Will the batter considered out if the foul tip ball caught by the catcher on the first or second strike?
Foul tip
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- Feb 24, 2010
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No, only if it is, in the umpires opinion, a foul ball above the player's heads. I think the definition of a foul tip is a direct route to the catchers glove, or some sort of language like that. If it is a little pop up above the batter's head, again a judgement call by the ump, but most likely it would be a put out.
Most of these situations (and the IFR you asked about) are discussed in a sanctioning bodies rule book, like ASA, USSSA, etc. See if you can get a copy and read through it.
Most of these situations (and the IFR you asked about) are discussed in a sanctioning bodies rule book, like ASA, USSSA, etc. See if you can get a copy and read through it.
There is no rule on tipped ball going above the batters head. A tipped ball that goes sharply and directly to the catchers glove or hand is a foul tip. On strike 1 or 2 it is nothing more than a strike and live ball. With 2 strikes the batter would be out.
Any tipped ball that does not go sharply and directly to the catchers glove or hand, and is caught by the catcher prior to hitting the ground is a caught foul ball and the batter is out. There is not requirement for the ball to go above the batters head.
Any tipped ball that does not go sharply and directly to the catchers glove or hand, and is caught by the catcher prior to hitting the ground is a caught foul ball and the batter is out. There is not requirement for the ball to go above the batters head.
Talking to an ump, he told me how high it goes does not matter, if the ball goes 'up' off the bat it is considered a caught foul and is an out. I have looked in the rule book, but could not find this, or any other definition.
Comp,... Where did your def. come from? This is a commonly missunderstood rule and I'm curious where it can be found.
Comp,... Where did your def. come from? This is a commonly missunderstood rule and I'm curious where it can be found.
- Jun 22, 2008
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It is part of a long living myth.
Until two years ago (speaking ASA) a ball caught above the batter's head could not be a foul tip. Unfortunately, for decades, people took this to mean that only a ball above the head could be caught for an out.
Now, any ball which goes sharply and directly from the bat to the catcher's glove/hand and is caught is a foul tip.
ASA rule supplement 22 Foul Ball / Foul Tip
The reference of the "height of the batter's head" as it relates to a foul ball and foul tip no longer applies. This change, instituted in 2006, allows more opportunity for the catcher to obtain "outs" by catching foul batted balls the same as any other fielder who is playing closer to home plae. Umpires only need to judge whether the ball moves from the bat "sharply" and "directly" versis a ball that has a perceptible arc and / or if the catcher moves their glove / mitt to catch the ball after contact with the bat.
The definition of a foul ball has not hcanged. However, a foul tip is now defined as a batted ball that goes sharply and directly from the bat to the catcher's glove / mitt or hand and is legally caught by the catcher. it is not a foul tip unless caught and any foul tip that is caught is a strike, and the ball remains live in Fast Pitch and Slow Pitch with stealing. It is not a catch if the ball rebounds off the catcher, unless the ball has first touched the catcher's glove / mitt or hand. Again, a foul tip can only be caught by the catcher. Examples of foul ball and foul tip follow:
A: A foul ball with perceptible arc goes toward the catchers left and the catcher moves their glove / mitt to catch the ball. In this situation, the batter is out and the ball remains live just as it would when any other fielder catches a foul fly ball.
B: The foul ball rebounds from the bat with a perceptible arc should high and the catcher moves upward with the glove / mitt to make the catch. In this situation, the batter is out and the ball remains live just as it would when any other fielder catches a foul fly ball.
C: The pitcher throws a rise ball and the catcher is moving up as the pitch is on the way to home plate. The batter squares to bunt the ball above their head and the ball goes in a straight line from the bat to the glove / mitt and the catcher catches the ball. In this situation, it is a foul tip. It does not matter tha the ball is above the batters head. The only thing that matters when determining whether it is a foul tip is the fact that the ball goes directlly from the bat to the catchers glove / mitt or hand and then is caught by the catcher.
Umpires must be alert to the fact that runners need to tag up on a batted foul ball that is caught. This increases the opportunity or more outs, not only with the catcher catching the ball but the opportunity for more appeal plays with runners leaving a base to soon on a cuaght fly ball. Remember, the runner must wait until first touch before breaking contact with a base on a cuaght fly ball, fair or foul. Runners may leave when the pitch is released in fast pitch and when the pitch reaches the front edge of home plate in slow pitch with stealing, if the ball is judged to be a foul tip.
The reference of the "height of the batter's head" as it relates to a foul ball and foul tip no longer applies. This change, instituted in 2006, allows more opportunity for the catcher to obtain "outs" by catching foul batted balls the same as any other fielder who is playing closer to home plae. Umpires only need to judge whether the ball moves from the bat "sharply" and "directly" versis a ball that has a perceptible arc and / or if the catcher moves their glove / mitt to catch the ball after contact with the bat.
