by D. Hogan

Created on: February 21, 2009

Slowpitch softball! What a wonderful game it used to be with true restricted flight balls and before technology invented such amazing bats. I can still remember games with scores in the low single digits because of excellent defense and the restricted nature of the balls and bats. Now it is a different story scores sometimes exceed 30 and 40 runs. The pitching aspect of this wonderful game is controlled by the league or association who sets the standard or rules defining a legal pitch. Generally a person can develop the skills to be a good pitcher simply by measuring out the correct distance between the pitching rubber (where you pitch from) and the plate. This is usually 48 to 50 feet depending upon age and gender. The first thing you need to know is that pitches are suppose to contain an ark between 6 and 12 feet. The higher the ark the more difficult it is suppose to be for the batter to hit it. A strike is accomplished when the ball passes over the plate and passes between the back shoulder and the front knee of the batter when he/she is centered on the plate. This is difficult to judge so it is best to learn to spot pitch. To accomplish this you should understand that a ball pitched with proper ark from a said distance will land in a certain "spot" behind the plate. By having that spot defined by a mat or a bucket or someone with a mit acting as catcher you will have your target. This will general be within an area approximately 18" behind the plate point. Of course if you throw flatter pitches it could extend well beyond that area. A flat pitch that lands immediately behind the plate could be called a "ball" because of being to low. You should not be afraid to throw high pitches and be called for it testing to see what the umpire will accept.

Now that you have a general idea of what needs to be accomplished pitching is simply a matter of tossing the ball underhand and having it land in the designated area. The easiest way to start and control the ball is with your hand facing up and the ball in your palm or fingers as you toss you will want to flick your wrist to release the ball. Once you have become fairly good at this release you can turn your hand over and deliver with your palm down and more swing in your arm creating a back spin on the ball which can alter the flight patter slightly. Your concentration should be focused entirely on the target not the batter. Your catcher should be moving the target according to what they feel the batter may or may

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