How  do you pitch really fast in softball?
361265
You have to have a strong arm and most of it really is a gift.\nYou either have a srong arm or you don't.\n\nNot everyone with a strong arm is a good pitcher for various reasons.\n\nLifting weights will help give you a stronger arm but you don't want to be lifting real heavy weights and make your muscles too tight.\n\nIf you do have a strong arm, then you need to learn different types of pitches and how to throw them.\n\nPractice a lot with a catcher and play as much ball as possible.\nIt would be good to practice with a good softball pitcher who could show you the proper technique.\n\nIf you have the talent it will start to show the more you play.\nIf you don't have the arm or are not a real good pitcher you still could be a very good ballplayer and have a lot of fun playing another position on a team.
336475
Hello,\n\nSoftball Rules Simplified   \n\nTHE GAME\n\nThere are 9 players on a softball team. \nThe playing field is divided into the infield and outfield \nThe lines between the bases are 60’ apart and when joined they form a “diamond”, inside the baseline is known as the infield \nOutside the baseline but inside the playing field is called the outfield. \nAny ball going outside the 1st or 3rd base line is a foul ball ( runners can not advance and the batter gets another try unless the ball was caught in the air, which translates to an out) \nAn official game is 7 innings (a inning is when both teams have had their turn to bat) \n\n\nPITCHING\n\nThe pitcher must have both feet on the pitcher’s rubber and can only take one step forward while pitching. \nThe ball must be thrown underhand. \nBoth hands must be on the ball at the start of the pitch. \n\n\nBATTING\n\nBatters must follow the same order throughout the whole game \nThe batter is out if and when: \na) three strikes have been called\n\nb) a fly ball is caught\n\nc) the batter does not stand in the batter’s box\n\n\nBASE RUNNING\n\nRunners must touch each base in order \nRunners may overrun 1st base only, all other bases the runner may be tagged and called out if they are off the base. \nRunners can not lead off a base, they must be on base until the ball as left the pitcher’s hand \nAfter a fly ball has been caught the base runner must tag the occupied base before advancing to the next base \nOne base runner can not pass another base runner that is ahead of them. \nStealing a base is not permitted \nA runner is out if: \na. they are tagged with the ball before reaching a base\n\nb. the ball gets to 1st base before the runner\n\nc. they run more than 3 feet out of the base line to avoid being tagged\n\n\nTERMS:\n\nBall- a legally pitched ball that does not enter the strike zone (four balls equals a walk) \nGrounder- A ball that is hit on the ground \nForce out- when the runner has to advance to the next base to make room for the following base runner. \nFly ball- ball hit up in the air to the infield \nOn deck- the next batter \nPop up- ball hit up in the air to the infield \nStrike- term used when a ball is swung at and missed or is called when the ball enters the strike zone and is not swung at all. \nStrike zone- the ball passes the batter over the plate between their chest and knees  \n\nSreekar.
565453
I don't believe you. Even if you can, can you just throw it or you can throw curve balls, change up, fast balls, fork ball up, etc. What I mean is that can you really strike a guy out with a 98mph fast ball or you can just a throw a ball at 98 mph? 2 different things .
1144873
1. Get the ball off the ground as first as possible\n2. Keep in communication with your fly-half to know his position.\n3. Talk to your forwards and inform them of where you expect the next setpiece to be depending on the move you are doing..for rucking to be efficient.\n4. Push your forwards to the edge whenever they are mauling..ask for the ball to be channeled ans sl;ap them to push harder.\n5. Try to get the ball of the ground in one motion to the fly half..as in dont lift the ball then flow it.\n6. Compose yourself..you are the pacesetter...this is so as to give the game a good pace comfortable for your team players.\n7. Play for fun...dont trouble yourself with thoughts of letting the team down..you did your best.