The definition of a foul ball has not hcanged. However, a foul tip is now defined as a batted ball that goes sharply and directly from the bat to the catcher's glove / mitt or hand and is legally caught by the catcher. it is not a foul tip unless caught and any foul tip that is caught is a strike, and the ball remains live in Fast Pitch and Slow Pitch with stealing. It is not a catch if the ball rebounds off the catcher, unless the ball has first touched the catcher's glove / mitt or hand. Again, a foul tip can only be caught by the catcher. Examples of foul ball and foul tip follow:
A: A foul ball with perceptible arc goes toward the catchers left and the catcher moves their glove / mitt to catch the ball. In this situation, the batter is out and the ball remains live just as it would when any other fielder catches a foul fly ball.
B: The foul ball rebounds from the bat with a perceptible arc should high and the catcher moves upward with the glove / mitt to make the catch. In this situation, the batter is out and the ball remains live just as it would when any other fielder catches a foul fly ball.
C: The pitcher throws a rise ball and the catcher is moving up as the pitch is on the way to home plate. The batter squares to bunt the ball above their head and the ball goes in a straight line from the bat to the glove / mitt and the catcher catches the ball. In this situation, it is a foul tip. It does not matter tha the ball is above the batters head. The only thing that matters when determining whether it is a foul tip is the fact that the ball goes directlly from the bat to the catchers glove / mitt or hand and then is caught by the catcher.
Umpires must be alert to the fact that runners need to tag up on a batted foul ball that is caught. This increases the opportunity or more outs, not only with the catcher catching the ball but the opportunity for more appeal plays with runners leaving a base to soon on a cuaght fly ball. Remember, the runner must wait until first touch before breaking contact with a base on a cuaght fly ball, fair or foul. Runners may leave when the pitch is released in fast pitch and when the pitch reaches the front edge of home plate in slow pitch with stealing, if the ball is judged to be a foul tip.
- Jul 28, 2008
- 1,085
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No. A foul tip, by definition, is a strike.
Thanks for all of you for the explanation. Now I'm looking the ISF rules book to find out the ruling, just in case I need to appeal if the ump make a mistake call related to the foul tip rule, esspecially the rule that stated (by Comp above) that the foul tip or caught ball in the foul area is a live ball. By the way, if anyone here who have already found it (in the ISF book) I hope you can share it here.
The ISF book on-line says it is 2002, so check for accuracy.
Sec. 37. FOUL BALL.
A foul ball is a legally batted ball which: a. Settles on foul territory between home and first base or between home and third base. b. Bounds past first or third on or over foul territory. c. First touches on foul territory beyond first or third base. d. While on or over foul territory touches the person, attached or detached equipment or clothing of an umpire or
player, or any object foreign to the natural ground. e. Touches the batter or the bat in the batter’s hand(s) a second time while the batter is within the batter's box. f. Goes directly from the bat, not higher than the batter’s head, to any part of the catcher’s body or equipment and is
caught by another fielder. g. Hits the pitcher’s plate and rolls untouched to foul territory before reaching first or third base.
NOTE: 1. A foul fly shall be judged according to the relative position of the ball and the foul line, including the foul pole, and not as to whether the fielder is on fair or foul territory at the time of touching the ball.
2. Thepositionoftheballatthetimeofinterferencedetermineswhethertheballisfairorfoul,regardlessif the ball rolls untouched to foul or fair territory.
Sec. 38 FOUL TERRITORY.
Foul territory is any part of the playing field that is not included in fair territory.
Sec. 39 FOUL TIP.
A foul tip is a batted ball which
a. b. c.
Goes directly from the bat to the catcher's hands. Goes not higher than the batter's head, and Is legally caught by the catcher.
NOTE: It is not a foul tip unless caught; and any foul tip that is caught is a strike. In Fast Pitch the ball is in play. In Slow Pitch the ball is dead. It is not a catch if it is a rebound, unless the ball first touched the catcher's hand(s) or glove.
Sec. 37. FOUL BALL.
A foul ball is a legally batted ball which: a. Settles on foul territory between home and first base or between home and third base. b. Bounds past first or third on or over foul territory. c. First touches on foul territory beyond first or third base. d. While on or over foul territory touches the person, attached or detached equipment or clothing of an umpire or
player, or any object foreign to the natural ground. e. Touches the batter or the bat in the batter’s hand(s) a second time while the batter is within the batter's box. f. Goes directly from the bat, not higher than the batter’s head, to any part of the catcher’s body or equipment and is
caught by another fielder. g. Hits the pitcher’s plate and rolls untouched to foul territory before reaching first or third base.
NOTE: 1. A foul fly shall be judged according to the relative position of the ball and the foul line, including the foul pole, and not as to whether the fielder is on fair or foul territory at the time of touching the ball.
2. Thepositionoftheballatthetimeofinterferencedetermineswhethertheballisfairorfoul,regardlessif the ball rolls untouched to foul or fair territory.
Sec. 38 FOUL TERRITORY.
Foul territory is any part of the playing field that is not included in fair territory.
Sec. 39 FOUL TIP.
A foul tip is a batted ball which
a. b. c.
Goes directly from the bat to the catcher's hands. Goes not higher than the batter's head, and Is legally caught by the catcher.
NOTE: It is not a foul tip unless caught; and any foul tip that is caught is a strike. In Fast Pitch the ball is in play. In Slow Pitch the ball is dead. It is not a catch if it is a rebound, unless the ball first touched the catcher's hand(s) or glove.
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Thanks AMY..... and the others too 
