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The Fastpitch Softball Bulletin, Volume 15, Number 39 for 3/4//15

07/04/2015, 8:00am CDT
By Bob Tomlinson

Fireworks and Airbone Pitchers (both genders)

Check out five pictures just added to the FPC Website -- Airborne pitcher


An Airbone, crow-hopping pitcher -- classic crow hop

Ready For Launch!

The pitcher receives the signal from the catcher and ready themself for the launch that will carrry them out away from the pitcher’s plate and towards home plate. The farther they can get out there away  rom the pitcher’s plate before they land on their front foot and release the ball, the less the time the batter has to pick up the sphere as it rockets toward the plate.

The time between actual release and the spot where the ball has to be contacted is commonly referred to in baseball and fastpitch softball circles is “perceived velocity.”

The distance from the front of the pitcher’s plate to the point where a ball must be contacted in front of the plate varies between men’s and womens’ fastpitch and in youth fastpitch. The difference varies due to several different pitching distances. In 10-U the general rule of thumb is 35 feet. In 12-U it goes up to 40 feet and up through adult women’s  fastpitch it’s 43 feet. In boy’s and men’s fastpitch the pitching distances are from 35 feet to 46 feet.

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a bulletin article about push and drag, crow hopping and leaping.  I wrote that in coming bulletins and articles I would be including still pictures and video clips of pitchers, both males and females just using mostly their arms with little or no push off the pitcher’s plate and little or no drag; push and drag; crowhopping and leaping.

I have started to gather those images and have posted a series of five pictures on the home page that you can look at. The five are of a world class male pitcher using an airbone, crow-hop delivery.  Keep in mind that the delivery pictured is legal in men’s faspitch softball and is now even legal in WBSA/ISF World Championship play. It surely falls in line with my Canadian friend Roger who once said the pitching rule just needs to say, “The pitcher shall start with one foot on the pitcher’s plate and throw the ball underhand.” The pictures I have posted surely follow Roger’s thoughts on a pitching rule.

Take a look at the series of five pictures on the home page.  They are amazing.

Have a great day and as always,

Keep it Rising but not necessarily feet off the ground!

Bob

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