Is Baseball Harder Than Softball? Things To Know About Baseball And Softball

Last Updated on October 22, 2023 by Alex PT

Baseball and softball differ in key ways. Baseball is often considered harder due to faster pitching and longer base paths. Baseball has a 90+ mph pitch speed, while softball typically has 60 mph pitches. 

Which is Harder: Softball or Baseball?

1. Ball Size

In baseball, the ball is smaller and harder than a softball. This factor makes it more challenging to strike and catch, particularly for beginners. However, softball’s larger ball might seem easier initially but requires a different technique to hold and throw successfully.

2. Pitching Style

Baseball utilizes overhand pitching, which requires substantial arm strength and precision. Conversely, while the underhand style in softball might seem easier, the shorter distance to the batter demands quick reflexes and exceptional control.

3. Field Size

Baseball diamonds are generally larger than softball fields. This difference necessitates more running in baseball, making it more physically taxing. However, the compactness of a softball field necessitates faster play, which can be equally challenging.

4. Bat Size

Baseball bats are longer and heavier, demanding more strength to swing effectively. Softball bats, although lighter, require a different swing technique that can be tricky to master.

5. Speed of Play

Baseball is known for its slow and strategic pace, while softball is recognized for being fast-paced. This speed can make softball seem more intense and less forgiving of mistakes.

6. Distance between Bases

With the shorter base paths present in softball, baserunners need to make quicker decisions compared to their counterparts in baseball. However, baseball requires a higher level of physical fitness to complete the longer run between bases.

Comparison table:

	Baseball	Softball
Ball Size	Smaller, harder	Larger, softer
Pitching Style	Overhand	Underhand
Field Size	Bigger	Smaller
Bat Size	Longer, heavier	Shorter, lighter
Speed of Play	Slower, more strategic	Faster, intense
Distance between Bases	Longer, more running	Shorter, quicker decisions

Differences Between Softball And Baseball

Softball	Baseball
Pitchers in softball control the ball by putting their hands on the seam. She can also change the speed of the ball dramatically.	Baseball pitchers use their fingertips to throw the ball. The distance from the mound(where the pitcher is) and home plate(where the battery is) is 60 feet.
A pitcher moves from low to high and pitches from a 43 feet distance which gives the hitter less time to react to the changing pitch.	Baseball pitchers pitch with a high to the low formation which gives the batter more time to react.
Left-handed batters are at an advantage because they can slap. What that means is they can run towards the ball and hit it. This move throws an infielder off guard.	Here, the balls reach the plate in 0.38 seconds. It takes infielders 4.3 seconds to get the ball and take the runner out.
The time infielders have to react to a ball is 50% less than that of baseball. They have to react In 0.350 seconds. Most times, players don’t we the ball clearly.	A baseball runner is of advantage because he has time to steal.
The distance between the home plate and mound is pretty small, this is part of what makes it complex.	Baseball fields are bigger. The baseball Fields are at most 16700 square feet, so there isn’t a problem when it comes to distance.

Things To Know About Baseball And Softball

Baseball players are put on a 400ft diamond(measuring from home plate to the center-field) to play in. The bases on this field are 90 feet apart and the pitcher’s mound is 60 feet away from home plate on higher ground. Baseballs are white, they have a nine-inch circumference, and they are pitched overhand with a speed of 100mph or more at major league baseball. Do you know how hard you have to throw to meet a speed like this?

Softball players play on a 200-foot diamond(also measuring from home plate to center field). Based on field size, bases here are 60 feet apart and the pitcher’s mound is just 43 feet from home plate. Softballs are yellow, they have a 12-inch circumference which makes them bigger, and finally, they are pitched with a speed of 65mph at the professional level. 

Comparing Both Games

Without any doubt, we can say that the hardest thing to do in sports is hit a baseball, the speed these balls attain after being pitched makes it hard for the batter to hit it. Softballs are not thrown as fast as baseball but, the pitching distance is smaller which also makes it hard for the batter not to get thrown off. Even after this, hitting a baseball is way harder than hitting a softball. 

The speed of a baseball is good, yea it travels faster and throws hitters off. One thing is that when a good hitter comes up to bat, he times the pitch very well and throws the pitcher off his game. In both games, the pitcher adds movements to their every pitch. When a batter becomes too good and keeps hitting the ball, the pitcher has to employ some additional skill to throw the batter off; we are talking about drop balls, curveballs, and screwballs. These pitching skills are added in both games. But softball has this one skill that baseball doesn’t, it works almost all the time. It’s called the rise ball, it’s hard for a pitcher to achieve and for the batter to hit. 

Now, when it comes to scoring a run, this one is tricky. Traditionally, baseball fields are bigger, and making a run in baseball is almost like running across the whole softball pitch, although baseballs are lighter and travel farther when hit by the batter because of the pitching speed. When a ball has been hit far away, it makes it easier for the runner to score a run before the ball gets back to the pitcher. On the other hand, softballs are heavier and denser than baseball, the field is smaller so the ball can’t travel very far unlike baseball, scoring a run is a bit hard here because it takes no time for the ball to get back to the pitcher after being hit by the batter. We think it’s hard to score a run for both sports. 

Now we know with the comparisons, there is no clear answer on which is harder but, softball has been proven to be scientifically harder based on distance, speed, and reaction speed. You know how physicists calculate stuff.

Comparison Between Softball and Baseball?

Aspect	Baseball	Softball
Field Dimensions	90 feet between bases	60 feet between bases
Bases	Four bases (home, 1st, 2nd, 3rd)	Four bases (home, 1st, 2nd, 3rd)
Innings	Typically 9 innings	Typically 7 innings
Pitching Distance	Approximately 60.5 feet	Approximately 43 feet
Pitch Types	Fastballs, curveballs, etc.	Fastpitch underhand pitching
Scoring	Runs, RBIs, home runs	Runs, RBIs, home runs
Bat and Ball Size	Smaller, harder baseball	Larger, softer softball
Defensive Plays	Outs, force-outs, double plays	Outs, force-outs, double plays
Base Stealing	Allowed	Allowed
Game Objectives	Score more runs than opponents	Score more runs than opponents
Fielding Positions	Nine players on the field	Nine players on the field

Which Reaches Homerun Faster, A Baseball Or A Softball?

Based on the distance between the mound and home plate in both games, a softball will hit the home plate first before a baseball. Although, this depends solely on the pitcher and the kind of pitch. A 90mph moving fastball is compared to a 70mph moving baseball because a baseball attains speed faster. 

Can A 90mph fastball be hit?

Yes, actually, at the professional level, the ball is pitched at a much higher speed, that’s for a professional pitcher though. Of course, a professional pitcher requires a professional hitter to make the hit.

Final Words

Baseball and softball players have been on this argument for ages, nobody wants to agree that their sport is easier than the other. Well, softball is, and also the argument isn’t needed. We’ve reached the end of this informative article. We hope that this article helped you find resources in your quest to know if baseball is harder than softball. Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or comments. Thanks!

References:

https://www.theonlineclarion.com/top-stories/2020/10/14/is-baseball-actually-harder-than-softball/
https://legionreport.com/is-baseball-harder-than-softball/