How to Play Softball With a Sixteen Inch Ball

Not all softballs are created equal. Balls can be of different size and weight, from 10 inches to one that is 16 inches around. The game can be very different, so you need to know how to play softball with a 16 inch ball. The 16 inch softball even has its own Hall of Fame in Chicago, where they claim the game originated in the late 1800's.

Instructions

    • 1

      Leave your glove at home. Because the 16 inch ball is bigger than the one used in other games including fast pitch softball, it's relatively softer. Players generally do not wear protective gear such as gloves because there is less chance of getting hurt by a thrown or batted ball. Some versions of this ball start out the game fairly hard, but will soften up as hitters bat it around by the middle and late innings.

    • 2

      Throw with an arc. Rules generally consider it a slow pitch game when you play softball with a 16 inch ball. League rules will dictate the amount of arc each pitcher must utilize, although a 6 foot drop from the highest point of the pitch is not uncommon.

    • 3

      Stay put if you're a baserunner. Most rules prohibit stealing a base when playing softball with a 16 inch ball, although some leagues do allow runners to take a lead (at the risk of being picked off).

    • 4

      Check local league rules. Some leagues use different rules depending on local custom or needs. Some allow only two strikes on a batter; some co-ed leagues require the batting order to alternate between males and females; and pitchers in some leagues may be able to use a fake throw to the plate.

    • 5

      Pace off the distance on the basepaths. Most leagues playing with a 16 inch softball set the bases between 55 and 60 feet apart. Since the game is often played in rec and industrial leagues there are seldom outfield fences.

    • 6

      Bring brains, not brawn. The 16 inch softball does not travel as far as a more tightly wound ball, so winning the game is less dependent on having a big hitter who can mash the ball to the far reaches of the outfield. Instead, strategy and intelligent play are a higher premium in playing this version of softball. Good infield play is especially valuable because the high arc of the pitch leads to a great number of ground balls.