Batting and pitching are compound movements, meaning they require multiple joints -- in the upper and lower body. Each skill demands a level of core stability adequate to maintain proper spinal position and enough rotational strength to produce the power to throw and swing at high speeds. According to Dr. Jeffrey M. Willardson of the National Strength and Conditioning Association, core musculature is the what links the upper and lower limbs so they can work together.
Fastpitch softball is played competitively at the youth, high school, college and professional levels. Fastpitch softball is played with nine defensive players in the field and an additional batter may be used in place of any o...
For a softball pitcher, it is imperative to have more than one pitch to throw to a batter. The curveball is a common alternative to a straight fastball because it has movement between when it leaves a pitcher's hand and when it...
Fast-pitch softball is governed on a national basis by the Amateur Softball Association of America, which sets rules for the sport including standards for bats. In 1999, the ASA instituted a Bat Certification Program, which spe...
Fast-pitch softball is more technical than you might think. The learning curve for a new pitch is one to two years, but understanding the specifics of various release points and hand positioning requires patience and practice. ...
Your pitch speed is one of many components that make you an effective pitcher. You do not have to be a math genius to estimate how fast you pitch without a radar gun. Recall a few elementary math equations to convert feet per s...
Competitive fast-pitch softball is a game driven by statistics. Players and coaches want updates on batting averages, slugging percentages, home run totals, runs batted in and on-base percentages. Every time a player comes to t...
A baseball pitcher's goal is to ensure that hitters make an out. Pitchers want to avoid throwing the ball over the middle of the plate so it will be harder for the batter to hit the ball hard. By pitching to the four corners of...
Pitchers throw the ball at speeds approaching 70 mph from a distance of 46 feet; baseball pitchers, by comparison, can reach more than 90 mph from 60 feet. Additionally, pitchers can throw drop pitches, rise balls and other bre...
A good center fielder needs to catch any fly ball she can get to and also direct the other outfielders and position them so they are prepared to make plays. Defense is a vital factor in fast-pitch softball and the center fielde...
Pitching machines can throw balls at hitters or fielders so that players can practice batting and catching fly balls. However, players cannot use a pitching machine to gauge how fast they throw the ball.
Fastpitch softball bats are always a key item for those who want to hit the ball hard. The best hitters know it is all about mechanics, building the proper swing and using it correctly depending on the pitcher and the game situ...
Attempting to make solid contact with those pitches requires quick hands, outstanding hand-eye coordination, strength and an intelligent plan to get the best of the opposing pitcher. Hitters need to practice their craft regular...
The key to pitching well in softball is learning the mechanics involved in getting the ball to home plate consistently. Factors such as grip, arm motion and stride are critical. Releasing the ball is a key part of your delivery...
The Amateur Softball Association oversees many aspects of competitive fast- and slow-pitch softball, including the standards for legal bats in the industry. The ASA does not want players to use bats that give hitters a major ad...
Softball pitchers face some of the same potential injuries as baseball players, especially if they use the fast pitch method. This requires rotation of the arm to throw the ball. Poor technique can lead to tearing connective ti...
Athletes in all sports need exceptional foot traction to excel. Sports such as football, soccer, baseball, softball and even golf feature shoes with studded cleats along the soles to dig into the turf and prevent slipping. Whil...
Softball is a very demanding sport, like baseball, with excellent timing and hand-eye coordination required to contact pitches and send them into play for a base hit. Keeping your eye on the ball is one of the most important tr...
Fast pitch throwing exercises are designed to help improve the mechanics of the pitchers on your team as well as their pitch speed and velocity. In addition to active throwing exercises, some pitchers use weight training and re...
The term "fast pitch" in men's fast pitch softball is used to differentiate the game from slow pitch softball, in which there are restrictions on the speed and flight pattern of the pitcher's throws. The pitches in slow pitch a...
A fast pitch softball pitcher is similar to a baseball pitcher. Technique is vitally important, and if a pitcher's "mechanics," or fundamental techniques, are off, it promises to be a tough day on the mound. There are...
Composite bats are softball or baseball bats made from a mixture of a variety of metals and materials instead of just one type of aluminum or alloy. The DeMarini Vendetta Fast-Pitch Softball Bat is one of those composite bats. ...
A variety of companies made softball bats for the 2009 fast-pitch season. The right bat can help improve your average and power-hitting ability. Using a bat that is too big or too small can have a negative effect on your bat sp...
Women's softball is played at competitive and recreational levels in both fast pitch and slow pitch. All nine fielding positions used in baseball are also used in softball. The only position that is significantly different in s...
Fast-pitch softball is a version of the sport where the pitcher throws the ball underhand with high velocity. Fast-pitch softball bats generally have a slightly larger barrel than standard softball bats. When selecting a bat, p...
Fast-pitch is a more competitive form of the traditional slow-pitch softball game. Fast-pitch catchers can receive pitches that are nearly as fast as in hardball games. The best fast-pitch catcher's mitt will fit properly, be t...
There is no absolute best fast-pitch softball bat. The best bat is the one that's best for you in your situation. Your strength, swing speed and batting style, and weather conditions determine which fast-pitch softball bat make...
Purchasing a fast-pitch softball bat is an important investment in your softball career. While you can go up to the plate and swing with any bat, you want to give yourself a chance to be successful by swinging with a bat that f...
The best sports athletes make their jobs look easy. Fast pitch softball pitchers are no different. The windmill motion may look effortless, but perfecting it takes hundreds of hours of practice, not to mention how much focus it...
Based in Hillsboro, Oregon, DeMarini released the world's first multiwall softball bat in 1993. Since then, DeMarini has produced a variety of fast-pitch softball bats, including the CF4 and CF3. Using a blend of composite mate...
