Softball vs. Baseball: Which Sport is Harder?

Softball and baseball have been around for years, but one question never seems answered: which sport is really harder to play?

The biggest difference is the pitching style. Baseball pitchers throw overhand, and softball pitchers throw underhand. Both deliveries offer advantages and disadvantages, but the most notable is the range of pitches thrown in baseball.

All softball pitchers master a few to start with, like the fastball, drop ball and rise ball. These pitchers learn various grips and releases, which gives them a varied arsenal. However, from two-seam fastballs to screwballs to the eephus pitch, baseball pitches offer a wide variety. Classic overhand deliveries and sidearm specialists changes baseball pitcher's delivery adds so many possibilities to what a batter sees.

When comparing softball and baseball fields, you see another dramatic difference.

Major League Baseball field sizes differ along the outfield fence depending on the ballpark, but everything inside the lines remain the same. A baseball pitchers mound raised above the ground farther from home plate, but softball pitching mounds are flat on the ground, have a designated pitching area, and pitching distance is only about 35 to 43 feet to home plate. The base paths in softball are just 60 feet away from each other, which are actually identical to Little League baseball fields. Also, baseball players can lead off, while softball players cannot.

Softball fields are much more compact, which makes it more difficult to reach base. This is evidenced by the number of no-hitters and complete games thrown by softball pitchers at every level compared to baseball pitchers.

Score this one for softball by a landslide.

In softball, the size of the ball is larger and heavier, but the gloves make up the difference. Softball gloves have a deeper pocket while baseball gloves are more shallow. Softball bats are typically longer, but baseball bats have a larger diameter to strike the ball with. While MLB players use wooden bats, all softball teams, college baseball teams, high school levels, and on down through youth baseball use composite or alloy bats.

No advantage here with equipment.

ESPN broke down the game speeds, pointing out that a 70 mph softball pitch from the shorter distance reaches home plate faster than a 100 mph baseball pitch, which means a softball player has less time to swing. Need proof? USA Softball's Jennie Finch made MLB slugger Albert Pujols, a three-time MVP with over 600 career home runs, look like a fool.

Softball games are commonly seven innings, just like college and high school baseball games. One of the biggest knocks on the MLB is that nine-inning games are so long. Even with Major League Baseball trying to shorten games, professional baseball games last about three hours. Softball games are shorter, which means fewer chances to score and, obviously, win.

Chalk up another win for softball.

Softball is harder to play, requires faster reaction time, and is much more fun for fans to watch. Major League Baseball isn't going anywhere, but home run distance and gaudy numbers doesn't equal a harder sport.

Overall, fast-pitch softball is harder to play and, honestly, a lot more fun to watch than baseball.

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