Fastball vs. Softball — What's the Difference?

The fastball is the most common type of pitch thrown by pitchers in baseball and softball. "Power pitchers," such as former American major leaguers Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, rely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit, and have thrown fastballs at speeds of 95–105 miles per hour (153–169 km/h) (officially) and up to 108.1 miles per hour (174.0 km/h) (unofficially).

Softball is a game similar to baseball played with a larger ball (11 to 16 inches or 28 to 40 cm circumference) on a field that has base lengths of 60 feet, a pitcher's mound that ranges from 35 to 43 (professional is 43) feet away from home plate, and a home run fence that is 220–300 feet away from home plate, depending on the type of softball being played. It was invented in 1887 in Chicago, Illinois, United States as an indoor game.

A baseball pitch thrown at or near a pitcher's maximum speed.

A variation of baseball played on a smaller diamond with a larger, softer ball that is pitched underhand.

A pitch thrown at the pitcher's maximum speed.

The ball used in this game.

(baseball) Any of the variations of high speed pitches thrown in baseball

A question, especially one posed during an interview or public forum, that is easy to answer and does not cause embarrassment

(baseball) A four-seam fastball, which is a backspin pitch thrown with a ball gripped in the direction to cause four of the seams of the ball to cross the flight path and released with roughly equal pressure by the index and middle fingers

A game similar to baseball but played with a larger and softer ball which can be thrown overhand or underhand.

A baseball thrown with maximum velocity.

The ball used to play the sport.

(baseball) a pitch thrown with maximum velocity;

(by analogy) A question designed to be easy to answer.

Ball used in playing softball

A game closely resembling baseball that is played on a smaller diamond and with a ball that is larger and softer