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Glam Monitor

Is a rise ball a strike?

Author

Daniel Martin

Updated on June 22, 2026

The rise ball is unique in the simple fact that it can literally jump anywhere from 6-to-15 inches just a couple of feet away from the plate. "A good rise ball pitcher — if she's throwing it for a strike — can move it a good six inches," Bogart said. "The high ones don't move very much, but they look like high strikes.

What does a rise ball do?

In fastpitch softball, a rise ball is type of pitch that is thrown on an upward trajectory and with backspin in order to impart a rising motion.

What makes a rise ball rise?

On a rise ball, Pitkin gives the ball as much backspin as possible, putting the pocket of low pressure above the ball, causing it to rise. The ideal version begins at the mid-thigh and ends up at the chest. Ball moves up, batters swing and miss and Pitkin earns conference player of the year.

How do you identify a rise ball?

Rise ball – Rise ball rotation is the opposite of drop ball. Rather than topspin from 12:00 to 6:00, it has a backspin, going from 6:00 to 12:00. The backspin is what allows the ball to rise slightly.

How do you practice hitting a rise ball in softball?

Rise Ball Hitting Drill to Improve Plate Approach

  1. Step 1 (Recognize Release and Spin) ...
  2. Step 2 (Look High and Fast and “Crush” the Poor Rise) ...
  3. Step 3 (Plate Approach with Less Than Two Strikes for the Good Rise) ...
  4. Step 4 (Plate Approach with Two Strikes for the Good Rise)
16 related questions found

Is it possible to throw a rise ball?

It is a very simple law of physics (Bernoulli's Principle). Unless the ball is spinning up, it will not rise. Young pitchers think they have a rise ball, but in fact it is only a high thrown fast ball. The ball must have backwards spin to jump.

Are there any pitches that rise?

The rising fastball is a pitch where the ball appears to hop up as much as a third of a meter with a sudden increase in speed. Physics experiments confirm that many reported trajectories are possible, but not the rising fastball.

How do you throw a rising fastball?

Rising Fastball (Difficulty: HARD)

The Rising Fastball can be thrown either straight over the top or at a slight three-quarters arm angle, but should always be held with a slightly looser grip than most pitches, which allows your fingertips to whip the ball around, ensuring maximum backspin and velocity.

What pitches can you throw in softball?

There are many different pitches which can be thrown, including a two-seam fastball, four-seam fastball, changeup, two different riseballs, two dropballs, curveball, offspeed, screwball, knuckleball and more.

Is softball harder than baseball?

It's scientifically proven that fastpitch softball is harder than baseball. On average, there is less reacting time in softball batting than in baseball when you consider both pitching speed and distance. Also, a softball field is smaller, basepaths are shorter, and pitching style is harder.

What is the fastest softball pitch ever?

The fastest recorded softball pitch is 77 mph (123.9 km/h), achieved by Monica Abbott (USA) on 16 June 2012 in a National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) game for the Chicago Bandits against the Carolina Diamonds in Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA.

Are there curveballs in softball?

An effective curveball can make your other pitches more dangerous. If your softball team needs a twist of fate, it may be a good time to throw a curveball. The curveball is a breaking pitch thrown to the corner of the plate.

What is a high and inside pitch called?

These days, the sinker, or two-seamer, is ascendant.

What is strike in softball?

A "strike" is called when the batter: Fails to swing at a pitch that crosses the plate in the strike zone, swings at a pitch and misses, hits the ball out of bounds with fewer than two strikes against them. Once they get 3 strikes they're out, and the next batter comes up to the plate. Page 2.

Who pitches faster softball or baseball?

In college softball, the average pitch can range from 59 to 64 mph, whereas in college baseball average speeds can range from 80 to 95 mph, contributing to its velocity.

What is the hardest pitch to hit in softball?

4. The Most Devastating Pitch Is . . . The most effective and devastating pitch in softball is the flip changeup. It is also probably the hardest to truly command, as the release is completely backward and opposite of everything else you throw.

How do you throw a rising slider?

A slider is gripped like a two-seam fastball, but, held slightly off-center. When thrown, try to manipulate the pitch to come off the thumb side of your index finger. Do not permit the two finger release (used in the two-seam fastball) as it will cause the pitch to balance out, reducing the spin.

Do fastballs get hit farther?

However research performed at the University of California Davis and reported in the American Journal of Physics, has shown that just the opposite is true. In fact, a perfectly hit curve ball will travel farther then either a fastball or a knuckleball.