Softball vs Baseball, differences?

Question

I know about the size of the ball, the underarm pitch and the size of the diamond, what else? In baseball, can you leave the base (ie ready to steal) before the ball leaves the pitchers hand, I know in softball you have to wait on the base.

Answer 1

Yes you can steal in softball, as soon as it leaves the pitchers hand you can go. In baseball you can go whenever. others have mentioned the innings. However the person commenting that the ball is not as hard obviously has never held or been hit by a "soft"ball. there is nothing soft about it. Also, intentional walks are not allowed in softball like they are in baseball and if the pitcher is going to in both sports they have to throw 4 balls, nothing stopping the batter from hitting or swinging at a bad pitch. The other thing is that there is not requirements for an arch unless you are playing slow pitch.

Answer 2

Baseball- 9 innings, 9 players, base paths 90
feet, pitching plate to home 60'6", four pitched
balls for a walk, pitch is overhand and fast, no
aluminum bats, home to second base 127' 3",
stealing bases ok, leave base to run when ball leaves the pitcher's hand, score can be 1-0
or 65 to 10. usually play only 1 game per day.

Softball fastpitch and slowpitch, 7 innings, 10 players, base paths adults 60 feet, pitching plate to home 46' men 40 feet women, pitchers can tell umps to walk the batter throwing no pitches, pitching is underhanded fast or slow must have a 3' to 10' arc, aluminum bats preferred, home to 2nd base 84' 101/4" no stealing bases, runner must wait for ball to reach home or have contact of the bat to run, (slaughter rule is in effect) if home team leads by 10 runs or more after 41/2 or 5 full innings the umpire calls the game over. Teams usually play double-headers each day and sometimes 5-7 games on a Saturday or Sunday if in a tournament.

Answer 3

A huge difference which makes softball a more exciting game in some ways is the increased aerodynamic sensitivity of the softball.

The increased size of the softball allows for a rising fastball. In baseball, if you threw a horizontal fastball (has backspin) the ball would drop, as you increased the spin rate the ball would drop slower but would still drop. Though I have not tested everyone in the world, I don't believe there is a human being able to make the ball spin fast enough to cause it to rise from aerodynamics alone.

On the other hand, in softball, a rising fastball is possible by a good high school pitcher and outfielder throw rising fastballs all the time on their throws to the infield.

Answer 4

In baseball there are 9 innings, in softball there's 7. Abaseball field is much bigger. Softball has 10 fielders, baseball has 9. Softball can be played both slow or fast pitched. In fast pitch, you can steal.

Answer 5

in softball and baseball it depends on the league you are in that decides the leaving the base rule
a softball pitch is harder to hit because you have to swing level but in baseball you just swing up so it is a lot easier to hit the ball (i have heard this from players who have played both sports)
it is easier to throw a baseball becasu it is soo small and much easier to pitch it

Answer 6

I don't know much about the differences but I think softball is played more by girls and baseball is played more by boys. Here is a great site comparing the differences.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_baseball_and_softball

Answer 7

Softball is a sport, baseball is a game.

Answer 8

In baseball you can take as big a lead as you can as a base runner.

Answer 9

You Can go any time on the basepath in baseball.

Answer 10

You don't pitch off a mound in softball.