roughing up finish on softballs

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

...Either way, both pitchers are on even ground.

It is not unusual (especially in tournaments) to start a game with one new and one used ball, so only the home team pitcher "has" to use a new ball. Especially with Dudley balls, I will typically rough them up a little, since it seems to me that they are worse than others on the hard, shiny finish (confirmed somewhat by pitcher's whining...). I also don't notice when a pitcher with a new ball happens to get some dirt on the ball that she proceeds to vigorously "wipe off".