Hurricane Softball

What is Fast Pitch?

Fastpitch softball is a unique game. Unlike slow pitch softball, the scores in a well played game are very low. The pitching distance is much shorter than in baseball. The pitcher must throw underhand.

The playing field is much smaller. The larger softball does not travel as far, so the outfield plays much closer to the infield than in baseball. A fast pitch softball field is typically 3/4 of an acre. A typical baseball field is 2 1/2 acres. It is much harder for the ball to find a "hole" in the outfield. The infield plays closer to the plate since bunting is much more frequent in fast pitch. The distance between the bases is only about 2/3 of the distance in baseball. A play in fast pitch softball is completed much quicker than in baseball.

The pitching is very difficult to hit. A no hitter happens more frequent than in baseball. The basic pitches in fast pitch are:

Drop ball

Change up

Rise ball

Curve ball

Screw ball

Knuckle ball

What, no fastball? Okay, you may throw one or two fastballs in a game, but at the risk of a batter taking you downtown. Many pitchers never throw a straight fastball. The riser is a fast pitch softball unique pitch. There is no equivalent pitch in baseball. A good rise ball has a full backspin and will jump up just prior to reaching the plate. The ball is larger and has larger seams which result in a pitch that breaks more sharply. The drop is also a great pitch. It is hard to send a ball downtown that breaks low. The change up is usually thrown approximately 15 mph slower than the regular pitches. It is best thrown with some backspin to cause the ball to float. The screwball and knuckle ball are not seen much at this level.

How hard is it to hit at this level? A good 14 year old pitcher throws in the high 50 mph range. In ASA & NSA travel ball, the pitching distance for that division is 40 feet. Let's assume the pitcher throws at 57 miles per hour. That is equal to 83.6 feet per second. See the calculation below.

57 miles x 1 hour x 1 min x 5280 feet = 83.6 feet

1 hour 60 min 60 sec 1 mile 1 sec or 83.6 feet per sec.

The pitching distance is 40 feet. However, the true distance from where the ball is released to where the batter makes contact is approximately 37 feet. What?? A good pitcher's drive will result in a release point at least 2 feet in front of the pitching rubber. Also, an experienced batter will bat from the front of the batters box to negate the ball movement. The time the batter has to put the bat on the ball after the pitch is released is .44 seconds (forty-four one-hundredth of a second). WOW!! See the calculation below.

37 feet x 1 sec = .44 seconds

83.6 feet

How does that compare to major league baseball. If the batter is looking at a 90 mph pitch from 60'6", he has .46 seconds to get his bat on the ball. In other words, he has it easier than the 14 year old girls. Could he hit in a fastpitch softball game?? With practice; maybe.

There is nothing soft about playing fast pitch softball !!!!




	What is Fast Pitch? Fastpitch softball is a unique game. Unlike slow pitch softball, the scores in a well played game are very low. The pitching distance is much shorter than in baseball. The pitcher must throw underhand. The playing field is much smaller. The larger softball does not travel as far, so the outfield plays much closer to the infield than in baseball. A fast pitch softball field is typically 3/4 of an acre. A typical baseball field is 2 1/2 acres. It is much harder for the ball to find a "hole" in the outfield. The infield plays closer to the plate since bunting is much more frequent in fast pitch. The distance between the bases is only about 2/3 of the distance in baseball. A play in fast pitch softball is completed much quicker than in baseball. The pitching is very difficult to hit. A no hitter happens more frequent than in baseball. The basic pitches in fast pitch are: Drop ball Change up Rise ball Curve ball Screw ball Knuckle ball What, no fastball? Okay, you may throw one or two fastballs in a game, but at the risk of a batter taking you downtown. Many pitchers never throw a straight fastball. The riser is a fast pitch softball unique pitch. There is no equivalent pitch in baseball. A good rise ball has a full backspin and will jump up just prior to reaching the plate. The ball is larger and has larger seams which result in a pitch that breaks more sharply. The drop is also a great pitch. It is hard to send a ball downtown that breaks low. The change up is usually thrown approximately 15 mph slower than the regular pitches. It is best thrown with some backspin to cause the ball to float. The screwball and knuckle ball are not seen much at this level. How hard is it to hit at this level? A good 14 year old pitcher throws in the high 50 mph range. In ASA & NSA travel ball, the pitching distance for that division is 40 feet. Let's assume the pitcher throws at 57 miles per hour. That is equal to 83.6 feet per second. See the calculation below. 57 miles x 1 hour x 1 min x 5280 feet = 83.6 feet 1 hour 60 min 60 sec 1 mile 1 sec or 83.6 feet per sec. The pitching distance is 40 feet. However, the true distance from where the ball is released to where the batter makes contact is approximately 37 feet. What?? A good pitcher's drive will result in a release point at least 2 feet in front of the pitching rubber. Also, an experienced batter will bat from the front of the batters box to negate the ball movement. The time the batter has to put the bat on the ball after the pitch is released is .44 seconds (forty-four one-hundredth of a second). WOW!! See the calculation below. 37 feet x 1 sec = .44 seconds 83.6 feet How does that compare to major league baseball. If the batter is looking at a 90 mph pitch from 60'6", he has .46 seconds to get his bat on the ball. In other words, he has it easier than the 14 year old girls. Could he hit in a fastpitch softball game?? With practice; maybe. There is nothing soft about playing fast pitch softball !!!!

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