The Ultimate Glossary of Terms About Pitching

Whether you’re brand new to softball or have been around the circle for years, the terms you need to learn pitching can sometimes feel like its own language. From snap drills to spin axis, there’s a lot to keep track of—so here is a guide to help.

Welcome to the Ultimate Glossary of Pitching Terms. Save it, share it, and use it anytime you’re wondering what a coach, parent, or player is talking about.

🔑 Fundamental Terms

Release Point – The exact moment and location the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand. It’s developed over thousands of reps and is based on feel—not conscious calculation. Telling a pitcher to "change your release point" is not a cue that works, unfortunately. Instead, change where you focus your gaze and repeat, repeat, repeat!

Pitching Rubber – The rectangular rubber slab where the pitcher begins her motion. While softball doesn’t have a "mound" like baseball, we still often say a pitcher is "on the mound" or "in the circle"—the designated area around the rubber where play is paused and runners cannot steal.

Stride – The forward step the pitcher takes toward home plate as part of her delivery. It should be low and fast.

Power Line – An imaginary line running from the pitcher’s rubber to home plate. Pitchers aim to stay aligned with this during the stride to maximize power and direction. We teach to stride an inch to the left of the power line so the ball travels along it, as opposed to the body.

Snap – The wrist action at the end of a pitch that creates spin and velocity. Though the wrist doesn’t technically pronate, it feels like it does, and we train that sensation during breakdown drills.

🌀 Spin & Movement

Spin Rate – The number of times a ball rotates per second. Higher spin usually leads to more movement. If you are lucky enough to have a chance to use a Rapsodo, ok an extra $4000, this will measure your exact spin rate.

Spin Axis – The orientation of the ball’s spin, like the axis of a spinning globe. It determines how and where a pitch moves. A Rapsodo also measures this.

Bullet Spin – A sideways spin that’s often unintentional and reduces effectiveness. At Practice Pro, we call this a "U-Fastball."

Topspin / Backspin – Topspin makes the ball drop (like on drop balls or "C-fastballs"). Backspin creates lift and helps rise balls stay high.

💥 Pitch Types (Right-Handed Examples)

Fastball – A high-speed pitch meant to challenge hitters with velocity and accuracy.

Changeup – A slower pitch that mimics the fastball but arrives later, disrupting timing. Ideally, it’s about 10 mph slower than the pitcher’s fastball. Pitchers should be able to throw this at any point in the count.

Drop Ball – Uses forward spin (topspin) to cause the pitch to drop sharply about 10 feet before the plate.

Rise Ball – Uses tight backspin to appear as if it hops upward as it approaches the batter. Yes—rise balls do rise.

Curveball – Moves to the outside part of the plate with a sideways spin.

Screwball – Moves in the opposite direction of a curve, typically inside to a right-handed batter.

Off-Speed Pitch – Any pitch slower than a fastball. At Practice Pro, we also use a "clip" pitch, which shaves just a few mph off and induces weak contact.

⚙️ Mechanics & Technique

K Position – A point in the delivery where the pitcher’s arms form a “K” shape. This position takes place at toe-touch.

Reverse Posture – When a pitcher leans backward at stride, reversing the forward lean from push-off. It creates leverage and prepares for front-side resistance. Without this, you’re severely limited on speed.

Banana – A term coined by Coach Abby’s uncle and referenced in Cheri Kempf’s “The Softball Pitching Edge.” It describes the curved drag line made by the back foot in the dirt, showing efficient hip rotation.

Internal rotation – As a pitcher brings her arm down from the top of the circle toward release, the shoulder and upper arm rotate inward so that the elbow leads and the hand flips behind it at the very last moment. This action is the primary source of whip, velocity, and tight spin. Over time, most players naturally start to do this with their arm, and for those that don’t, they can do drills to improve it. No matter what follow through a player does, all players perform internal rotation.

Stacked – Proper body alignment during the release —right shoulder, ball, and right knee all line up in a vertical line.

Explosion – The drive off the rubber with the legs and the closing of the hips into front-side resistance.

Follow-Through – The finish after release. Crucial for velocity and injury (bicep and labrum) prevention.

📊 Stats & Strategy

ERA (Earned Run Average) – Measures how many runs a pitcher allows per game. Lower is better.

Strike Zone – The area over home plate between the batter’s knees and chest. Many pitchers don’t fully understand the zone—make sure to review it!

Set Up Pitch – A pitch used to mislead or bait a hitter in preparation for the strikeout pitch.

🧠 Mental Game

Composure – Staying mentally steady and emotionally neutral in high-pressure moments.

Think/Play Box - A term we used for a routine to perform before every pitch in a game.

Reset Routine – A short, purposeful routine between pitches to refocus after a mental mistake.

Presence – How a pitcher carries herself on the mound. Confidence is powerful—even if you have to fake it at first.

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Know

Leaning – Tilting forward at toe-touch instead of reversing posture into a balanced position.

Crow Hopping – A confusing rule with two meanings: 1) illegally replanting the back foot before release, or 2) (now legal) when the back foot leaves the ground but doesn’t replant.

Leaping – Related to #2 above. The rule books vary, but leaping is now allowed in most modern regulations if there’s no replant. Most pitchers cannot leap without it negatively effecting the rest of their mechanics.

Opening Early – Rotating the hips or shoulders too soon during the plug phase, reducing power and spin potential.

🤞 Wrapping It Up

Pitching is a combination of art, science, and discipline. Understanding the language helps parents support, pitchers grow, and coaches guide more effectively.

Whether you’re learning the basics or sharpening your competitive edge, we hope this glossary helps you speak the language of fastpitch with more confidence.

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