Archive for the ‘Slowpitch’ Category
Softball, The Improved Indoor Baseball
Softball, like its cousin baseball, is a very popular team sport in the United States. It was originally intended to be a way for baseball players to keep in practice during the winter months. For a long time, it was referred to as Indoor Baseball.
Softball bats are used by the batter and are made of metal, wood or composite materials (carbon fiber, etc.). Sizes may vary. In fast pitch softball, wooden bats are not allowed.
In baseball, pitchers are typically divided into two categories: those who pitch for contact and those who go for strikeouts. Slow pitch softball places the emphasis squarely on the former variety of pitcher. The ball won’t be coming at a batter with much speed, but there are still plenty of ways for a pitcher to get an advantage. She may vary the height of the pitch, for instance – from 6 to 12 feet off the ground.
It’s also smart to alternate the spin applied to the ball upon its release. Great pitchers will mix up their delivery, pitching for speed at certain stages of the count and throwing in a curveball or a high, arcing pitch for variation. By keeping opponents off guard, a pitcher can increase the likelihood of slow pitch softball bats whiffing time and again. And even if you don’t get many strikeouts, you can still find ways to induce groundouts.