Softball is a sport similar to baseball, but with a larger ball. Softball began as an indoor version of baseball in the late 1800s in the United States.
Softball was smaller and softer in its early phases than the ball we see now. The ball became harder and harder over time until it was even harder than baseball, but the name remained the same as it was at the start.
Softball was given its formal name in 1926. In the United States and around the world, it is one of the most popular summer sports.
A softball is made up of three parts: a center, a cover, and a seam or stitches. The cover is made of synthetic or natural leather, which is bonded or fastened to the center of the ball and colored yellow to make the ball visible.
Cotton or linen?
The leather around the ball is stitched with red thread. Polyurethane is commonly used for the ball’s center. However, the balls might sometimes have a cork center.
In Chicago, softball was originally played as an indoor baseball game in 1887. Since then, it has been referred to by a variety of names, including kitten ball, diamond ball, mush ball, indoor-outdoor ball, playground ball, and so on.
So, what is the weight of a softball?
Regulation softballs are often larger than regulation baseballs. An official 12-inch softball weighs about 6.25 ounces to 7 ounces, or 117 grams to 198 grams, and has a circumference of 11.88 inches to 12.13 inches.
In the Chicago and New York metropolitan areas, however, 16-inch softballs are available, which are typically played without gloves. A 16-inch softball can weigh anything from 9 to 10 ounces (255 to 283 grams).
The 11-inch softball, which is two inches larger than a conventional baseball, is the other variety of softball utilized. Boys and girls as young as ten years old typically use these 11-inch softballs.
In addition, several women’s slow pitch leagues use this sort of ball. An 11-inch softball weighs between 57 and 61 ounces and has a circumference of 107 to 111 inches.
How heavy is a softball?
A regulation softball is much bigger than a regulation baseball. A softball has a circumference of 11.88 to 12.13 inches and weighs between 6.25 and 7.00 ounces; a baseball has a circumference of 9.00 to 9.25 inches and weighs between 5.00 and 5.25 ounces.
Why do softballs weigh more than baseballs?
Baseball has nine innings, whereas softball has seven. Softball balls have a circumference of 11 to 12 inches and are less thick than baseball balls, which have a 9-inch circumference. Softball players utilize smaller bats due to the larger ball. Softball bats are limited to 34 inches in length and can be made of composite materials.
What Kinds Of Softballs Are There?
Softballs are usually available in a variety of sizes and shapes. The following are the details. Softballs with a high compression are also known as 12-inch softballs.
Softballs with a mid-compression are also known as 11-inch softballs. Softballs with Low Compression: These softballs are available in 11 inch and 12-inch sizes. 16 Inch Chicago Style Softballs: This is the largest of all the softballs, and it does not require gloves to play.
What Does It Cost To Play Softball?
The cost of a softball is determined by the materials used to create the balls. Leather softballs are usually more expensive than synthetic softballs. A softball can cost anywhere from $4 to $10 or more on average. You can also save money by purchasing many softballs at once. If you buy a dozen softballs, the cost per ball may drop from $4 to $2.
Softballs come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Softball players have a number of options in terms of performance, style, covering, and size. The compression rating, which is the force in pounds required to squeeze the ball a quarter of an inch, is the most fundamental distinction between softballs.
Each style of softball comes in a variety of COR ratings. The coefficient of restitution (COR) is a measurement of how much a ball bounces when it hits a hard surface.
Balls with a higher COR value bounce more. You can utilize the information to improve your game once you grasp the distinctions between softballs.
Softball with a High Compression
Professional players use high-compression softballs, which are 12-inch premium balls. With a 530-pound compression rating, they feature the highest level of compression. High-compression softballs are tough and may travel further than ordinary softballs. They have a long-lasting synthetic leather covering and a polyurethane or cork core. The ideal bats to use with this style of ball are those that flex slightly on contact. When wood or thin-walled aluminum bats are used to hit high-compression balls, they might be destroyed.
Softball with a Medium Compression
Mid-compression balls are typically used by slow-pitch softball players, but they are also used by fast-pitch softball teams for training and practice. Mid-compression balls have a diameter of at least 11 inches and a compression rating of 375 to 530 pounds. Mid-compression softballs are versatile and work well with a variety of bats.
Softball with Low Compression
Softballs with a compression rating of less than 375 pounds are the most delicate. They come in two sizes: 11-inch and 12-inch. The sensation of balls with low compression ratings and high COR values is “mushy.” Low-compression balls are frequently used in youth leagues because they are safer for younger players than balls with greater compression ratings. When hitting low-compression balls, it’s better to utilize bats that don’t flex.
Softball, 16-Inch Chicago Style
The 16-inch Chicago style softball is the largest form of softball. Players do not normally use gloves in this form of softball, therefore it is also soft. Softball originated in Chicago in the 1930s as a less expensive alternative to baseball. Players could set up games in local playgrounds and neighborhood fields because the ball did not fly as far when struck. In the Chicago area, this type of softball is still popular.
Softball: Slow-Pitch vs. Fast-Pitch
Softball is a popular sport with two unique types: fast-pitch and slow-pitch. Because both types are part of the same game, they share numerous similarities. There are, however, significant changes in terms of gameplay and other game elements.
The key distinction is in the speed and method with which the ball is placed in play. Fast-pitch involves a forceful and quick delivery of the ball, as the name implies. The ball is delivered with more speed and accuracy.
The ball is more difficult to hit because of the rapid and straight delivery across the plate.
Slow-pitch, on the other hand, entails pitching the ball in an arch of 6-12 feet while maintaining a moderate ball speed. The ball rises in the air and lands on the plate, making it simpler to hit.
In fast-pitch, the pitcher and the ball throw determine the outcome of the game. A powerful pitcher is favored in this form of softball because he can deliver a high-velocity pitch or generate deceptive ball movements to keep the batter from striking the ball.
The ball is never received into play in this way since it is never hit. Another result of the pitcher’s goal is to strike out the batters at the plate.
Pitchers in this game pitch the ball with a windmill motion, which gives it more force and speed. The offensive team is put under a lot of strain during the game (where the pitcher is a member).
Slow-pitch play, on the other hand, encourages the batter to hit the ball so that it can be put into play. The defensive team, rather than the offensive team, bears most of the pressure in this sort of game.
Slow-pitch and fast-pitch softball are two different types of softball.
A game of fast-pitch softball usually consists of nine innings. The game has a total of nine participants. Slow-pitch softball, on the other hand, has just seven innings and is played by ten players. The extra player serves as an outfielder as well as a countermeasure in terms of increased hitting and offense.
Base stealing is permitted in fast-pitch games, but not in slow-pitch. The runner must remain on base until the ball is hit. Fast-pitch games also have more strikeouts and double plays than slow-pitch games.
In terms of hitting, fast-pitch allows for the use of a designated hitter for players who are unable to hit for power. There is no substitute for hitting in slow-pitch; if a player is already at the plate, he or she must hit the ball.
