1, the size and color of the ball

Softball is developed from baseball with similar rules, but its technical difficulty and sports intensity are lower than baseball. Softball and baseball have a lot in common. At the same time, they are constantly evolving in their own development process, and their particularity is becoming more and more obvious.

Simply put, softball is bigger and heavier. The two kinds of balls are made of slightly different materials. The baseball used in regular games is white, while the softball can be white or yellow-green (most of the soft balls used at present are yellow-green).

2. Site specifications

Softball originated from 1887- 1895, which is the product of improving the modern baseball field, equipment and competition rules that appeared in 1839.

Softball field and baseball field are both diamond-shaped fields, but they are still different in size and specifications. Generally, the pitch of softball is 40 feet (12.2m), while that of baseball is 60.6 feet (18.4m).

Softball bases are 60 feet apart (18.3 meters), while baseball bases are 90 feet apart (27.45 meters). In short, the baseball field is big and the softball field is small.

3. Security barrier

The three ordinary base bags in a baseball field are all white canvas bags. The specifications of the base bags are square, with a side length of 15 inch, the thinnest part of which is not less than three inches and the thickest part of which is not more than five inches.

However, half of the two-color softball bag is white (fixed out of bounds) and the other half is orange (fixed out of bounds). Softball has a safety base on the first base, which is an extra orange base to avoid collision.

So when running the base, the runner must run to the orange safety base and the first baseman must run to the white base. Two-color base bag is suitable for first base of softball. The length and width of the base bag shall be 38cm×76cm, and the thickness shall not exceed 13cm. It is made of canvas or other suitable materials.

4. Pitching posture

When watching the game, you should also find that baseball and softball pitchers have different pitching postures. There are many pitching postures in softball, among which windmill and pendulum are the most commonly used pitching methods.

Generally speaking, pendulum style is used most, because this action will make the ball stronger, faster and farther naturally. But this is not absolute, it depends on which way you are suitable.

Softball pitchers usually throw the ball in the form of forearm movement, while baseball pitchers throw the ball in the form of raising their hands over their shoulders similar to passing the ball.

5. Flat land and pitching mound

Baseball pitchers pitch on the protruding mound, while softball pitchers pitch on the flat ground. Meanwhile, in softball, base runner can only leave the base after the pitcher throws the ball.

In baseball, the runner is allowed to leave the base early, which can shorten the distance between the runner and the next base, and he can get on the base in a shorter time. Of course, we should increase the chances of going to the base as much as possible.

6. Number of games

Normally, the baseball game is nine innings, but some sudden death rules will take effect after seven innings. After 9 draws, it will be added to 12 overtime. The softball game is seven innings.