Some Differences between Softball and Baseball

Rob Woodfork, who supplemented his radio experience at Oakwood University with specialized coursework at Columbia School of Broadcasting, currently serves in several roles with Washington, D.C.'s WTOP radio (103.5 FM). Rob reports sports and traffic, and writes and edits digital content for the station's website. A Maryland resident, Rob Woodfork spends as much time as he can with his family, and also enjoys watching sports and playing softball.

Softball is a sport similar to baseball, but there are some significant differences. Foremost among them is the ball itself: In general, a baseball is 9 to 9.25 inches in circumference, and weighs between 5 and 5.25 ounces. The baseballs used in professional and college games are manufactured to be extremely hard, in order to improve the “springboard effect,” or coefficient of restitution (COR), which determines the speed at which the ball leaves the bat when it is hit.

Softballs, on the other hand, are not only softer than baseballs but also significantly larger: Most measure 11 or 12 inches in circumference and weigh between 6.5 and 7 ounces. Softballs are also rated by their COR, and many are colored yellow to improve visibility.

The balls used aren’t the only differences between the two games. Baseball’s bat can be as long as 42 inches, while a softball bat can’t be longer than 34 inches. A standard baseball game lasts 9 innings, while softball’s is 7 innings. Softball leagues often have “slaughter” rules that limit the length of the game even further if one team builds an insurmountable lead over the other. There are additional differences that are implemented by individual leagues, such as time limits on games, a limit on home runs, and a rule requiring that every at-bat starts with a count of one ball and one strike.