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What size is a slow pitch softball?

Author

James Craig

Published Jan 20, 2026

Slow pitch softball leagues typically use 12″ softballs that will travel at slower speeds and lesser distances than fastpitch softballs. League rules will dictacte the Compression and COR measurement used during gameplay. Softball players competing in fastpitch will regularly use a 11″ ball.

What are the sizes of softballs?

What is the diameter of a softball? 10 and under teams typically use a softball with a circumference of 11 inches and diameter of 3.5 inches. 11 and up age teams typically use a softball with a circumference of 12 inches and a diameter of 3.8 inches.

What size softball is the most popular?

Game play for 16-inch softball is mostly consistent with standard softball game play. In contrast to standard, or 12-inch (30.48 cm) softball, it is played with a ball 16 inches (40.64 cm) in circumference.

What is the actual size of softball?

The official softball is a smooth-seam ball 12 inches (30.5 cm) in circumference, weighing between 6.25 and 7 ounces (177 and 198 grams).

What is a 12 softball?

12 Inches. The 12-inch ball is the standard for slow-pitch softball. The ball is a little softer than the 11-inch version. The softness and its size, which makes it slightly harder to throw than a smaller ball, slows the speed of the game just a little bit compared to a game using an 11-inch ball.

43 related questions found

What is the difference between fast pitch and slow pitch softball?

Fastpitch balls are typically thrown at an upwards angle and can exceed speeds of 50-60 mph. In slowpitch, the ball is thrown without the distinct windmill motion that's commonly associated with fastpitch.

How big is a fastpitch softball?

Softballs are created in many different sizes. In fast pitch softball, most leagues use a ball with a circumference of 12 inches (30 cm) that weighs 6.25 ounces (177 g). Younger players generally play with an 11-inch (28 cm) circumference ball.

How is softball pitching measured?

Measure and mark the proper distance of the pitching plate (rubber) from home plate. The pitching plate (rubber) is measured from the front edge and center of the pitching plate (rubber) to the APEX of home plate.

Is softball harder than baseball?

It's scientifically proven that fastpitch softball is harder than baseball. On average, there is less reacting time in softball batting than in baseball when you consider both pitching speed and distance. Also, a softball field is smaller, basepaths are shorter, and pitching style is harder.

What core softball goes the farthest?

The balls that perform the best are the COR=44 or COR=47 coupled with a high compression value of 400lbs or 450lbs. It's hard to find softballs today that are 525lbs compression or higher as they are found to be too hot for our senior bats.

What size glove is best for softball?

Because the softball is 11″, you will typically see fastpitch infielder gloves ranging between 10″ and 11.5″ for youth players and roughly 11.5″ and 12.5″ for players ages 13 and older. If you play slow pitch softball, your glove size will be bigger because the ball is 12″.

What size bat should my daughter use for softball?

In general: Children under 60 pounds should swing a bat between 26 and 29 inches long. Children weighing more than 70 pounds should swing a bat ranging from 28 to 32 inches long.

What is the best softball brand?

Top 10 Softball Brands

  • Rawlings.
  • Mizuno.
  • Easton.
  • Demarini.
  • Nike.
  • Wilson.
  • Franklin.
  • Worth.

How big is a softball pitching circle?

Pitcher's circle and rubber — The radius of the pitcher's circle around the pitcher's rubber is 8 feet. Of course, this makes the diameter of the pitcher's circle 16 feet. As for the rubber, the rules state it should measure 24 inches by 6 inches and be level with the ground.

How big is home plate in slow pitch softball?

Skinned Infields: A 55' (16.76m) and 60' (18.29m) radius may be used with the front center of the 46" (14.02m) pitcher's plate as the center point of the arc. The 60' (18.29m) is recommended for 60' bases.

What size softball does college use?

NCAA Official 12" Softballs.

What is the easiest sport?

Here's a list of easy sports that can be picked up easily without material time or money investment:

  • Badminton. Hands down, one of the easiest and most rewarding sport to learn is Badminton. ...
  • Swimming. Swimming is a sport that can be learned at any age. ...
  • Cycling. ...
  • Table Tennis. ...
  • Volleyball.

Is it harder to hit a homerun in softball or baseball?

Baseball is played on a much larger field than softball and needs almost double the length of a softball field to hit a homerun. However, baseballs are much lighter and travel much farther once hit due to the high speed of the pitch.

What hurts more a softball or baseball?

Not all baseballs are created equal. In fact, out of a range of different types of baseballs, a softball hurts the most to get hit by.

How far is the throw from 3rd to 1st in softball?

Measure 60 feet toward the third-base area and mark a short arc. Fasten the tape at the center of second base and measure 60 feet toward first and third bases and strike arcs.

What is the fastest softball pitch ever?

The fastest recorded softball pitch is 77 mph (123.9 km/h), achieved by Monica Abbott (USA) on 16 June 2012 in a National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) game for the Chicago Bandits against the Carolina Diamonds in Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA.

How far do 14U softball pitchers throw?

When players reach the 14U level, the pitching mound is moved back to 43 feet and that is where it will stay.

How many inches is a women's slow pitch softball?

In the most common type, slow-pitch softball, the ball, which can measure either 11 inches, for a women's league, or 12 inches, for a men's league, in circumference, must arch on its path to the batter, and there are 10 players on the field at once.

How fast does Jennie Finch pitch?

The mound isn't elevated as it is in the Majors. Jennie Finch's underhand fastball pitch comes in at around 68 mph. Her long stride moves her several feet closer to the plate by the time the ball leaves her hand.