Position matters

It is a terrible mistake to choose gloves that do not fit with your position because gloves are designed to best fit a specific position. Pitcher‘s gloves are lighter than others, while infield requires shorter with shallow pockets gloves.

First base, outfield and pitcher have open pocket gloves; while infield and catcher have closed pocket style. These differences are reasonable because each position requires different main functions and skills in the game. A catcher plays in a semi-crouched position behind home plate and receives pitches thrown by the pitcher, their gloves have closed pocket and do not have separately cut fingers like other positions so that they can be attached with the most lacing and take the most abuse without breaking. A pitcher constantly catching ball, throws the softball from the center of the diamond to the catcher, therefore their gloves are designed lighter.

Outfield’s gloves are longer and deeper because they catch and field flying balls, line drives, and ground balls hit into the outfield. The larger size and deep pocket also helps the ball stay in the glove when catching high-flying balls.

Picking the right size

Hands differ in sizes, so do softball gloves. A properly chosen-size glove helps players control the ball and play at his best performance. The shortest size is 8 inches, the longest size can go up to 15 inches, and the measurement of a catcher’s mitt goes as high as high as 35 inches.

The size are usually tagged on the glove but you can also measure it manually. Common sense of checking a proper size is that you feel snug after properly adjusted your glove. An important thing to remember is that your glove should not be too tight, because you may need some space for wearing battling glove. It is better to try your glove on with your battling glove while you are shopping because your estimation of space needed might not be accurate.

Below are the table of recommended glove sizes for a specific player according to the age, gender, and position. But remember that measurements in the chart are only guidelines and can’t fit with all cases, the most important factor is the comfort and you should try on several sizes to find one that most comfortable with your hands.

Leather quality and price

Gloves’ leather varies with quality and, of course, with price. There are five common types of leather used in making softball gloves: synthetic, cowhide, pigskin, full-grain, and steer hide. Synthetic, cowhide and pigskin leather is used in youth games. They are cheaper but less durable. Full-grain leather softball gloves is used in adult gloves and catcher’s mitts. Steer hide leather is known for its heavy weight and durability. Full grain and steer hide gloves both requires a break-in period before actual playing. The better material comes with higher price, but you can find a decent quality glove for less money that way by buying a used one. That is not a bad idea especially for the first glove.

Softball is one of the innovative sports in American history. This sport is similar to baseball, yet with significant alterations. It is a team sport in which one player throws the ball to another player of the opposing team. The player holding the bat is called batter, while the one throwing the ball is called pitcher. The name of this sport originated from the name of the ball used in the game – the softball.

Pitching Techniques in Softball

Pitching the ball is not all about throwing it to the batter. The pitcher should know the techniques or proper mechanics on throwing the ball. There are two pitches that the pitcher should learn such as the slow pitch and the fast pitch. Obviously, these two mechanics differ in movement, speed and location. The location and arc are important in slow pitch technique and the speed is consistent.

In fast pitch, the success of the team depends on the performance of the pitcher. This technique involves complex motion and it requires various release points and grips for different pitches. To understand more about the different techniques and mechanics of softball you should read on this article.

Fast pitch Technique

The windmill method is commonly employed in fast pitch softball. It is known as underhand pitch in which the arm of the pitcher starts in front and swing back to complete a full circle before releasing the ball at hip level. This method is more on arm motion, yet the pitcher should do a long stride and generate power form the torso and legs. To ensure efficiency in performing the windmill, the pitcher should understand the proper shifting of weight and speed. All the movements should be in sync to achieve maximum accuracy and velocity.

Fundamentals of Fast Pitch Technique

• Grip – In fast pitch technique, the pitcher should employ the grip depending on how he would throw the ball. The grip of the ball also determines the direction and how the ball travels. In fast pitch softball, the pitcher usually employs four-seam grip that is firm yet not tight. The ball should not be held against the palm, but should be securely held in the fingers.
• Stance – Another basic position that a pitcher should learn is the stance. This position is very important before winding up. This position varies from one pitcher to another, yet each player should have comfortable and consistent stance. The stance also shows how the pitcher is presenting the ball. The proper position should be front leg straight and back leg slightly bent.
• Wind up – This fundamental motion is designed to increase momentum. Windup prepares the pitcher in throwing the ball. The pitcher should learn the different positions involve in windup in order to make a successful pitch. There are several arm motions that can be used in windup and the pitcher should work on it

Slow-pitch Technique

The softball slow-pitch technique involves underhand pitching. The basic grip is the same with fast pitch, while the mechanics in slow pitch differ from the windmill pitch. This technique focuses on more gradual, slower movement.

