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There are many ways to get on base. Types of hits include full swing, bunt, drag bunt, and slap hits. A batter can get on base through a walk, or when hit by a pitch, but these situations are not hits. Runners can only leave their bases after the pitcher releases the ball.

Both teams switch between offense and defense after the defensive team makes three outs. Outs can be made in many ways. A defensive player (a fielder) can catch a hit ball before it hits the ground, making an out. A fielder can also hold the ball while touching a base, when an offensive player (here, a base runner) is forced to advance, before the runner reaches that base. If the runner is not forced to advance, the runner must be tagged with the ball to be called out. A pitcher “strikes” out the batter, resulting in an out.

A strikeout is when the pitcher throws three strikes to the batter. A strike is given when there is a good pitch, which the batter does not hit, when the batter swings at the ball and misses it or when the batter fouls off the ball (although a foul ball cannot be strike three unless it is bunted). The batter is also given four balls. A ball is a bad pitch. If the batter receives four balls, the batter is awarded first base. This is known as a walk. Good and bad pitches are determined by the strikezone. The strike zone is a rectangular area that extends for the width of homeplate and the length runs from the knees of the batter to just below the shoulders.

Softball has a set number of innings, usually seven or nine. An inning is one series of both teams playing offense and defense. At the end of the set number of innings the team with the highest score wins.

Softball is a direct descendant of baseball, which is sometimes referred to as hardball to distinguish it from softball, but differs from it in several ways (see Comparison of baseball and softball). This article assumes no knowledge of baseball.

The International Softball Federation holds world championships, held every four years, in several categories. The ISF is the international governing body. The Amateur Softball Association is the National Governing Body of Softball for the United States pursuant to the 1976 Amateur Sports Act. Due to the popularity of the sport, there are a multitude of governing bodies such as the United States Specialty Sports Association and the National Softball Association.

Fast Pitch softball is a very defensive, pitcher-oriented game. The pitcher delivers the ball at maximum speed with little to no arc. The pitch is very similar to that of one thrown by a baseball pitcher, but the two differ primarily in their throwing styles and release points: most baseball pitchers release the ball from a point higher than the catcher’s glove (overhand), whereas fast pitch softball pitchers release at a point that is lower than or equal to the height of the catcher’s glove (underhand). Speeds of 70+ mph (110+ km/h) are common at the women’s professional level. Due to the increased difficulty in hitting the larger, less dense ball, fast pitch softball games are typically played on much smaller fields than their slow pitch counterparts (typically 200 feet [61 metres] from home plate to the center field fence).

Modified Pitch softball strikes a balance between fast and slow pitch. The speed of the pitches are limited by not allowing the pitcher to raise their arms above their shoulders.

Slow Pitch softball gives batters more dominance by making it easier for them to hit the ball. The ball type in women’s and youth competition is usually smaller and more dense than that of the fast pitch variety, making for a harder hit ball to the defense. This type of ball is often referred to as a “Green Dot”, due to the green dot on the ball that marks its size range. Men’s slow pitch ball type is very similar to that of the fast pitch ball type. Men’s slow pitch softballs are often referred to as “Blue Dot”, due to the blue dot on the ball that marks its size range. Typically, slow pitch softball fields are much larger (300 feet [90 metres] from home plate to center field) due to the slow pitch batter’s increased advantage of range and power over their fast pitch counterparts. The increased hitting advantage to the batter combined with new technology in softball bat manufacturing has forced many softball leagues to impose rules on the number of over-the-fence home runs that may be counted during a game.

Slow Pitch Chicago Style softball is popularized by the use of a large 16 inch leather bound ‘Kapok’ core ball that is caught and thrown with bare hands. No mitt is needed or required or allowed in some leagues. The ball is softened by each hitter’s strike and can carry long distances by the use of heavier bats. A 36 ounce bat is the limit in many regulation leagues. The most popular ball for the game is called a Clincher made by DeBeer Company and manufactured in Haiti. It weighs 9 ounces, 3 ounces more than a 12 inch ball which is also used in slowpitch softball, but the difference is a Clincher gets softer as the game progresses while a tightly wound 12 inch ball remains extremely hard and impossible to field with bare hands. This sport is popular in the cities of Chicago, Philadelphia and Los Angeles.

