Need to quote rule allowing slingshot.

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May 7, 2008
8,506
48
Tucson
I have a student that pitches the slingshot. Opposing coaches go nuts and again, I am being called because she recently started MS ball, in AZ.

I have my ASA rule book, but I wonder if they use Fed. rules? Anyway, I need the rule from federation that allows the slingshot pitch. She is very good, so opposing coaches like to mess with her. She could care less.

Are there any rules in any rule set, that would disallow it?
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
Although there is no rule specifically permits a slingshot motion, the existing rules do not prohibit it. It is perfectly legal. Pick your rule set of choice and walk through it and apply the text a slingshot motion. I have had students throw a specialty pitch with a slingshot motion which really messes with both coaches and umpires. Most do not realize what just happened. But it is different so they reason it must not be legal. Often a slingshot delivery is confused with a Ephesus Pitch / Chinese Change Up which is illegal because the forward motion of the hand passes the hip twice.

BTW - More power to her! Would love to see her throw.
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
FED 6-1 Art 4 The pitcher may use any windup desired provided:

It gets rather lengthy but nothing below that would restrict the use of the slingshot. Nothing in any rule set restricts the use of a slingshot delivery.

Nothing in any of the rules I am familiar with says anything about how many times the hand passes the hip. For that matter, on a standard windmill delivery the hand passes the hip twice. ASA states a maximum of 2 revolutions, FED specifies a maximum of 1 1/2. What makes the ephus pitch illegal is the rules state the pitching arm may not continue to rotate after release of the ball.
 
Jan 25, 2011
2,282
38
Ump told the coach that my dd can't mix a slingshot in her pitching. Dd would throw a slingshot every once in awhile to a batter.
 
May 17, 2012
2,804
113
Most of you have it right with regards to the slingshot. I have a pitcher who throws it and we are undefeated in appeals in all of the organizations when it has been an issue. Back in the day a lot of pitchers only threw slingshot (depending on where you lived).

Not sure why there is an issue with the ephus pitch. There must be different derivations of it. If you throw it correctly it is a legal pitch. There is not a height limit in fast pitch. Now getting the umpire to call it a strike is another issue.

We threw the ephus pitch 103 times last year and it was only hit twice; both times for a single. It's a great pitch.
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
Most of you have it right with regards to the slingshot. I have a pitcher who throws it and we are undefeated in appeals in all of the organizations when it has been an issue. Back in the day a lot of pitchers only threw slingshot (depending on where you lived).

Not sure why there is an issue with the ephus pitch. There must be different derivations of it. If you throw it correctly it is a legal pitch. There is not a height limit in fast pitch. Now getting the umpire to call it a strike is another issue.

We threw the ephus pitch 103 times last year and it was only hit twice; both times for a single. It's a great pitch.

If your pitcher is throwing a true ephus where the ball is released the first time past the hip but the arm continues to rotate another revolution, it is illegal. The arm may not continue to rotate after the release of the pitch.
 
Jun 19, 2013
753
28
Can someone post a video of what a sling shot pitch is? or give a good description? I've seen the term on here quite a bit but don't actually know what you're speaking of. Thanks
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
Can someone post a video of what a sling shot pitch is? or give a good description? I've seen the term on here quite a bit but don't actually know what you're speaking of. Thanks

This is just a short demo. It is basically pulling the pitching arm back and releasing the ball first time past the hip. Any umpire who thinks this is illegal or must be the exclusive pitch for a batter does not know his/her rules or trade


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ybZclAsGCA
 

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