However, it is possible to hit a ball that travels further or comes down faster. When struck by a bat, it will usually travel 50 to 60 feet before landing in a field of dirt or grass. Today's softball ball is around 1 inch in diameter and weighs between 18 and 20 ounces. In 2007, aluminum particles were added to the surface of the ball to make it harder. In 1976, fluorescent orange paint was put on the ball to make it easier for fans to see when it hits the ground. In 1920, oil was added to the surface of the ball to help with spin. These balls are still used today, except that they are now made out of synthetic materials instead of animal guts and lungs. As time went on, rubber balls were used instead. The original ball used in that game had feathers attached to it to give it some amount of softness. The first organized game of what is now known as softball was played in Chicago in 1869. Additionally, the leather ball has coils embedded in it to provide more bounce than a baseball. This alters the arc of the ball as it approaches the plate. Baseballs are hurled overhand, whereas softballs are pitched underhand. Despite its name, the ball used in modern softball is not soft, unless a foam practice ball is utilized. The game was given the name "softball" in 1926. While this isn't an issue for leagues that stick with slow pitch, it does make games longer than they need to be. This can lead to more innings being played which can be problematic for injured players or those who need to rest before the next game.Īdditionally, teams that use speed softball as their primary mode of attack have trouble scoring when they get behind because there is not enough time to come back from an early deficit. Since there is no set number of pitches required in an inning, coaches can choose to go extra frames if the game goes into overtime. There are some disadvantages to batting against the clock. Although speed softball is still used as a secondary mode of play, it is growing in popularity. The increased time on defense allows for more offensive opportunities which is why most leagues that play slow pitch use it as the basis for their offense. In 1938, the first official all-slow-pitch game was played, and since then, the format has been adopted by many leagues around the country. The history of slow pitch softball began during the 1933 World's Fair, however there was a strong drive to extend the pitching distance. Soft pitch was the original type of softball, but fast pitch became popular in the 1940s.
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