43 feet pitching mound

[default]

The reason so I've been told at State meetings is one of a safety issue. By moving the pitching rubber back to 43' it gives the pitcher a little more response time in the event of a linedrive. Take it for what it's worth???

If reaction time is the reason for moving the rubber back three feet then I would have to say those people have never pitched. Three feet wouldn't even be worth the effort if thats the main reason!!

 

[default]

I agree with Lady Knights. Three feet does not make much difference. As a matter of fact, it increases the chances of hitters making better contact, decreasing safety. I say leave the pitching distance as 40 feet and cool down the bats if you want to increase safety.

Len

 

[default]

If reaction time is the reason for moving the rubber back three feet then I would have to say those people have never pitched. Three feet wouldn't even be worth the effort if thats the main reason!!

Chance's are they haven't! But OHSAA follows the NFHS Fastpitch Softball Rules, which in turn modify their rules from the ASA which is the governing body of Softball.

I agree with you, A ball exiting a bat at 65 to 80 mph will reach a pitcher 35' away in about 1/3 second much faster than normal human reaction time. That same ball travels the additional 3' in 3/100's of a second. How is this a safety factor?

Actually, pitching distance is strictly a function of age and body size and strength. Young girls start out at 35'; teenager's pitch at 40', adult women throw from 43', and adult men throw from 46'. IMO It's not safety; as much as it is a competitive rule to prevent pitchers from totally dominating the game. As such, there is no reason in the world to force high school girls to pitch from a longer distance.

Oh well! It may help the pitcher that has a nice breaking pitch, and may hurt the pitcher with an average fast, However I can see the day coming when the Game Face or other face protector will be a required by the NFHS or OHSAA for all H.S. pitchers.

Fastpitch! Anything else, and you're playing to SLOW!

 

[default]

Has anyone heard that they will be moving the mound back to 43 feet for next year or the year after that in high school? I know some states have already gone to 43 feet.

Just heard tonight 2-2-09 at our Local OHSAA Umpire Meeting, that High School pitching distance will be 43' feet in 2010. That's from the OHSAA Softball Interpreter, and not Me!





FASTPITCH! Anything else, And you're playing to SLOW!

 

[default]

If anything the 3 ft. will benefit the pitchers, not the hitters. Good pitchers with good movement on their pitches would become better. The safety factor is non existent at 3 ft. All it would basically do is make the teams that have good pitching better and make the HS teams with no pitching worse. It would widen the gap and allow for less parity. As a travel coach all my pitchers said the extra 3 feet is no big deal and they actually like it.

 

[default]

My DD pitched in 18U tournament this fall at 43'. Came off the mound after 1st inning so excited! She said the movement on her ball was very very noticeable, she just loved what the extra 3 feet did. The whole weekend she talked about it.

So I think it will benefit the pitcher.

 

[default]

This fall and winter when we played in games @ 43' the advantage was to the hitters especially the small ball players. It was reflected in the scores of our games and the games I watched.

 

[default]

Uber that is what I think is the impact. The Lefty Slapper with speed that can hit with power will take advantage of 3 feet. In high school the idea of playing the big girl at first to hide her will come back to haunt teams when the pitcher has three move feet to cover. Runners that can move to first in 2.8 seconds so three feet is big! At a college camp this week and they had the pitchers practice fielding the bunt because in college this makes a difference. The coach even stated he would take 9 lefty slappers that can also hit any day over power hitters.

 

[default]

I agree with pitcherpadre - Good HS teams will get better and lesser teams will struggle more. I think it can be an advantage for both pitchers and hitters. Good pitchers will see more movement on the ball, but in my opinion hitters will have that split second longer to react and judge the pitch.

 

[default]

I agree with pitcherpadre - Good HS teams will get better and lesser teams will struggle more. I think it can be an advantage for both pitchers and hitters. Good pitchers will see more movement on the ball, but in my opinion hitters will have that split second longer to react and judge the pitch.

At maybe .1 or.125 seconds more for the ball to get to the plate at 43 versus 40, I dont see much of an advantage at all for hitters, especially at the high school level. Good pitching will usually beat good hitting whether its 40 feet or 43 feet. Some of your average pitchers may struggle with the change but the good pitchers and the elite pitchers should have no problem. I saw no problem with the 43 feet at the Fall Best of the Best in Massillon but then again that is not the High School Level.

 

[default]

The hitters that struggle keeping their hands back on a change will struggle even more, will be interesting to see

 

[default]

I think its kind of a wash between hitting and pitching, just glad that they are going to make it the same as college finally. Agree though that it will make it more difficult for weaker pitchers.

 

[default]

Don't get too excited yet. It may be coming but here is an email recieved today from Roxanne Price, OHSAA softball rep., refarding the mound distance.

"I am not sure where you received the information regarding Ohio changing the pitching mound. We currently and will continue to abide by the National Federation of High School softball rules. Should the National Federation of High Schools change the pitching distance, my assumption is that Ohio will comply in order to maintain representation on softball committees, etc.




Regards,

Roxanne