A comparison of baseball

Baseball

Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...

 and softball

Softball

Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...

can be made as softball is directly descended from baseball and thus contains many similarities; however there are several pronounced differences.

Fastpitch softball

Fastpitch softball

Fast-pitch softball is a form of softball played commonly by women and men, though coed fast-pitch leagues also exist. The International Softball Federation is the international governing body of softball...

 is more popular in competitive leagues, especially at the college and international tournament levels, while slow pitch is more popular in recreational leagues where the relative skill levels of different players may vary widely. The different rules of slowpitch can be viewed as maintaining a competitive balance for less skilled players by eliminating certain strategies (e.g., base stealing and bunting) which require a high level of defensive skill to counter. Additionally, recreational leagues may impose their own ground rules, either for competitive balance or to meet local constraints (e.g., a time limit may be imposed on a game to ensure multiple games can be played in one day).

Table of comparison

Rule or Term	Baseball Baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...	Fastpitch softball Fastpitch softball Fast-pitch softball is a form of softball played commonly by women and men, though coed fast-pitch leagues also exist. The International Softball Federation is the international governing body of softball...	Slowpitch softball Softball Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
Length of Game	9 innings Innings An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably cricket and baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In cricket, the term innings is both singular and plural and is...  (7 in the high school level and in Minor League/college doubleheaders; 6 in Little League Little League Little League Baseball and Softball is a non-profit organization in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States which organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the U.S... )	7 innings (5 in certain college games)	7 innings (5 in certain college games)
Equipment
Ball
	9 inches (229 mm) in circumference	12 or 11 inches (305 or 279 mm) in circumference, less dense than a baseball Baseball (object) A baseball is a ball used primarily in the sport of the same name, baseball. The ball features a rubber or cork center, wrapped in yarn and covered in leather. It is in circumference . The yarn or string used to wrap the baseball can be up to one mile in length...	often same as fastpitch softball, special 14 or 16 inch (356 or 406 mm) balls rarely used, less dense than a baseball
Bat Baseball bat A baseball bat is a smooth wooden or metal club used in the game of baseball to hit the ball after the ball is thrown by the pitcher. It is no more than 2.75 inches in diameter at the thickest part and no more than 42 inches in length. It typically weighs no more than 33 ounces , but it...	No longer than 42 inches (1067 mm). Must be made of wood at the professional level; may be made of aluminum in high school and college.	No longer than 34 inches (864 mm). Most commonly made of aluminum, though wooden bats may be used	No longer than 34 inches (864 mm). Most commonly made of composite materials, also aluminum, though wooden bats may be used
Field
Layout diagram
Baselines	90 feet (27.43 m)	60 feet (18.29 m)	Typically 60 feet or 65 feet (18.29 or 19.81 m); longer distances in some levels
Double first base	No	Yes, all levels under ISF International Softball Federation thumb|Map of member states.|400px|rightThe International Softball Federation is the international governing body for the sport of softball. The ISF is a non-profit corporation recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the General Association of International Sports Federations .The... , NSA and ASA Amateur Softball Association The Amateur Softball Association is a volunteer, non-profit organization based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It was founded in 1933 with a tournament held in Chicago that was organized by Leo Fischer and Michael J. Pauley. The following year the 1934 National Recreation Congress recognized the ASA. ... . Used on a state-by-state basis in high school.	Allowed. Runner reaches safety base in foul territory, fielders make play at regular 1st base
Outfield fence	Variable distance from home plate Home Plate Home Plate is the fifth album by Bonnie Raitt, released in 1975 .-Track listing:#"What Do You Want the Boy to Do?" – 3:19#"Good Enough" – 2:56#"Run Like a Thief" – 3:02...  is mandatory in professional and university leagues and optional in youth leagues. Many youth leagues, such as Little League Little League Little League Baseball and Softball is a non-profit organization in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States which organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the U.S... , use a constant distance from home plate.	Constant distance from home plate (maximum of 250 ft/76 m)	Constant distance from home plate
Pitching distance	60 feet, 6 inches (18.44 m)	Varies by level: 40 feet (12.19 m) (women's amateur), 43 feet (13.11 m) (women's high school, college and international) or 46 feet (14.02 m) (men)	Varies, typically 46 feet (14.02 m)
Pitcher's area	Raised sloping mound, radius of 9 feet (2.7 m), maximum height 10 inches (25.4 cm)	Flat circle, radius of 8 feet (2.4 m), marked with a white chalk circle	Pitching rubber only
Players
Defensive players in field	nine	nine (before 1946, ten)	ten (either a rover or shortfielder, or a left center and right center fielder)
Extra player	Designated hitter Designated hitter In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to... may bat in place of a defensive player (pitcher in some levels) and removes the defensive player from the game if the DH plays in the field.	Designated player may bat in place of a defensive player and, except in high school, removes the defensive player from the game if the DP plays in the field.	Extra player(s): although only 10 players may play on defense at one time, some leagues allow the batting order to include additional players, and possibly the entire roster. Defensive substitutions may occur freely provided the batting order does not change.
Batter
Bunting	Allowed.	Allowed.	Not allowed; batter is out if contact made.
Foul ball Foul ball In baseball, a foul ball is a batted ball that:* Settles on foul territory between home and first base or between home and third base, or* Bounds past first or third base on or over foul territory, or...  with two strikes	Batter is not out unless bunting.	Batter is not out unless bunting.	Batter is generally out. In many recreational leagues, a batter is allowed one foul ball with two strikes, with the second being an automatic out.
Hit by pitch Hit by pitch In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:...	Awarded first base unless swing or no attempt made to avoid being hit.	Awarded first base unless swing or attempt made to intentionally be hit.	Not awarded first base.
Runner
Base stealing Stolen base In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...	Allowed at any time the ball is live (i.e. when "Time" is not called).	Allowed once the ball leaves the pitcher's hand; runners may not leave base if the pitcher has the ball within the circle.	Generally not allowed, although some levels may permit stealing after a pitched ball crosses the plate or touches the ground.
Taking a lead from base	Same rules as for base stealing.	Same rules as for base stealing.	Runner is usually permitted to take a lead after the ball leaves the pitcher's hand, but must return to base between pitches if the ball is not put into play. Runner can be called out for taking a lead before the pitch.
Pitching
Delivery	Any method; in practice, usually overhand.	Underhand; no speed or arc restrictions.	Underhand; must travel in an arc and within certain height restrictions (a common range is between 6 and 12 ft (1.8 and 3.7 m) above the ground). Umpire can call a pitch "illegal" while in flight.
Illegal pitch	Most infractions punished as a balk Balk In baseball, a pitcher can commit a number of illegal motions or actions that constitute a balk. In games played under the Official Baseball Rules, a balk results in a dead ball or delayed dead ball. In certain other circumstances, a balk may be wholly or partially disregarded... : the ball is dead, no change made to the count on the batter and all runners on base advance. With no runners on base, for some infractions, the pitch attempt is automatically a ball.	The ball remains live. If the batter reaches base successfully and all runners advance, no penalty; otherwise, the play is negated, the pitch attempt is automatically a ball and runners advance one base.	The ball remains live. If the batter does not swing, the pitch is automatically a ball.