Softball Advice Needed!

[AlmostStock]

I just signed up for the company softball team. While I'm in good shape and active in martial arts, I haven't played softball for over 15 years! I need some advice from anyone with more experience, which means just about everybody. What are some good techniques for practicing and honing my skills? What are some of the common injuries, and how can I avoid them?

I haven't seen the rules, but it is a 14 inch ball with "arc" or rainbow pitch. If the ball hits the plate it's considered a strike. The players are using a glove but I wonder if I really need one. 14 inch seems awfully big for a glove. Can I go without it, or is it considered necessary? Do you have any other pointers? Thanks for your help.

[imtheoneandonlyD]

You need a glove or enjoy broken fingers from line drives.

[quteasabutton]

oo i love softball! i played for 15 years now. first things first. you are not playing with a 14 inch ball, whoever told you that probably isn't your friend what you mentioned so far is right about slow pitch softball. some of the guys can smack that ball a fieldlength and a half away (i've seen it done) so be prepared if you're in the outfield.

you will for sure want a glove. if you're buying a new one, make sure you get glove oil and when you first get it constantly be flexing it and rubbing in as much glove oil as you can to break it in. if you don't, good luck holding onto the ball in there. another good thing to do is store your glove with the softball inside.

you probably won't be needing your own bat. i recommend going to the batting cages to get back into stuff and work on your swing. every cage i've ever been to has slow pitch machines to practice on so you should be set there.

make sure you stretch well, and since ur a dude..probably your groin area so you don't pull anything there running.

as far as field practice, just work on fundamental skills like grounders, pop-ups, line drives, where to go with the ball when there's specific situations for runners and amount of outs.

hope you have fun! PM me if you have any questions

[AlmostStock]

Originally Posted by quteasabutten

oo i love softball! i played for 15 years now. first things first. you are not playing with a 14 inch ball, whoever told you that probably isn't your friend.

Wow, 15 years... you must be pretty good! So you're saying there is no 14 inch ball? The email to sign up clearly said 14 inch, so you'd think they knew what they were talking about! I used to play 16 inch without any glove, that's why I asked about needing a glove. I figured 2 inches less wouldn't make much difference. Thanks for the tips. I'm excited to start training. The teams are co-ed with people of all levels, so I'm sure I'll do fine.

[quteasabutton]

would it be 16 inches measureing all the way around? that's the only way i could see it possibly getting close. hmm oh well. but yeah i've been playing since i was 3 years old. my dad started me young. do you know what position you're going to be interested in playing? cuz i can give you more position-specific advice then

[sidewayzS13]

i think you should just go have fun w/ it its cnt be that competitive of a laeuge no worries or QUIT

[Nicole8188]

Originally Posted by quteasabutten

i can give you more position-specific advice then

Does anyone else find this as humorous as I do?

[TexasF355F1]

Started playing last November. Play with a bunch of friends on a city league. Tons of fun, especially since we all can play good. Just go out and have fun. It's good for your health. You'll pick it up pretty quickly.

Since you're on a company team I'll assume it's coed. That can be fun from what I've seen,but I'd get pissed off playing with people who can't do anything.

[quteasabutton]

Originally Posted by Nicole8188

Does anyone else find this as humorous as I do?

not all of us have our minds in the gutter lol i can't believe i didn't catch that when i typed it

[vinnym86]

danielle knows her positions best.

[Nicole8188]

Originally Posted by quteasabutten

not all of us have our minds in the gutter lol i can't believe i didn't catch that when i typed it

Haha. Can't help it...

I have no sex life

[imtheoneandonlyD]

Originally Posted by TexasF355F1

Since you're on a company team I'll assume it's coed. That can be fun from what I've seen,but I'd get pissed off playing with people who can't do anything.

I would get frustrated with the "bad" people. Im not into the whole softball thing yet. I still play amature baseball, but im sure when im a little older and out of baseball ill be in softball for sure. I just love competition.

[fredjacksonsan]

Aside from the positions *cough cough*

My advice would be to make sure you can throw and catch well; since you're out of practice those are the skills that have degraded the most. Also, work on catching flies. There's nothing worse than an outfielder who lets the ball get over his head, then can't throw worth a crap.

And the difference between the 14" and 16" is a bit of diameter, but you'll still need a glove. Swing by a sporting goods store and you'll see the difference.

[SeaWarrior]

Originally Posted by Nicole8188

Haha. Can't help it...

I have no sex life

PM me....









yes i am pathetic... .....now i'm emo..

[quteasabutton]

Originally Posted by fredjacksonsan

Aside from the positions *cough cough*

My advice would be to make sure you can throw and catch well; since you're out of practice those are the skills that have degraded the most. Also, work on catching flies. There's nothing worse than an outfielder who lets the ball get over his head, then can't throw worth a crap.

And the difference between the 14" and 16" is a bit of diameter, but you'll still need a glove. Swing by a sporting goods store and you'll see the difference.

yes there is something worse than an outfielder who lets the ball get over his head. the ones who let it hit their head ok it was only one time..