What are the differences between softball and baseball?

Baseball and softball are both very popular team sports. Related sports competitions are held in various places every year. In particular, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea all have excellent baseball teams that are sought after by people. Baseball and softball are very similar, so it is easy for many people who don’t know much about these two sports to confuse the two, which leads to many jokes. Now we will tell you the differences between softball and baseball so that you can better distinguish them.

(1) Pitching on the mound: Softball - pitchers do not pitch on the mound.

Baseball - Pitcher must stand on the mound to pitch

Action: Softball - Throwing with the lower arm

Baseball - There is no set method. In practice, most pitchers throw the ball with their hands over their shoulders.

However, in many professional leagues, you can also see baseball pitchers using the lower arm method.

Most of them are relief pitchers (usually replaced after the 6th inning)

(2) Rules and Field: Softball - The distance between bases is 18.3 meters (60 feet). In addition, there is a safe base at the first base.

An orange base attached to the normal white base to avoid collision. Base runner must run to orange

The first baseman must run to the white base.

Baseball - The distance between bases is 27.45 meters (90 feet)

Batting: Softball - The distance between the pitcher and the batter is 12.2 meters (40 feet)

Baseball - pitcher's distance is 18.4 meters (60 feet, 6 inches)

Base walk: In softball, a runner must have at least one foot on the base before the pitcher throws the ball (so the pitcher doesn't have to worry too much about stealing bases)

Baseball - A runner can leave the plate at will to steal a base (so if the pitcher in baseball is on base,

When pitching, be sure to be careful and check the runner's distance from the base first.)

Innings: Softball - 7 innings

Baseball - 9 innings

Tie: Softball - After 7 innings, if the score is still tied, in extra innings, the runner will start from second base.

To increase scoring chances

Baseball - There are no special rules for ties

(3) Equipment: Basically, the equipment required for both sports is the same. The biggest difference is the size of the ball. Softball is much larger than baseball.

Baseball is divided into two types of balls, one is hard ball and the other is soft ball (due to the limitation of the playing field, most of the amateur players in Japan

Baseball is played soft, mainly because Japan lacks space, most of the construction of soft baseball fields is smaller than hard baseball fields.

As for equipment, please make sure to check whether it is suitable for hardball/softball or softball before purchasing.

For example, if you are playing hardball baseball, please be careful not to use softball or softball protective gear and bats, because there are different hardness of balls.

Baseball equipment manufacturers use different materials, weights, etc.

The simplest point is that if you use a softball or softball bat to hit a hardball, the bat will easily deform.

In addition, the most important thing to emphasize is that you must pay attention to whether the fielding gloves you use are suitable for the type of ball you play. For example, if you use soft

If you use gloves to play hardball baseball for a long time, the quality of soft gloves cannot withstand the hard ball, so not only the gloves will be easily damaged,

The hand bones are also easily injured, but in Hong Kong baseball, the ball speed is not too fast, so many players use soft gloves.

What are the differences between softball and baseball? Looking at the introduction above, we have learned that in order to distinguish these two sports well, we must distinguish them from several aspects such as sports equipment, rules, and players, so that we can better perceive them. Baseball and softball require a lot of exercise and have high requirements for team unity in training. Baseball and softball are very suitable for both men and women, so if you want to practice, you can also participate.