Softball vs baseball gear: what is actually different, item by item

The short version

The ball

Every other difference follows from the ball. Little League Softball's Rule 1.09 (quoted via Balls.com): Tee Ball and Minor divisions use a ball “not less than 10-7/8" nor more than 11-1/8" in circumference” at 5 1/2–6 oz; Majors and up use a 12 in ball at 6 1/4–7 oz. A baseball is 9 in around and about 5 oz. A 12 in softball is a third bigger and heavier than a baseball, which is why the glove pocket, the bat barrel and the batting distance all change. The ball is also softer, which is why softball helmets standardize the face mask: the ball comes from 35 or 40 feet in youth fastpitch, and at that distance a line drive back at a pitcher or a bad hop is a face injury.

The bat

A fastpitch bat is 2 1/4 in in diameter with a light drop (-10 to -13 for youth) and carries either the BPF 1.20 print (Little League Softball, Rule 1.10) or a softball body's certification (USA Softball, USSSA, NSA; Easton labels its bats “All Association” when they carry the set). A youth baseball bat carries the USA Baseball stamp for Little League or the USSSA 1.15 BPF stamp for travel ball, and can be 2 5/8 in in the barrel. Neither stamp is valid in the other sport. The two picks here are both light one-piece alloys for a 7- or 8-year-old: the Easton Ghost Youth -11 (softball) and the Easton Typhoon USA -12 (baseball, 2 1/4 in barrel). The USA vs USSSA vs BBCOR page covers the baseball stamps; the fastpitch size chart covers the softball side.

The glove

BaseballMonkey's fastpitch glove guide: fastpitch gloves “will feature a deeper and shorter pocket than a baseball glove,” built so the bigger ball stays in. Sizes run about an inch larger at the same age (BaseballMonkey: 9–11 in for ages 5–8 in fastpitch; Rawlings' softball table on its R9 page puts youth fastpitch infield at 10.5–11 in). The two picks are the same Rawlings glove in each sport's pattern: the Sure Catch Softball 11 in (heel cutout for the bigger ball) and the Sure Catch 11 in Mike Trout (baseball basket web). Both are Velcro-back, soft-leather, 10-break-in gloves for a 7- to 9-year-old. A softball glove can be used for baseball; a baseball glove drops the 12 in ball.

The helmet

Same shell, same standard, one difference: fastpitch helmets come with a face mask installed. Easton sells the Z50 as a baseball helmet (mask optional, jaw guard compatible) and as the Z50 Softball with a “pre-assembled softball facemask.” Both are “SEI Certification: Meets NOCSAE Standard” per the maker. If your league requires a mask (most youth fastpitch leagues do; the rule varies by sanctioning body, so ask), buy the softball version rather than adding a mask later. The helmet size chart applies to both.

What can be shared

• Cleats. Molded rubber cleats are the same shoe; see youth baseball cleats. Metal is prohibited at the youth level in both sports' Little League divisions.
• Cup and sliding shorts. Same products; girls' sliding shorts skip the cup pocket. See cups and sliding shorts.
• Batting gloves, bag, tee, net, bucket. Identical. A batting tee cares about height, not the sport; a hitting net catches either ball. See the practice hub.
• Catcher's gear. Mostly shared at the youth level, but softball-specific sets (Easton's Jen Schro line) size the chest protector for girls. See catcher's sets.

Two of those lines need the detail. Which catcher's pieces actually cross over between a brother's set and a sister's — and the one that does not — is on softball vs baseball catcher's gear. And the molded cleats, ranked for a fastpitch player rather than a baseball one, are on best youth softball cleats.

Side by side