"Jungle ball" was a hybrid form of women’s softball and baseball most closely associated with the Hawaiian Islands, where it was played regularly, though it occasionally appeared on the mainland through exhibition games.

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A Game Between Softball and Baseball

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Jungle ball blended elements of both sports, creating a faster, more demanding style of play:

 

• 70-foot base paths (longer than standard softball’s 60 feet)

• A pitching distance of 43 feet (softball distance was typically 35 feet)

• Overhand pitching with a softball, though exhibitions against softball teams often required underhand delivery.

 

In some exhibitions, it was even used side-by-side with standard softball:
 

• The first seven innings played as jungle ball

• The final innings reverting to softball rules

 

This suggests jungle ball was being actively compared and showcased as an alternative version of both baseball and softball.
 

Hawaiian Influence and Touring Teams
 

Jungle ball’s presence on the mainland often came through Hawaiian touring teams, including all-star squads that introduced the game to new audiences. These tours became full-scale events, combining jungle ball exhibitions with cultural performances, including hula dancing featuring the players themselves.
 

For many mainland audiences, this was likely their first exposure to jungle ball, underscoring how deeply the game was tied to Hawaiian baseball and softball culture.