed pitchers line up their middle finger on the ball's right seam, with the index finger seated next to it. For left-handed pitchers, line your middle finger up on the ball's left seam. In both cases, keep the wrist locked to create the curving motion.
Which is Best?
The best pitch to throw is based on the situation at hand. Gerald Warner, a Denver-area pitching instructor, writes at his website PitchSoftball.com that everything from the pitcher's capabilities, batter's history, the current count and number of outs, and whether runners are on base will play into the choice. A hitter with a wide stance should be thrown off-speed or drop pitches that are low in the strike zone. A batter crowding the plate should get a screwball -- a curveball that breaks in the opposite direction -- that is high and inside. Anxious batters should see a mix of fastballs and off-speed pitches to keep them honest, while those at the front of the box should be thrown pitches high and inside or low and outside.
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