Editing Softball (section)

==Pitch==
[[File:Emma Johnson KSU.jpg|thumb|Unlike in baseball, softball pitches are thrown in an underhand style.]]
In softball, a '''pitch''' is the act of [[throwing]] a [[#Ball|softball]] toward home plate to start a play. All pitches are thrown from below the waist in an underhand motion. The phases of throwing include the grip, stance, windup, stride, release and follow through.

[[Pitcher]]s throw a variety of pitches, each of which has a slightly different velocity, trajectory, movement, hand position, wrist position and/or arm angle. These variations are introduced to confuse the batter in various ways, and ultimately aid the defensive team in getting the batter or baserunners out. To obtain variety, and therefore enhance defensive baseball strategy, the pitcher manipulates the grip on the [[#Ball|ball]] at the point of release. Variations in the grip cause the seams to "catch" the air differently, thereby changing the trajectory of the ball, making it harder for the batter to hit.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.coachup.com/resources/softball/softball-training-different-types-of|title = Five Popular Pitches of Softball &#124; CoachUp Nation|date = August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportsrec.com/244655-softball-slow-pitching-techniques.html|title=Softball Slow Pitching Techniques|website=SportsRec}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wusa.org/page/show/487102-what-is-crow-hopping- |title=What is "crow-hopping?" |access-date=2019-01-29 |archive-date=2019-01-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130110643/https://www.wusa.org/page/show/487102-what-is-crow-hopping- |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.softball-spot.com/girls-softball-4-basic-pitches/|title=4 Basic Softball Pitching Grips}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportsrec.com/4984945/ways-to-throw-a-drop-ball-in-softball|title=Ways to Throw a Drop Ball in Softball|website=SportsRec}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pitchsoftball.com/DropBallI-ThePeelMethod.html |title=Drop Ball I - the Peel Method Great softball pitching hints and recommendations for girl softball pitchers |access-date=2019-01-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181208040627/http://www.pitchsoftball.com/DropBallI-ThePeelMethod.html |archive-date=2018-12-08 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.softballperformance.com/softball-pitching-the-essentials/ |title=The Essentials &#124; Softball Performance |access-date=2019-01-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130115216/https://www.softballperformance.com/softball-pitching-the-essentials/ |archive-date=2019-01-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Bases Loaded Softball">{{cite web|url=https://www.basesloadedsoftball.com/guides/how-to-throw-a-rise-ball-in-softball/|title=How to Throw a Rise Ball in Softball|date=9 June 2019|publisher=Bases Loaded Softball}}</ref>

The selection of which pitch to use can depend on a wide variety of factors including the type of hitter who is being faced; whether there are any base runners; how many outs have been made in the inning; and the current score.

===Signaling===
The responsibility for selecting the type of pitch is traditionally made by the [[catcher]] by relaying hand signals to the pitcher with the fingers. In more advanced play, coaches may give signs to batters and/or runners to initiate special plays in certain situations. A catcher may signal to a position player that they will be trying to throw the runner out. A runner on base may see the pitch sign given by the catcher and hint it to the batter using hand or body motions.

===Pitching styles===
[[File:UCSD Softball 158.jpg|thumb|Pitching in softball involves various styles.]]
The [[World Baseball Softball Confederation]] (WBSC) recognizes three pitching styles:
* [[Fastpitch softball|fastpitch]]
* "modified" fastpitch
* [[#Pitching|slow-pitch]]

====Fastpitch style====
The pitching distance can range between 35 feet for younger players and 43 feet for older players. Collegiate and international level pitchers pitch from 43 feet. Pitches can travel at speeds of more than {{Cvt|65|mph}}.

* ''Windmill or "Full-windmill"''
:- The pitcher begins with her arm at the hip. Then she brings the ball in a circular motion over the head, completes the circle back down at the hip, and snaps the hand.

* ''Figure 8''
:- The ball is not brought over the head at all but down and behind the body and back in one smooth motion tracing out a figure eight.

* ''Illegal forms of pitching''
** "crow-hopping"
** "leaping"

===="Modified" fastpitch style====
* ''"Modified" windmill''
:- A "modified" fastpitch is identical to a "windmill" pitch except the arm is not brought over the head in a full windmill motion, but instead is brought behind the body (restricted back swing) and is then thrust directly forward for the release.

====Slow-pitch style====
The pitching distance is 50 feet. The pitch must be lofted in such a way that it falls onto the plate in order for it to be a called strike (the ball falls into the strike-zone instead of flying through). Strikeouts are rare in slow-pitch. Pitchers strategize to pitch the ball with a high enough arc that the batter cannot hit a line-drive. The speed of the pitches ranges from {{Cvt|25 to 35|mph}}, resulting in plenty of reaction time.

* ''half windmill''
:- High-arc pitching technique
:- The pitch must be thrown with an arc between 6-12 feet high. If the arc is not high enough, the umpire will call the pitch illegal.

===Types of pitches===

====Fastballs====
The fastball is typically the first type of pitch a player will learn. 
* [[Two-seam fastball]]
* [[Four-seam fastball]]

====Breaking balls====
* Drop ball
* Riseball
* Curveball
* Screwball
* Drop-curve
* Rise-curve
* Backdoor curve (the pitch starts out of the strike zone and curves back over the plate. Often, this pitch is thrown at a batters hip or hands with the intention of either moving them off the plate or inducing a foul ball) 
* Drop screw
* Backdoor screw (the same as a backdoor curve except the ball spins in the opposite direction of a curveball)
* Drop curve

====Changeups====
The changeup is the staple [[off-speed pitch]], usually thrown to look like a fastball but arriving much slower to the plate. Its reduced speed coupled with its deceptive delivery is meant to confuse the batter's timing. There are a variety of grips and techniques a pitcher may use to deliver a change up such as: 
* Flip (or "Back-hand flip") release 
* Stiff wrist release
* Circle grip changeup 
* Knuckle grip changeup

=====Other off-speed pitches=====
* Knuckle curveball 
* Floater
:- This is a pitch used by pitchers in the slow-pitch game. To throw the floater accurately, pitcher holds the ball with just his or her fingertips and does not let them touch the laces. Then comes straight up with her hand and lets the ball go up to the 12-foot mark and come down. 
* Knuckleball