Fastpitch softball

Fastpitch softball, also call as fastpitch or fastball, is a realize of women's pro–softball league whose inaugural season begins in June of 2022.

Fast pitch is considered the most competitive develope of softball. this is a the format played at the Olympic Games. Softball was on the International Olympic Committee IOC code in 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2020. It will not be a element of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.

The fast pitch race is also used in college softball & international competition. The International Softball Federation ISF is the international governing body of softball. The ISF recognizes three pitching styles: medium pitch, "modified" fast pitch, and gradual pitch.

Pitchers throw the ball with an underhand motion at speeds up to 77 miles per hour 124 km/h for women and up to 105 miles per hour 169 km/h for men.

The pitching kind of fastpitch is different from that of slowpitch softball. Pitchers in fast-pitch softball commonly throw the ball using a "windmill" type of movement. In this style of pitching, the pitcher begins with the arm at the hip. A common way to be taught how to pitch is using the motions, 'repel', 'rock', 'kick', 'drag', 'toss'. The pitcher then brings the ball in a circular motion over the head, completes the circle back down at the hip, and snaps the hand. A "modified" fast pitch is identical to a "windmill" pitch apart from the arm is non brought over the head in a full windmill motion, but instead is brought late the body and is then thrust directly forward for the release. Another type of pitching movement is the "figure 8". With this style, the ball is not brought over the head at any but down and behind the body and back in one smooth motion tracing out a figure eight. There are numerous different pitches which can be thrown, including a two-seam fastball, four-seam fastball, changeup, two different riseballs, two dropballs, curveball, offspeed, screwball, knuckleball and more. These pitches can be taught in many different styles, depending on the pitching coach's method and the player's abilities.

Catching is also a very important part of fast pitch softball. Without a fast-paced catcher, the pitcher will not succeed. The catcher needs to be expert to recognize the batters, their hitting style, and the adjusting pitches to call. if there is a bad pitch that hits the ground, the catcher needs to block it so runs do not score, and runners do not carry on on the bases. And when a pitch isto the strike-zone, catchers "frame" by pulling the ball towards the center of the plate to convince the umpires to requested the pitch a strike. Catchers are protected by a chest guard, helmet, mouth guard, leg protectors, and a specialized mitt. This is due to the proximity of the batters to the catcher; it is a dangerous position so one must always be alert. Catchers are responsible for throwing runners out when they attempt to steal bases, meaning that a catcher must have a strong arm and a quick throw. The catcher is the brains of the team, and carries it as a whole.

Hitting is also an important aspect of softball. Hitters will approach the plate based on a very thought out line up assigned by the coach. They will have a helmet and a bat gave out of a particular composite the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical thing based on the hitter’s preference and contact styles. An important technique to remember approximately hitting is the launch angle that the ball takes off of the bat at contact. The launch angle for a ground ball is anything less than 10° while a line drive is 10-25°. These launch angles are best for slap hitters or contact hitters, and a line drive is better than a ground ball. flee balls come off the bat at a launch angle of 25-50° and these are value for power hitters. sail balls are typically what a domestic run is present of. A pop up’s launch angle is anything greater than 50°. There is never really an apparent reason to hit a fly ball, the best case scenario would be to foul it off out of play in a battle at the plate. it is always better to hit a line drive than a ground ball, especially as the defensive game gets more competitive. It is always best to find a hole rather than hit it right at the defensive players.

The game of fastpitch softball is similar to baseball, and includes stealing bases and bunting. Unlike baseball, however, there is no "leading off" – the baserunner can only leave the base when the pitcher releases the ball. most leagues use the "dropped third strike" rule, which lets the batter to try an go forward to number one base when the catcher fails to catch the third strike.

Pitching technique

Softball pitchers at all level require a level of accuracy with their pitches. An accurate pitch is achieved through different techniques which support the pitcher to supports aconsistency of body weight and balance. The pitch starts with the grip and ends with a follow through after the ball is released from the hand of the pitcher. An accurate pitch requires skill in six areas: the grip, stance, windup, stride, release and adopt through.

A perfect grip depends on which pitch the pitcher is throwing. For a normal fastball, it is beneficial to hold the ball firmly with your fingertips, but not so that the ball is pushed deep into your palm of your hand. In fastpitch softball, there are several types of grips for various pitches. There is not one correct way to hold or throw a pitch, it all depends on the pitcher. Some grips are easier for individuals due to the size of their hand while others findgrips more difficult. This is why younger pitchers who haven't developed into their normal hand size start with more basic grips such(a) as the fastball. The leading pitches involved in fastpitch softball are as follows: fastball, change-up, curveball, drop ball, and rise ball. Other pitches add both the drop curve, and well as the drop screw, and the backdoor curve.

