Softball Pitching Tips

The game of softball is a team sport that is similar to baseball and is popular in the United States of America. The size of the ball used in softball is larger than that in baseball. The game was invented by Mr. George Hancock, and the first game was played in Chicago, Illinois in the year 1887 on Thanksgiving Day.

Softball can be played on an artificial turf, dirt field or grass field. The ground is divided in two areas, the infield and outfield. The infield has four squares known as bases, placed at a distance of 45 - 65 feet from each other. The central portion of the infield is used for pitching the softball and it is known as the 'pitcher's circle'. The objective of the game is to outscore the opponent team in terms of the number of runs. The softball, which is prepared from a light material is about 10 - 12 inches in circumference. The softball rules and regulations are more or less the same as that of baseball. The game is divided into a series of 7 innings. Every inning has a top and bottom half in which both the teams bat one after another.

Softball Pitching Techniques
There are many important things to be considered while pitching the softball. The grip, stance, windup, stride, release and follow through are important aspects of softball pitching. One should master these techniques in order to throw the ball properly. The ball should be gripped firmly, however not tightly. It should be held in a three finger grip. The middle and index finger should be placed across the seam while the thumb needs to be on the opposite side of the middle finger. The purpose behind maintaining a perfect stance is to provide balance and power to the process of pitching. The windup motion adds momentum to the throw, and involves shifting the body weight backwards and then forward. The stride helps in powering the shot. The length of the stride determines the power of the shot. If a long stride is taken, the back leg is dragged behind the body on the ground.

Softball Pitching Tips
Pitching is an important aspect of the game. Pitching the ball properly helps in generating more speed and improves curvature through the air. When the ball is being pitched, the throwing arm should pass over the head while the body weight is shifted on the drive leg.

• The arms should swing upwards in tandem with the rest of the body.
• The ball must be released when the arm is in line with the hip.
• The drive leg must be pushed off the rubber used for pitching, during the release.
• The stride leg should be landed in a position that points between 30 to 45 degrees.
• While the pitcher throws the ball, the throwing arm completes the 360 degree circular motion and the other hand (balancing arm) moves up to 90 degrees before being lowered. Care should be taken to see that the balance arm doesn't move sideways. The sideways motion reduces the power from the throw.
• To land sideways on the stride leg could be harmful, as it might lead to hip, knee or ankle problems.
• The ball should be released from behind the shoulders and not out in front of the body.

Performance Boosting Softball Pitching Tips
The main things that one should take into account for boosting the performance are maintaining the balance, regular practice and analyzing the opponent. Regular practice helps strengthen the arms and feet which facilitate throwing the ball with power. Maintaining balance while pitching gives more power to the throw, and also increases the accuracy and speed. Analyzing the opponent helps in deciding about which style to use and to adjust the strategy accordingly. It helps in refining the approach towards pitching through informed decision making.

Excellent Drills for Softball Pitching
Here are some pitching drills that can be included in the daily softball practice.

• To perform this drill, one should stand facing a wall in the stride position. The softball should be flicked towards the wall. The ball must be thrown only with the force of wrists and the windmill should not be used.
• In this drill, the pitcher should stand at a distance of 6 feet from the wall. One should take his stride position and perform the windmill. The hips should not be in a closed position while performing this drill.
• The drill is performed by standing 8 feet away from a wall. The windmill should be performed in this drill. However, unlike the above mentioned drill, the hips should be in a closed position in this drill.

The above article gives an overview of the techniques used in softball and provides the necessary softball pitching instructions for improving the game. These softball pitching tips should be used to raise the performance levels in daily practice in competitions.