Punching bags help boxers get in shape and prepare for a fight. They can also help softball players become better hitters. Working out with a punching bag improves hand-eye coordination, bat speed and strength needed for hitting. Footwork is also important for softball hitters, and working out with a punching bag enhances drive and power.
Fastpitch and slowpitch softball share similar traits. Both sports share a general game structure similar to baseball. However, the two sports differ in their rule structure, and can also differ in the equipment used. For examp...
Fastpitch softball diamonds are much smaller than baseball diamonds. At the higher levels, it is a quick game dominated by pitching, defense and speed. Bunting and slap-hitting are key offensive weapons and the third baseman an...
Fastpitch softball demands a variety of skills, including hitting, bunting, fielding, throwing, pitching and catching. Players may develop and refine those critical skills with the help of training gear. Some baseball training ...
Fastpitch softball bats may be used in slowpitch softball as long as they fall within the specifications set by the Amateur Softball Association of America and other sanctioning bodies. The ASA sanctions both fastpitch and slow...
Fastpitch softball tryout tips are designed to help you showcase your skills during a short tryout. In addition to tryout tips for players, coaches also can utilize tryout tips with respect to the types of drills and exercises ...
Fastpitch softball is a popular sport among girls of all ages. While thinner girls may stereotypically run faster and more muscular girls may be able to hit the ball further, there is no particular height and weight requirement...
The differences between fastpitch and slowpitch gloves are minor. However, the minor differences can be significant if you play softball at a high level. For example, a glove used by a Division I fastpitch college player is goi...
Fastpitch softball is played at a wide range of ability levels, from youth girls to professional men and women. In each fastpitch softball league, equipment such as bats must be chosen based on the size and ability of the playe...
According to SportsKnowHow.com, the bat used in that first game was a simple broom handle. The game has come a long way since that first improvisation, and so has the equipment. The softball association under which a game is pl...
Softball bats are a crucial piece of equipment for any type of softball player. There are a great variety of bats available on the market for male and female players. The level of competition is crucial when determining what so...
Softball is played at some level in every state in America -- and New Mexico is no exception. While New Mexico doesn't have a professional softball team, the state does have several amateur, college and local teams for women, m...
Fastpitch softball is a variation of the game of softball in which the pitchers throw the ball underhand at speeds that can top 75 mph. On a regulation softball diamond, the pitcher's mound is 43 feet from home plate. In baseba...
Fastpitch softball bats come in various lengths, sizes and materials. Choosing one means finding a bat that feels "right" to you based on your swing style, size and strength. This is a highly personal process that can even be a...
Fastpitch softball catching drills are designed to improve your fundamentals behind the plate as well as your ability to frame the strike zone. While many catching drills tend to focus on glove placement and hand positioning, o...
Fastpitch softball requires players to perform a variety of skills, including catching, fielding ground balls and fly balls, hitting, running and throwing. Players need to practice each of these skills regularly in order to exe...
The game of fast-pitch softball is dominated by pitching. Pitchers stand 40, 43 or 46 feet from home plate, depending on the level and gender of competition, and throw pitches that can reach speeds of 70 miles per hour, which i...
Hitting in fastpitch softball can be a daunting task. Pitchers can throw fastballs at speeds of 70 miles per hour from a distance of 46 feet. That corresponds with a baseball thrown at a speed of 90-plus miles per hour from 60 ...
Fast-pitch softball is a highly competitive game played at the youth, high school, college and professional levels. The game is often dominated by pitchers who can throw the ball at speeds exceeding 70 miles per hour. As a resu...
Finding a fastpitch softball bat that suits your size and ability will make playing the game much more enjoyable. The correct length and weight is critical to ensure you can cover as much of the plate as possible without being ...
Pitchers play under pressure, and at a moment like this, it all comes down to mechanics. Velocity and location of the pitch play key roles, but the softball pitcher’s form and motion depend on a carefully and repeatedly d...
Softball players use drills in practice to help them gradually master key techniques on both offense and defense. Parents and coaches can help young fast-pitch players build confidence and improve their games by working on catc...
In fastpitch softball, second basemen need a reliable glove to handle hot shots up the middle and to snag towering pop-ups. A second baseman’s glove must be compact in size, making it easier to find the ball and make quic...
Softball infielders constantly need to work on honing their defensive drills because when things go bad, it often costs teams precious runs. Coaches can run drills to help players with the physical and mental demands, and the o...
Fast-pitch softball has evolved into a highly competitive sport. The pitcher throws the ball low and fast, without the high arc in traditional slow-pitch softball. To hit the high-powered pitches successfully in this game, you ...
When inclement weather chases your team inside for practice, or winter in the northern states refuses to surrender, indoor fast-pitch softball drills become a reality of competitive play. Because the artificial environment of g...
While softball catchers rarely receive Player of the Year nominations, the position remains one of the most important in the sport. Softball catchers must possess both physical toughness and mental prowess. They lead the team o...
Fastpitch softball is primarily a low-scoring game. Pitching is the dominant aspect of the game, and scores are often in the 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 range. As a result, teams have quite a bit of pressure every time they take the field...
Softball is a sport that is played by millions of people in America every year. It is one of the most popular sports for young women in high school and college and is also a favorite past time of many men as well. There are dif...
Trying out for a competitive fastpitch softball team requires the demonstration of talents and abilities in a short period of time. Players' accomplishments in previous leagues may not matter to those who determine who will mak...
The game of fastpitch softball is extremely competitive. The pitcher stands 43 to 46 feet from the batter and throws the ball at speeds of 65 to 75 mph, making it hard to hit and difficult to score. Since it is hard to score, p...
Hitting is a central part of fast-pitch softball, and the rules governing bats used in games are specific and strict. The sport is governed by the United States Specialty Sports Association, or USSSA. The group's rule book sets...
Fastpitch softball is dominated by pitching. Occasionally, you see a burst of long hits that may result in a double-digit run total, but more often than not great pitchers get the best of good hitters and 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 score...
Hitting in fastpitch softball can be a difficult skill to master. Unlike baseball, where the ball is thrown overhand, giving the player more time to see the ball come out of the hand, fastpitch is delivered underhand, with less...
Fastpitch softball bats range from basic aluminum models, to sophisticated pieces of equipment that sell for hundreds of dollars. When choosing a bat, the level of play and size of the player must be taken into consideration, a...
Fastpitch softball is a very competitive game. It is regularly dominated by pitchers who can throw the ball at speeds of 70 miles per hour, which is the equivalent of 95 MPH fastball in baseball. Many of these pitchers can also...
Hitting a fastpitch softball is challenging. Pitchers can throw the ball at speeds approaching 70 mph from 43 feet, which is the equivalent of a baseball thrown at a speed of 95 mph. In order to become a successful batter in fa...
Fastpitch softball is a very competitive game. Pitchers throw the ball at speeds approaching 70 miles per hour from 43 to 46 feet--the equivalent of a 95-mile-per-hour fastball in baseball--and that makes it difficult to hit an...
Hitting in fastpitch softball is a very challenging task. Pitchers can throw at speeds approaching 70 mph from distances of 43 to 46 feet. That's the equivalent of a fastball thrown at 95-plus mph in baseball from a distance of...
The Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) is one of the main governing bodies for organized slowpitch and fastpitch softball in the United States. They have rules governing games involving member leagues, including what...
Fastpitch softball is primarily a women's sport, although men's softball teams are also popular. Women's softball first made an appearance in 1965. The International Softball World Championships introduced the women's sport at...
