The Speed of Softball

[B-Dad]

Sport Science has a good video about how softball requires quicker reaction time compared to baseball.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=9282901

[DonnieS]

I learned that a while back when dads would keep their girls playing baseball - for the competition ? And we would have to teach the infield girls how to charge the ball - because you don't have the time for the base ball double clutch before they throw - in fast pitch. And the girls struggled with hitting - because of how much closer the pitcher is to the hitter.

[PDad]

I learned that a while back when dads would keep their girls playing baseball - for the competition ? And we would have to teach the infield girls how to charge the ball - because you don't have the time for the base ball double clutch before they throw - in fast pitch. And the girls struggled with hitting - because of how much closer the pitcher is to the hitter.

What age were the girls when they transitioned over to softball? My son is 3 years older than DD and played baseball thru HS. Our experience was different than yours.

Fielding: The boys are playing on the same size diamond up through 12U and it scales up pretty much the same after that because the fielders move further back with the bases. Both sports require infielders to gauge the timing and charge the slower moving balls.

Hitting: Everybody gets a big kick out of watching baseball players try to hit fastpitch the first time. What they don't get to see is how it doesn't take very long for a good baseball hitter to get acclimated. My son pitched, so of course there was constant debate between my kids. They faced off with wiffle balls because I wouldn't let him hit off her throwing regular softballs. A local HS has held an annual coed fastpitch game with the softball and baseball teams. The girls pitch from behind a screen.

[DonnieS]

7th, 8th, 9th grades.

I saw the same thing with base ball hitters going against good softball pitchers. The boys struggled at first , frustrated , but the better ones would get the timing down and start hitting it.

If you notice, when they do this with the pro ball players going against someone like Jenny Finch, she doesn't let them hack and hack. its like 3 - 4 pitches, everyone laughs at the guys, and then they go on. My bet is give the guys a few more tries and Jenny is wearing some of those balls.

[PDad]

... My bet is give the guys a few more tries and Jenny is wearing some of those balls.

Definitely! Besides timing, the baseball players have to get familiar with the fastpitch delivery so they can pick up the ball out of the pitcher's hand and track it on the lower trajectory.

[Diesels_dad]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_de3HJvO-N8

one of my DD favorites

[Safebyahare]

Why do they call it softball?? It ain't soft. I prefer fastpitch.

[ontheblack]

Men have been playing fastpitch for years. They could hit, Jenny, Cat, etc.

Now if they used that video to demonstrate the need for better helmets...

[Safebyahare]

Now if they used that video to demonstrate the need for better helmets...

That is a great point!!! I would like to see that video, with different helmets on a manaquin.

[Vess Express]

This is going to be unpopular with the mostly male audience, but this is an opinion board, so I’m going to go down this road anyway. I also know you guys have to protect your little girls, but...

If you are just having batting practice, where the batters don’t worry about balls and strikes and simply swing for the fence every pitch, then it is smart to use a screen. Many schools practice with screens for pitchers – boys and girls – who are pitching batting practice.

In the High School coed game mentioned above, I’m assuming the boys were pitching from their normal 60’ and didn’t require a screen. So, if the girls were pitching from their normal distance, and balls and strikes were being called, why would the school require a screen for the girls on that day only? Do the girls get whacked with balls hit by boys only, and never from other girls during their regular season games?

I thought the bats nowadays were made to only allow a set maximum speed of the ball coming off the bat. Apparently, females have been able to go over the max. limit with illegal bats, but maybe they are not able to reach the maximum exit speed with a legal bat?

It seems like the easiest way to solve the apparent High School fear of lawsuits, would be to require all of the student pitchers to wear facemasks during the coed game. If a boy were to be hit in the face by a girl who hit a ball, it should not surprise the school when some idiot tries to sue them.