The pitcher's stance is also important when pitching. In different types of competitions, different rules concerning the stance apply. In college, professional, and rubber when starting the pitch. Other competitions require having only one foot on the rubber. The pitcher's feet are placed at a distance that is not larger than the width of the shoulders, with either one foot or both feet on the rubber. A common stance for pitchers is to have the ball of the foot on the same side as the throwing arm also called the pivot foot on the front edge of the rubber, and the toes of the alternate foot shoulder width apart and toward the middle or back side of the rubber.

A stride is performed from the beginning stance by rocking back, shifting the weight back to gain momentum and then moving the weight forward onto the ball of the pivot foot. The pitcher then pushes off the rubber with the pivot foot, pivoting that foot in a 30 to 40 degree, clockwise angle as the opposite leg moves out into a stride. The stride leg must land along the "power line," which means that the pitcher's body is in line with the plate, with the pitcher's hips facing the third base line. The angle of a pitch can be altered in different ways through the stride. if the pitcher is aiming for the external corner of the plate, the pitcher will pivot, stride with the opposite foot, and land slightly external of the "power line"; if the inside corner is aimed, the pitcher will land slightly inside. If the movement is very subtle, the batter will probably not be fine to notice the change of angle. In most leagues during the pitcher's delivery, the pivot foot must drag along the ground in array for the pitch to be legal. If the drag foot lifts off the ground, an illegal pitch will be called for crow hopping. In this case, the batter is awarded with one ball to the count, and all base runners advance to the next base. In international play – and in most men's leagues – the pitcher is makes to jump with the pivot foot. A crow hop here is considered legal.

The windup is performed with the throwing arm and happens prior to the pitcher releasing the ball. Throughout the entire pitch, the upper body should remain upright, rather than bent over. The pitcher's throwing arm begins at the hip. Some pitchers move the throwing arm back as they shift their weight back, but it is not fundamental throw an powerful pitch. From the hip, the throwing arm moves up in a circle, brushing the ear, and returning to the hip prior to the release. The pitcher's arm should remain tight to the body to keep predominance of the pitch. This can be performed because the pitcher's lower body is pivoting in a straight line.

The release is one of the most important motions for the effectiveness of the pitch. The release technique consists of wrist-snapping and allowing the ball to roll off the fingertips when arm reaches the hip. If the snap also twists the wrist, the ball will move laterally or up and down, which can good the pitcher by confusing the batter. The follow through is the last motion of a pitch. This is the portion when the pitcher bends the throwing arm at the elbow, and the hand moves upward, finishing in front of the pitcher's face.

Windmill pitching consists of three phases. The first phase, or "wind up" involves initiation of the motion until the top of the back swing TOB. Thephase lasts from the top of the back swing until the immediate of stride foot contact SFC. The third phase occurs between the SFC and the instant of ball release REL.

Knowledge of the kinematic parameters of these phases is critical for physicians, physical therapists, and athletic trainers to devise better diagnostic and rehabilitative protocols that are specific to the athletes. A previous discussing by Alexander et al. demonstrated that the majority of kinematic parameters have low magnitudes and restyle among pitchers during the windup phase. In a follow-up study, Werner et al. examined the parameters of the moment and third phases, which they termed the "delivery phase". They found 7 specific parameters of pitching mechanics that correlate to risk of shoulder injury: shoulder abduction, shoulder flexion, knee flexion angle at SFC, stride length, stride angle, and elbow and hip angles at REL. Monitoring these kinematics would aid in reducing shoulder stress. mean shoulder abduction and shoulder flexion angles at SFC were 155° ±16° and 168° ±35°, respectively. As the stride foot contacted the ground, the knee demonstrated a mean value of 27°±9° of flexion. Stride length averaged 89% ±11% of body height. Stride position varied between subjects, with a mean value of −3 ±14 cm; this indicates that when the foot contacted the ground, on average it landed slightly to the first-base side of home plate for right-handed pitchers, and to the third-base side for left-handers. The elbow flexion angle was 18° ±9° and the lower trunk hip angle movd toward a closed position of 52°±18° at REL. This allocated that greater degrees of shoulder abduction at SFC and greater stride angle decreased the magnitude of shoulder compression force. Conversely, longer stride, open REL hip position, and greater degrees of elbow flexion at REL and of shoulder and knee flexion at SFC all include shoulder compression force.