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All that you ever wanted to know about softball games in Australia. Get the latest on softball issues, practices and coaches in the country through our database listing right here at www.SoftballTime.com.au.

Softball is a team sport in which a ball, eleven to twelve inches in circumference, is thrown (pitched) underhand by a player called a pitcher and hit by an offensive player called a batter with a round, smooth stick called a bat which is usually wooden, metal or composite. Scoring is accomplished by the batter running and touching a series of three raised markers on the ground called bases, and then touching the final base, called home plate. It is in the shape of a house facing away from the pitcher. Softball is a direct descendant of baseball, which is sometimes referred to as hardball to distinguish the two, but differs from it in several ways. Fast Pitch softball is a very defensive, pitcher-oriented game.

The pitcher delivers the ball at maximum speed with little to no arc. The pitch is very similar to that of one thrown by a baseball pitcher, but the two differ primarily in their throwing styles and release points: baseball pitchers release the ball from a point higher than the catcher's glove (overhand), whereas fast pitch softball pitchers release at a point that is lower than or equal to the height of the catcher's glove. All defensive players may wear fielding gloves, made of leather or similar material. Gloves have webbing between the thumb and forefinger. The first baseman and the catcher may wear mitts; mitts are distinguished from gloves in that they have extra padding, and no fingers. Except for the pitcher, whose glove cannot be white or gray (this confuses the batter), gloves and mitts can be any colour.

Gloves used in softball are generally larger than the ones used in baseball. In 16 inch softball, gloves are generally not worn. It will be determined by league whether gloves are permissible or not. Explore more about softball, softball bats, softball equipments, fast pitch softball, milken softball bat, softball bat, and softball gloves in a store near you through the database listing of our website