1032509
Depends on what aspect and type of softball your referring to. \n\nSlowpitch softball is alright, although it's pretty much a hitter's game and the most intriguing question is who's going to buy the beer aftewards.\n\nFastpitch softball is a fantastic game, particulary in regards to the different types of pitches.  The only complaint I have, particularly once you get into the higher levels (women's college world series, for example), is that the games are so low scoring.  You get to see the best pitchers dominate the best hitters, but a 1-0 game with 18 Ks by one pitcher is tough to swallow night after night.  I also wish there were a few more extra base hits - it seems that if it's not a slap single, it's a HR.  Plus I get confused with the switching rules of when a player can go and re-enter.\n\nBaseball seems to be the more complex of the two, particularly when you look at the specialization in certain areas, particularly pitching.  There seems to be a bit more going on throughout the game as far as strategy, but the same could be said for softball.\n\nFor fun, it's softball.  For strategy and complexity, I'll take baseball.
454324
Baseball Almanac shows a pitch by Mark Wohlers in 1995 Spring Training at 103 mph.  It's quite likely that faster pitches have been thrown but not recorded.
783177
I'm sure there are, but everyone pitches differently. My son took lessons from 2 different people and they both taught different styles. Just throw the ball - work on accuracy first and speed second!\nA great tool is set an old tire on post with tire opening at strike zone then throw, throw, throw!
1093407
You throw the sinker pretty much like a fast ball. It is mostly a modified two seem fastball. Take your two seemer grip, then move your pointer and middle fingers closer together. They should now be between the seems (fingers on seems takes away the sinking action). Offset your thumb from the 6 o;clock position to about 7 or 8 o'clock. \n\nWhen you throw, this grip will make you, without trying, "turn the ball over". From a righthander, the ball will have a little clockwise and "top" spin to it. The ball will TEND to move in and down to a righthanded batter.\n\nMove your thumb the other way and you will be throwing a "cutter". A cutter is a fastball that acts like a slider (without as much movement and sinking action) but has almost the velocity of the two seem fastball.\n\nThe regular two seem fastball will tend to tail into a right handed batter from a righthanded pitcher.\n\nAnother way to throw the sinker is to widen your pointer a middle finger a bit from the two seem fastball. Now they will be outside the laces of the "sweet" spot on the baseball. Thumb stays in the same position as a regular two seem fastball. This pitch will tend to break straight down late. You will loose velocity (compared to the two seem fastball) but pick up movement down. With a little pressure from either finger, you will find the ball tailing one way or another. Some call this a sinker, others call it a split fingered fastball. Neither term is completely accurate but both suffice.\n\nIf you have large hands and widen the split in your fingers so that the ball rests on the web between those fingers, you will be throwing a fork ball. That pitch breaks down hard and is fairly slow. It actually works like a poor knuckle ball but at a higher velocity. \n\nAgain, you need a coach right there with you that knows what he/she is doing. You should also not be trying to throw these pitches until you are at least 13 and more like 16. Some people say that widening your fingers on a ball can hurt your arm. I say it depends on the size of your hands and length of your fingers. Be safe with it.
1155834
Roger Clemens works on his legs a lot. If you're throwing that lightly you need to work on your legs.\n\nWHen you're pitching you maybe thinking, "I'm hardly using my legs at all".\n\nBut when Clemens pitches, he says his legs are "burning from the workout".\n\nIf you can add 10-20 MPH just from leg pushoff.\n\nYou'll be throwing 83-93 in no time.
