What Are the Three Sizes of Balls that Are Used in Softball?

Softball is played in a wider variety of situations and styles than most sports. This diversity is partially enabled by the variety of softballs. The sizes are the measures of the balls' circumferences: 10-inch, 12-inch and 16-inch. Each of the three softball sizes is generally associated with a specific type or types of play style or league.

  1. 10-inch Softball

    • 10-inch softballs are the truest to their name. Used in youth softball, 10-inch softballs do not have the hard shell of 12-inch balls and are the softest of any softball. Usually, the 10-inch balls are used only for players under the age of 10. The smaller size makes it easier for children's hands to grab, while the extra soft texture is touted as being a safer alternative to the hard 12-inch ball.

    12-inch Fast Pitch

    • Girls over the age of 10 switch to a 12-inch ball. This ball is harder than both 10-inch and 16-inch models, and is in fact comparable to a regulation baseball in hardness, belying its name. 12-inch fast pitch is the standard for girls' and women's softball from youth leagues through high school and college levels.

    12-inch Slow Pitch

    • The same 12-inch softball that is used by girls' and women's leagues is also popular among recreational leagues. These range from extremely competitive all-men's leagues to mixed-gender rec leagues to intramural games at campuses across the country. The style of this game is more similar to baseball than softball, since the ball is often put into play with much more velocity. In girls' and women's leagues, the pitching is often so fast that putting the ball in play is difficult.

    16-inch Slow Pitch

    • 16-inch slow pitch is the favorite among so-called "beer leagues." These leagues, generally male-dominated and sometimes including of former professional baseball players, are characterized by skilled play and average athleticism. 16-inch balls are softer than 12-inch balls but harder than 10-inch balls. 16-inch is also a favorite for casual games, pickup games, parties and picnics, etc.

    Pro Ball

    • Professional softball is played with 12-inch hard balls. The men play soft pitch, in a style that is very similar to baseball in terms of player positioning and game play. The women play fast pitch. The infielders often play shallow to compensate for the frequent ground balls and swinging bunts favored by fast pitch softball hitters.