Product Description

Here’s the “missing guide” for slowpitch softball. It’s not a fastpitch softball book adapted to slowpitch softball. It’s a comprehensive and original instructional guide to the unique sport of slowpitch.

Customer Reviews (1)

Great read for slow pitch players
The stories are kind of interesting, but mainly a format for delivering some really good tips.It's nice to see an "expert" explain why some things you do work, and others don't.I found the pieces on pitching and batting the most useful. ... Read more

Product Description
An indispensable resource for anyone who wants to play competitive slow-pitch softball. Includes- How to form a team, Evaluating players, How to play each position, Batting fundamentals, Practice drills, Scouting reports, Game bookkeeping, 10 to 20 Team Double Elimination Tournament Charts

Illustrations include warm-up exercise drills, practice drills and situation charts. Used by many schools for instruction at all levels. Text pages are 60# library quality acid-free bond. Full C.I.P. data is included. 8-l/2" X 11", Plasti-Koil bound (or perfect bound), 166 pages. Four Color Cover, Thoroughly Illustrated. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good if it fits your specific need.
This book is geared towards someone organizing and leading a team.The table of contents looks quite complete, but many of the subjects received only cursory treatment.For example, the section on batting is hardlyworth the paper consumed.The real meat of the book is its illustrationsfor fielding drills. The fielding drills are very hardcore.Forexample, many of the drills state that the initial fielder should havetheir back to the batter.The fielder reacts to the sound of the ballhitting the bat and develops a (survival) instinct.After the ball isfielded, it is rapidly thrown to everyone in the infield following someprescribed pattern.These may be great for the super competitive team inan elite league. The players on a typical adult team are likely tomutiny if these drills are proposed.Players in the non-hardcore leaguesstill want to get better and win, but they won't take on hardcore trainingregimens.Since recreational leagues far out number the elite leagues,drills geared to the enthusiastic participation of the adult recreationalplayer would be a useful addition to the book.

Soup to nuts. This book has got it all!!
This book took me from beginning end for organizing and putting together a competitive softball team. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Introduction from the book
== THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE AT 1-877-453-3711.



Here's the introduction:

=== SERIOUS SLOWPITCH SOFTBALL ===

This is a book about recreational slowpitch softball. It is written by two passionate, enthusiastic softball players for the benefit of other passionate, enthusiastic softball players. Simply put, we want to share all that we know about this great game to help others play closer to the limits of their potentials, which will help them have more fun and enjoyment.

In 2001, more than 20 million players enjoyed recreational slowpitch softball in the United States. From Bangor to Burbank, you'd be hard-pressed to find a community that doesn't have some sort of league activity. From the high profile, multi-field complexes to the semi-dormant elementary school ballfields, the softball community is large and vibrant.

Despite this great level of interest in recreational slowpitch softball, the pool of formal instruction is surprisingly shallow. Other sports, in particular golf, tennis, running, and weight training, are flooded with "how to" books and magazines, yet the softball shelves at bookstores and newsstands are surprisingly bare. Instruction for fastpitch and overviews for beginners don't do much to address the needs of 20 million recreational slowpitch softball players who want to improve their level of play.

Even baseball books can be frustrating. Aren't you tired of mentally translating "baseball" to "softball" or "ball" every time you read it? Frankly, hitting a 90 mile-per-hour pitch in four-tenths of a second is significantly different than waiting for a high arcing pitch to float through the strike zone. Some theories are obviously the same, but there are notable differences.

Recreational slowpitch softball players should not have to mix-and-match bits and pieces of instruction from baseball, golf and tennis to play their own sport. Serious Slowpitch Softball attempts to fill what we believe is an obvious and expansive void: to provide instruction and advice for people who already play recreational slowpitch softball, but want to play it better.

Serious Slowpitch Softball, through a series of essay-style chapters, presents different perspectives and suggestions to help you "improve your game." We hope the points that seem obvious to you serve as useful reminders. We also hope the points you disagree with are outweighed by the other material where you say to yourself, "Of course! Why didn't I think of that!" If the scales tip in that direction, (and we believe they will), this book will be a valuable asset.

Serious Slowpitch Softball does not describe how to field a grounder. It does, however, offer tips and direction to refine and improve the skills you already have, especially those concerning batting, training, and the mental aspects of the game. Coaching and playing each defensive position also receive focused attention.

So here it is. Two softball maniacs draining their brains and spilling their guts, offering practical, straightforward, modern, player-tested tips for the recreational slowpitch softball players who want to "take it up a notch." You know how to play already. We're here to help you play better, and Improve Your Game.

Jim Ramsey
Gene Smith
... Read more

Product Description
Whether you coach your daughter's softball club or play with your friends after work, Softball: Fast- and Slow-Pitch will help you help your team make the most of its practice time. Including information on team warm-ups, position-specific drills, and equipment selection, this book covers the sport from the top of the first to the bottom of the seventh. "Mario and Gerry have parlayed their playing, coaching, and officiating knowledge into a very easy-to-read book for players of all ages. The combination of slow-pitch and fast-pitch techniques, usually as compatible as oil and water, makes this book truly unique. I recommend it to veterans and rookies alike." -- Frank Benjamin Sportscaster, Curt Gowdy Broadcasting"Ideal for coaches and players who want to learn the basic skills and techniques of the game." -- Don E. Porter Executive Director, Amateur Softball Association ... Read more

Product Description
A Slow-Pitch Summer is a candid, endearing, and often humorous memoir of a physician returning to his first softball season in forty years. Dr. Speroff takes the reader along his journey as he rekindles his lifelong love affair with the game .From choosing the perfect glove, to finding the "sweet" spot on the bat, to the camaradarie among his teammates on the 60-plus "Lime Popsicles, " this story celebrates a personal triumph over the aging process. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Senior softball reigns!
Dr. Speroff's journal of his first summer of slow-pitch senior softball is outstanding.I am personally in the midst of my "rookie" season as a younger senior in Florida.His descriptions of his teammates, the game, the equipment, & the "atmosphere" all ring true to what I am experiencing.The camaraderie is special, the good-natured ribbing is the same, & so is the "humbleizing" of missed catches, weak hits & the ever-looming risk of injury.
The color photos of players certainly enhance the story."I feel like a kid again" is the universal attitude here also.
Believe me, the game is much harder than it looks.So, for men in their 60's & 70's, the challenge is with every pitch, every hit, every grounder, every fly ball, to say nothing of running the bases speedily & safely.Who cares if no one is in the stands?The bonding with teammates is so uplifting & inspiring & the privilege of participating in senior sports is so energizing that we play senior softball almost year-round in Florida.My fantasy bumper sticker:"When you grow up, you too can play senior softball!" ... Read more