Editing Softball (section)

==== Fastpitch ====
[[File: Pitching 3.jpg|thumb|upright|Fastpitch pitcher [[Megan Gibson]] pitching the ball in the "windmill" motion]]
For [[fastpitch softball]], the traditional pitching style is a "windmill" motion, extending the arm above the body and releasing the ball at about hip level at maximum speeds. Strength acquired in the underhand windmill motion is based on the open-to-close hip motion.

Pitches may reach high speeds. In women's fastpitch, depending on the age group, pitchers can throw from {{Cvt|30 to 65|mph}} or more. The fastest pitch ever recorded was at {{Cvt|77|mph}} by Monica Abbott on June 16, 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|date=c. 2012|title=Fastest softball pitch (female)|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/fastest-womens-softball-pitch#:~:text=The%20fastest%20recorded%20softball%20pitch,Kannapolis%2C%20North%20Carolina%2C%20USA.|access-date=February 27, 2021|website=Guinness World Records}}</ref> At the [[1996 Summer Olympics]] one pitch reached {{Cvt|73.3|mph}}.<ref name="pitching speed">{{cite web|url=http://www.olympic.org/uk/sports/programme/index_uk.asp?SportCode=SO|title=Softball – About|publisher=[[International Olympic Committee]]|access-date=2008-08-17}}</ref> Male pitching can reach speeds around {{Cvt|85|mph}}. To compare, MLB players average around {{Cvt|90|mph}} but can reach speeds up to {{Cvt|100|mph}}.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thecompletepitcher.com/pitching_speeds.htm|title=Pitching Speeds|work=Steven Ellis' Baseball Pitching Instruction|access-date=2018-10-19|language=en}}</ref> Although slower than baseball pitches, the shorter pitching distance in fastpitch results in batters having a comparable time to react to a pitch as in baseball.

Throwing fastballs for speed is not always the most important factor in fastpitch softball. Pitchers can throw breaking balls that move late in their flight, fooling batters into swinging at pitches outside the strike zone or, conversely, not swinging at pitches that pass through the strike zone. These include balls that break inwards (screwball) and outwards (curveball) on right-handed batters, starting off the plate and moving into the strike zone or starting towards the strike zone and moving off the plate. There are also rise balls that break upwards, frequently starting in the strike zone and ending above it, and drop balls that break downward. Another common pitch is the change-up, an intentionally slow pitch that initially appears to be a fastball, causing the batter to swing too early and miss or foul off the pitch. Rarer is the knuckleball, which moves slowly and erratically. Pitchers use deception as a primary tactic for getting batters out as the reaction times are approximately half a second or less. At higher levels of play, pitchers aim for the inner and outer corners of the plate when throwing fastballs and breaking pitches. Pitchers also vary the location of the pitch by height to make hitting the ball even harder for the batter. Pitchers also throw knuckleballs which are generally slower and move erratically.

A "crow hop" is an illegal pitch that occurs when the pitcher pushes with the pivot foot from somewhere other than the pitching plate. This often involves jumping from the pitching plate and replanting somewhere in front of the pitching plate. For an illegal pitch, the umpire extends his left arm straight out to the side and clenches his fist. This results in a ball being awarded to the batter, and any runners on base advancing to the next base. If the batter swings at the pitch that is deemed illegal and puts the ball in play, the offense is given the option to accept the results of the play or accept the penalty listed previously (exception: if the play results in the batter and any runners all advancing at least one base, the play stands and no option is given). The image to the right demonstrates a legal pitch as the push-off foot has not left the ground. The ball must be released simultaneously with the lead leg step.