All softball players want to perform at their best, regardless of ability. Identifying the key differences between fast pitch and slow pitch softball bats will help players choose a bat that best helps their talents in the batt...
The key selection factor is concussion protection. Many baseball and fast-pitch softball catchers believe the traditional masks offer better protection from foul tips, while the hockey-style masks better shield the skull from b...
Softball uniforms provide very little protection from the elements or from the game. It's important for you to prepare for the weather and protect yourself from injury while playing. You can wear a variety of items under your s...
They play on the same size field and they employ the same positions on the field. However, fast-pitch softball represents a significant challenge for the batter to make contact. Pitches come in at speeds better than 70 miles pe...
Softball bats come in a variety of shapes and sizes for slow-pitch and fast-pitch versions. Because of the speed and low height of pitch in fast-pitch softball, bats require sturdy materials that are aerodynamically designed fo...
Bats for fast-pitch softball have become technological marvels, rivaling golf clubs for innovative engineering, design and the use of space-age materials. There are a number of sites that review fast-pitch bats. However, you sh...
Fast pitch softball bats have evolved over the years to meet the increasing level of competition. Manufacturers are combining aluminum with magnesium, graphite or titanium to produce light, durable bats with increased hitting p...
There are two excellent lists of "the best" fast-pitch softball bats. However, it is necessary to keep in mind that such a list is a general list. The best fast-pitch bat for you depends primarily on your degree of strength and...
Manufacturers of composite fast-pitch softball bats are doing their job well -- perhaps too well. An NCAA memo noted that "test results from the 2010 post-season were extremely disappointing. Of 24 bats tested, seven passe...
Many equipment manufacturers produce top-notch fast-pitch softball catchers mitts. Longtime Team USA star Stacey Nuveman has long endorsed the Worth brand, which produces the highly rated Liberty model. Nuveman's teammates, Jul...
Depending on the method used, a batsman might have anywhere from .05 to .09 of a second to decide how best to deal with the delivery, and some shots are better than others against fast bowlers.
Fast pitch is a form of softball where the pitcher uses an underhand whipping arm motion to deliver the ball to the plate. Pitches from top pitchers can rival major league pitchers for speed, and the game itself is highly compe...
Women who play at the high school, college and Olympic level can face pitchers who wind up and hurl the ball at 70 mph. Superstar pitchers such as Jennie Finch have been competitive against major-league players in casual workou...
Fast-pitch softball pitching is a unique skill that requires a full windmill motion and pinpoint accuracy. Even experienced softball pitchers are always looking for ways to improve their pitching motion, accuracy and developmen...
Mizuno's Frenzy fast-pitch bat line combines a larger sweet spot with the durability of the Black Onyx Carbon material. Black Onyx Carbon is the same material used in Boeing Dreamliner jets and provides increased distance, cont...
Softball is a competitive and recreational sport played at several levels. Women play competitive fast-pitch softball at the high school, college and professional level. Men play a wide variety of competitive and recreational s...
Pitching a softball faster makes it more difficult for the batter to make contact with the ball. A pitcher can make changes to her delivery to enhance the velocity of her pitches and give herself an added advantage. Velocity is...
Organized softball can be a high-pressure and demanding sport. The fast-pitch version of the game often is dominated by pitchers who can throw the ball at speeds up to 70 mph. As a result, low-scoring games are common and mista...
Hitting a softball is a complex motor skill that requires sequential and coordinated movements by the entire body. After deciding to swing, a batter turns her hips, followed by her upper body and extends her arms to lead the ba...
The rules are essentially the same in fast-pitch and slow-pitch softball, but different bats are used to deal with the speed at which the ball comes at the hitter. "The fast-pitch game depends on a powerful pitcher who can deli...
The Easton Stealth softball bat is a composite bat that, according to Easton, they designed for "powerful hitters" who want to increase their swing speed. Easton claims that this lightweight bat has an elongated sweet spot and ...
Slow pitch bats will be heavier, longer and with larger sweet spots. Fast pitch bats are more lightweight to give a batter a faster swing through the hitting zone.
With the recent attention placed on composite bats, players forget the importance of quality softball cleats. Softball cleats increase performance both offensively and defensively, and new technological developments focus on ad...
The game can be every bit as challenging as baseball. Fastpitch softball requires skill, hand-eye coordination, agility and a lot of strategy. One way to get the edge in the game is by using the best equipment possible. And wh...
If you play baseball or fast pitch softball, you are all too familiar with the difficulty of hitting a well thrown fastball. It takes less than a half second for a fastball to travel from the pitcher's hand to home plate. That ...
Slow pitch and fast pitch softball are different games. All you have to do is look at the names of each to figure that out. One game requires split-second decisions and a quick bat in the batter's box; the other allows the hitt...
While fast pitch and slow pitch softball use the same fields, the same positions and many of the same rules, important differences separate the games. One of these differences involves the bats. While fast pitch and slow pitch ...
Unlike bats used for slow-pitch, high-arc or 16-inch softball play, fast-pitch softball bats must be able to handle high-speed, low-trajectory pitches. At the highest levels of play, pitches may reach speeds of more than 70 m.p...
The game of slow-pitch softball is different than fast-pitch softball, so it only makes sense that slow-pitch softball bats would be different than fast-pitch bats. The weight, length and barrel size vary from one type of bat t...
They want to know how to set up a hitter and what pitches to throw when the game is on the line. More often than not, a pitcher will use his fastball to strike a batter out or get out of an inning. Hitting a fastball is a stiff...
Pitches that approach speeds of 70 mph from a distance of 45 feet are the equivalent of 95 mph fastballs in baseball. You need a strong and quick swing in order to make solid contact. In order to get your swing honed, you need ...