Fundamentals of Slow-pitch Technique

• Grip – The four-seam grip is also used in slow-pitch technique particularly in overhand throw. The ball should be held by the fingers and not the palm. There should be space between the palm and the ball.
• Stance – Proper stance position should be learned by a pitcher. The impact of throwing the ball may depend on the stance. Likewise, the pitcher should be on a comfortable position while putting the weight on back foot.
• Windup – Knowing the proper windup position is significant in softball. Windup motion should not be whip-like, but it should be a semicircular, easy movement. The weight should be transferred to the front foot gradually.

Learning the basic techniques and mechanics in softball is useful for both beginners and even experienced players. In fact, even advanced pitchers sometimes do the wrong way of throwing the ball. For beginners, it is important to learn the right pitching motion while starting and develop the skills in order to achieve success.

With a lot of movements involved in softball, it can be confusing to learn them all outright. That is why players should take each step at a time and spend more time on practicing each step. To be an effective pitcher is not obtainable overtime; it would take many months or years. However, as long as you are determined to learn the pitching techniques, it would be easier to learn all the movements required in playing softball.

Good pitching requires learning and doing the right mechanics. It does not necessarily mean learning all of those at once. It should be a continuous learning process so that you can enhance your pitching skills. Knowing the fundamentals of softball is not enough for a player to become efficient at all times. It is important to practice more to improve the pitching skills.

Hitting the ball successfully depends on how the player does the swings. It is a daunting task to step into a box and hit a moving ball. Batters should have good reflexes, vision, strength and timing. The ball is faster than the eyes, thus a batter should know the proper mechanics of swinging the bat. Likewise, to effectively hit the ball, these three components should be in sync including the upper body, lower body and course the mechanics of swing.

• Upper Body – The upper body plays significant role in making a hit because it controls the movement while stepping into the batter’s box. While standing in the box, the head should be aligned with the belly button, the shoulders should be squared and the eyes focused on the pitcher.
• Lower Body – The lower body involves three motions such as the toe tap, heel plant and pivot. The toe tap brings the front foot towards the pitcher at 45 degrees angle. The lower body will experience positive movement by shifting the weight to the front foot. Make sure that your heel is planted on the ground to ensure balance. Pivot involves the rotation of the hips since most of the hitting power generates from the hips.
• Generating a powerful swing is the key to hit the ball. There is high-end equipment that can help in hitting the ball, yet it is still important to employ proper mechanics along with a strong body and core. Likewise, it is necessary to enhance the skills in hitting by learning the fundamentals and doing some drills.

Fundamentals of Hitting the Ball

• The Right Grip – In gripping the bat, there should be pressure on the fingers and not on the palms. The top hand is the one that supports the bat, while the bottom hand is the one that controls the bat. Gripping the bat should be done just like gripping a golf club or a hammer. The arms should not be crossed so that you can grip the bat loosely at the same time provides flexibility on your wrists.
• Hand Position – The hand position should be 3 to 4” in front of your chest. The shoulders should be tension-free and the both elbows should be down. To make your shoulder and hands relax, you can do a back and forth movement.
• Stance – Just like in pitching, the batter should also learn the proper stance that gives good balance. See to it that the weight is evenly distributed on your feet and the knees are slightly bent.
• Stride – While the pitcher is preparing to release the ball, the hitter should make the right stride by cocking the hips. After positioning the stride, the hitter must be ready to hit the ball by flexing the knees and ready to employ the swinging motion.
• Swing – The legs and the hips are important factors in doing the swing. While the hip is beginning to rotate, it should maintain parallel to the ground. Likewise, the eyes and head is level while the legs and hips are doing the movement. Knowing the proper way to hit the ball guarantees more compact swing.
• Contact – Proper rotation of the hips can help the batter to hit the ball hard. That is why the hitter should learn how to make the right contact suitable with different pitches. This way it will be possible to hit the ball at any location. To make successful contact, proper positioning of the arms should be observed.

Knowing the fundamentals in hitting a softball does not guarantee that you can make a powerful hit. To become more efficient in hitting, it is important to practice more so that you can identify the errors and flaws. Practice will also help in making adjustments in doing the swing. Likewise, it is necessary to practice the proper mechanics of hitting before getting into the batting cage.

