text: what is the difference between softball and baseball?? i have always wondered that and wondered if anyone knew?! help is appriciated softball like baseball is played by men and women. there are two types of softball, fast pitch and slow pitch. four main differences between soft ball and baseball are that the ball is larger in the game of softball,the ball is pitched underhand, the bases are situated closer together and the pitching mound is considerably closer to the batter.  while slow pitch softball is more a leisurely recreational game with much activity because the ball is pitched slow with a required arc  and scoring is usually frequent, fast pitch softball is more a pitcher oriented low scoring game. even the best of batters in fastball have difficulty hitting. batting against top notch pitchers in fast pitch soft ball is not for the faint of heart. the ball comes from the mound which is only 40-46 feet away, and at speeds upwards of 80 mph. soft ball games are usually only 7 innings long and in top competitive games it is not unusual for pitchers to attain 12 -15 strikeouts.  believe me, some of the best mlb players would have difficulty looking good at the plate in elite player fastball (softball) games, whether it is a man or a woman pitching.