soft·ball 
(sôftbôl′, sŏft-)
(sôftbôl′, sŏft-)n.
1.
a. A variation of baseball played on a smaller diamond with a larger, softer ball that is pitched underhand.
b. The ball used in this game.
2. A question, especially one posed during an interview or public forum, that is easy to answer and does not cause embarrassment: "Softballs aside, there have been a number of times when audience members asked substantive questions" (Elisabeth Bumiller).