The playing field is divided into fair territory and foul territory. Fair territory is further divided into the infield, the outfield, and the territory beyond the outfield fence.

The field is defined by foul lines that meet at a right angle at home plate. The minimum length of the baselines varies classification of play (see below for official measurements). A fence running between the baselines defines the limits of the field; this fence is equidistant from home plate at all points.

Behind home plate is a backstop. It must be between 25 and 30 feet (7.62 and 9.14 meters) behind home plate.

Home Plate is a five-sided figure, a combination of a rectangle and triangle, 17 in (43 cm) wide. The sides are 8.5 in (22 cm) long. The triangle fits into the right angle formed by the baselines.

Home plate is one corner of a diamond with bases at each corner. The bases other than home plate are 15 in (38 cm) square, of canvas or a similar material, and not more than 5 in (13 cm) thick. The bases are usually securely fastened to the ground. The bases are numbered counter clockwise as first base, second base, and third base. Often, but not always, outside first base (that is, in foul territory) and adjacent and connected to it there is a contrast-colored “double base” or “safety base”. It is intended to prevent collisions between the first baseman and the runner. The runner runs for the foul portion of the double base after hitting the ball while the fielding team tries to throw the ball to the regular first base before the runner reaches the safety base. However, not all softball diamonds have these safety bases and they are much more common in women’s softball than in men’s. The double base is required in ISF championships.

The infield consists of the diamond and the adjacent space in which the infielders (see below) normally play. The outfield is the remaining space between the baselines and between the outfield fence and the infield. The infield is usually “skinned” (dirt), while the outfield has grass in regulation competitions.

Near the centre of the diamond is the pitching plate. In fast pitch, a skinned circle 8 feet (2.44 meters) in diameter known as the pitching circle is around the pitching plate.

A field is officially supposed to have a warning track between 15 and 12 feet (5 and 4 meters) from the outfield fence. However, if the game is being played on a field larger than required, no warning track is required before the temporary outfield fencing.

Located in foul territory outside both baselines are two Coach’s Boxes. Each box is behind a line 15 feet (5 meters) long located 12 feet (3 meters) from each baseline.

Equipment required in softball includes a ball, a bat, gloves, uniforms and protective gear, including helmets for the offensive team and a helmet and chest protector for the defensive catcher.

Despite the sport’s name, the ball itself is not soft. The size of the ball varies according to the classification of play; the permitted circumferences in international play are 12 in (30 cm) and 11 in (28 cm). The ball is most often covered in white leather in two pieces roughly the shape of a figure 8 and sewn together with red thread, although other coverings are permitted. The core of the ball may be made of long fibre kapok, or a mixture of cork and rubber, or a polyurethane mixture, or another approved material. In 2002, high-visibility yellow “optic” softballs were introduced. Yellow is the color of official NCAA and NAIA softballs. Yellow softballs are fast becoming the standard for all levels of play.White balls are also allowed use, but rarely will you use them in games.

In Chicago, where softball was invented, it remains traditional to play with a ball 16 inches in circumference. This larger ball is generally softer (sometimes called a mush ball). When using a 16-inch ball, the fielders do not wear gloves or mitts.

All defensive players wear fielding gloves, made of leather or similar material. Gloves have webbing between the thumb and forefinger. The first baseman and the catcher may wear mitts; mitts are distinguished from gloves in that they have extra padding, and no fingers. Except for the pitcher, whose glove cannot be white or gray (this confuses the batter), gloves and mitts can be any color. Gloves used in softball are generally larger than the ones used in baseball.

In 16 inch softball, gloves are generally not worn. It will be determined by league whether gloves are permissible or not.

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