Visualizing how you will hit the ball can also reduce the struggles. Having productive mindset can make you a competitive player. Today, the technology can help softball players to enhance the skills in hitting and pitching by using specific equipment. You can use such equipment in practicing to hit the ball. It will also enhance the technique in making a swing and the right timing.

Softball is one of the interesting sports. That is why if you want to engage in this sport, you should take time practicing the proper way of hitting. Knowing the techniques and movement is a great help to become efficient in playing the game. Likewise, it is also essential to engage in hitting drills and other activities for you to survive in this sport.

Beginners can opt to enroll in a training course in order to learn the fundamentals of softball. Learning the skills in softball is the key to succeed in every game performance.

Over the years and through the advent of technology, the baseball and softball bats have significantly changed particularly the design. Previous designs of bats were made from aluminum, but today most bats are made with composite materials.

Likewise, there are regulations set on which bats to use for each level. These changes have made buying softball or baseball bats overwhelming.

Thus, it is important to follow some guides on how to buy bats considering important details like types of bats, length and weight of bats suitable to the size of the user.

Anatomy of a Bat

• Barrel Size – Longer barrel has larger sweet spot that is ideal in making effective hits. Bats with smaller barrel is lightweight thus increases the swing speed. Big barrel bats are used for travel and Pony leagues.
• Grip – The grip refers to the covering on the handle of the bat that is sometimes wrapped with cloth or rubber. To ensure more reinforced grip, you can choose a bat that has leather covering. The rubber covering is perfect in reducing the sting as the player strikes the ball.
• Bat Taper – The diameter of the handle of a bat is called taper. If the diameter of the taper is larger it adds weight while reducing the ball shock. On the contrary, smaller taper reduces weight and allows quick wrist rotation.

Bat Weight and Length

In choosing the right weight and length you need to understand how it is measured. The weight is determined according to the drop weight that is the difference between the weight and length of the bat.

• Weight – The weight of the bat is gauged in ounces. If you want to make more power in hitting the ball, you should use heavier bats. For faster swing speeds you can use lightweight bats.
• Length – Obviously, longer bats offer greater reach in which it can connect with pitches. However, the added weight lessens the power and the swing speed.
• Drop – It is used in determining the measurement of the bat’s weight and length.

Picking the proper balance between the weight and length is important in making a perfect swing. Using lightweight, long bat enables the player to make swift swing, yet it does not increase the inertia. The inertia increases if the player will use short heavy bats.

Types of Bats

Choosing the type of bats is confusing as you need to consider the materials used in designing the bat. Professionals usually use the wooden bats specifically during practice and tournaments. Other types of bats to choose from are made from aluminum or alloy and the composite bats.

Aluminum Bats

This type of bat is commonly used by non-professional baseball players. They prefer it due to its durability and lighter weight. It is less expensive as compared to composite bats and lasts longer. Even if the aluminum bat is damaged it can still be used because it does not crack, rather it tends to dent. If you want to buy aluminum bat that has longer sweet spot and better balance, then you should choose a bat that is made from expensive alloy. Features of the aluminum bat include:

• It offers greater rebound and power due to its double-layer construction.
• Made from different types of alloy that varies according to the weight and strength.
• Aluminum bat does not require break-in period.

Composite Bats

This type of bats is manufactured integrating the innovation of technology. It is made from composite materials including resin, graphite and fiberglass. Composite bats are more expensive as compared to aluminum bats. Likewise, composite bats reduce the vibration to the hands and eventually lessen the sting. Here are some features of composite bats:

• Lighter than alloy bats and offers increasing power and swing speed.
• Composite bats have the best balance and largest sweet spot than other types of bats.
• Requires break-in period, yet the performance is not compromised rather improves over time.
• It is not recommended to be used during cold weather; otherwise the performance can be compromised.

Wood Bats

Wood bats have become iconic and commonly used by professionals and leagues that are using this type of bat. Wooden bats offer the following:

• Wooden bats offer more selection in taper and shape that suits to the player’s swing.
• Great for training in achieving proper swing technique.
• Wood bats are not used in softball.
• It tends to break, less hitting power and smaller sweet spot.

BBCOR-Certified Bats

This type of bats is used by baseball players in college level and high school level. This standard level of baseball bat ensures uniform performance as compared to metal baseball bats.

Knowing the important details regarding a softball or baseball bat can help in finding the best bat that you are comfortable to use. Hitting the ball depends on how comfortable the player to handle the bat in order to make a perfect hit, thus a homerun.