1084980
When you've got this pitch under control, hitters have no idea when to swing. When it's out of control, though, even the pitcher doesn't know where the ball is going! \n\n1.   Grip the baseball by clenching the top of the ball with the tips of your index, middle and ring fingers just below the seams. Dig the tips of your fingers deep into the ball.  \n  \n2.   Place your thumb below the ball to give it support. Keep your pinkie off to the side.  \n  \n3.   Go into your windup. Remember to pivot and shift your body weight from the back foot forward toward home plate.  \n  \n4.   Throw the ball toward home, but don't snap your wrist - keep it stable, eliminating as much spin as possible.  \n  \n5.   Follow through. Extend all fingers toward home plate as you release the pitch. Your feet should be parallel at the end of the pitch, and your throwing arm should come across the front of your body.  \n\n An effective knuckleball moves in two or three different directions in flight.  \n  \n Try a variation on the knuckleball grip by using just the index and middle fingers on the top of the ball. The ring finger joins the pinkie off to the side.  \n  \n The slower the pitch, the more time the ball has to weave toward home plate.  \n\nI've found that if you put all four of you fingers, index through pinky, and put them right below the seam of the ball, you can throw an effective knuckleball. The release of the ball requires that you do not flick your wrist when your release. Come across your body letting your fingers extend toward the plate when you release.
1104214
Throw that ball as hard and as fast and as straight as you can to the right of the ten pin if you a right handed bowler. If you're a lefty, aim for the seven pin. I don't believe there is any skill involved in carrying a 7/10 split though. It's all luck honey!!!
1022857
Evaluate your lineup and player attributes. Place the best contact hitters and speed runners near the top of the lineup and play small ball to score runs early. Be aggressive on the bases and try to steal often. Most pitchers won't expect it, or might make a bad throw to the base, either way you advance the runners. Teach the hitters to work the count and take pitches. Most pitchers will not get the ball over the plate everytime. You can get more walks and increase the pitch count on the opposition which will force them to go to the bullpen. Play the outfield deep so they can run toward the ball if it is hit shallow, it is much harder to run backwards and catch a pop fly. Teach pitchers two good pitches and make them stick with it. A decent breaking ball in would very difficult for most 16 yr old hitters to make contact with. Even if the breaking ball ends up in the dirt , they will swing. I could be more specific if you gave more detail on the team's weaknesses.
670045
hold the ball so that the seam looks like a "U", place your index finger and middle finger on or on the outside of the seam. the bottom of the "U" should be between your knuckles. now throw a fastball, but let the ball slide out of your hand, less snap on the wrist. but just a little. the result is the equivalent of a slider but the ball has a more straight downward movement. \nanother grip is just the reverse, flip the "U" up-side down and place your finger tips on the outside of the widest part of the seam.
529114
Take a bag of balls find a padded wall somwhere or sturdy fence. Start throwing  balls at it repeatedly. Start from 15 to 20 ft and toss lightly. Move back every little while. Keep throwing. I'm not kidding it sounds silly but I'm serious. Don't get fancy, just throw the ball. Like catch, as you get further you can throw a little harder but don't get crazy. But you'll see that as you go back you start throwing a bit harder involuntarily.\n\nYou'll do two things. Get your arm more durable, and work the muscles you'll use to throw which will increase velocity. Pitching is an unnatural motion you have to develop the muscles you use to throw which don't get used as often in normal circumstances. There's no easy fix. Throw, throw, and when you're done throw some more. Young pitchers don't just throw anymore.\n\nRemember Jim Morris the 35 year old Science teacher who'd had arm surgery and at 35 was throwing 98 MPH, and later pitched for the Devil Rays. How'd he do it? He was throwing batting practice to the kids he was coaching. Just throwing over and over.
1097033
LMAO @ the number of ignorant people who think softball is mainly for women.\n\nGet your brain box out of your butts. 70-80 mph pitching from 43-46 ft from home plate would spin most of your heads.\n\nA few years back there was a mens softball team which exhibition toured the USA and Canada. This team played with only 4 men and never lost. The pitcher would pitch one inning from second base instead of from the pitchers circle and most nights he would strike out the side.
424078
to gain speed, try filling a tennis ball with pennies and slowly go thru your pitching motion. this will add strength and speed and always remember to release right at the knees.
223823
Hi. I'm a pitcher in  high school girls fast pitch. I think it is a fairly easy sport. You  have to practice a lot to get good, But it's really fun.