Strike outs

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Aug 10, 2016
686
63
Georgia
My daughter is struggling with strike outs this season. I went back and looked at her stats over the last few years and she rarely strikes out. It's at most maybe 2 a season. Her most recent travel season she did not strike out at all.

She's on the Varsity team this year (up from JV last season) and so far she has struck out 3 times already - all looking. And when I checked older seasons, the majority of her strike outs are looking.

We've told her time and time again, if it's close she needs to get her bat on it and foul it off if she can. And she knows all of this but once she's up to bat, she kind of forgets I guess. Last night, was 2 balls, 2 swinging strikes and then the last a called strike.

Is there anything we can do to help her so she gets more confident trying to foul off pitches on 2 strikes? It's one of my husband's pet peeves when she does it and her coach hates it too. Two other girls last night struck out looking too (both of them were seniors so I felt a little better).

thx
 

Strike2

Allergic to BS
Nov 14, 2014
2,044
113
Not all strike-outs are equal. Sometimes, players strike themselves out. Occasionally, the pitcher is just that good. However, more than you might think, the umpire helps it happen.

While DD has had some very memorable at-bats that started with an 0-2 count, like everyone else, she has "struck out looking". However, on those where I have video, a good part of the time strike 3 wasn't really a strike. The problem starts with strike 1, which is often a good pitch that she lets sail by. She then fouls off strike 2, perhaps also a good pitch that she just missed, but often not as good as strike 1. With a 2-2 count or better, a decent pitcher will nibble at the edge. I've seen umpires ring up strike 3 that was literally over the other batter's box...recorded on video.

I really wouldn't get wrapped around the axle about three strike-outs. I would focus more on what's happening on strikes 1 & 2 than on strike 3. I get far more irritated at players who watch a fat first pitch go by. When they do that, they're now depending on the pitcher to make a mistake and/or the umpire to call an accurate strike.
 
Feb 12, 2014
648
43
I have always told my kids that the only unforgivable sin in softball is to strike out looking. I'm a big put the ball in play guy, so I guess that makes me old school.

Here are some random thoughts -
1. Have a two strike approach. By this I mean get off the knob of the bat, shorten up the swing, get a little closer to the plate, spread the feet a bit, and expand the zone. Yes, you are going to sacrifice some power. For me, it's worth it if it helps get the ball in play.

2. You have to practice this. Every front toss session with my kids includes a two strike approach time. It may just be four or five swings or it may be a full bucket. But, we work on this every time we hit.

3. Make sure you DD is studying the game. How has the pitcher been pitching with two strikes? Does she automatically go to her rise when she gets ahead in the count for example? Having an idea which pitch is her "out" pitch can be a huge advantage when behind in the count.

In my case, we don't spend a ton of time talking about fouling off pitches. We talk making contact with 2 strikes. If they foul off a pitcher's pitch then that's great, but our main objective with 2 strikes is contact.
 
Feb 12, 2014
648
43
Not all strike-outs are equal. Sometimes, players strike themselves out. Occasionally, the pitcher is just that good. However, more than you might think, the umpire helps it happen.

While DD has had some very memorable at-bats that started with an 0-2 count, like everyone else, she has "struck out looking". However, on those where I have video, a good part of the time strike 3 wasn't really a strike. The problem starts with strike 1, which is often a good pitch that she lets sail by. She then fouls off strike 2, perhaps also a good pitch that she just missed, but often not as good as strike 1. With a 2-2 count or better, a decent pitcher will nibble at the edge. I've seen umpires ring up strike 3 that was literally over the other batter's box...recorded on video.

I really wouldn't get wrapped around the axle about three strike-outs. I would focus more on what's happening on strikes 1 & 2 than on strike 3. I get far more irritated at players who watch a fat first pitch go by. When they do that, they're now depending on the pitcher to make a mistake and/or the umpire to call an accurate strike.

This is an excellent point. Most strikeouts are not about the 3rd strike. Being aggressive early in the count is huge. Most pitchers (and people calling pitches) want to work ahead in the count. Again, study the pitcher's tendencies when in the dugout.
 
May 23, 2015
999
63
Its part of the natural progression of athletics. Failure plays a huge role especially in SB and BB. Shes just going to have to work her way through it. Mentally she has to turn switches on and off.

Drills and training are what we do all day. Telling them reminding them happens all day. They all know what needs to be done but just can't pull the trigger.
 
DD has been in slump not striking out but miss hits. Our new mentality approach is to square up the 1st pitch that is close to the zone. theory is if she misses she is squaring up next pitch anything close to zone. Until she has hit or strike out. Once she is squaring up majority of hits she can start being more selective. She is reaching a new level of focus on the ball.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
DD got into a habit of taking 1st strike, drove me nuts but let it go.

What I did not let go was her just trying to put bat to the ball, she better be swinging. If she struck out she struck out.
 

marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
Is there anything we can do to help her so she gets more confident trying to foul off pitches on 2 strikes? It's one of my husband's pet peeves when she does it and her coach hates it too. Two other girls last night struck out looking too (both of them were seniors so I felt a little better).

Not sure her age - but sounds like minimally a soph on a Varsity HS program so 18U eligible.

The short answer at this age: No; this is on her now. She has to figure this out herself; if she even thinks it is a problem. If you stop trying to micromanage how she plays you (and her) will enjoy this more. Having parents chirp on about striking out is as likley to annoy her and stress her more and make it worse; not better. If she asks for help, great; now you can talk through approach because she asked.

My DD expects to strike out on occasion because she also expects that she is going to crank a couple over or to the fence to make up for it; and as long as the pitcher is quality she can live with getting fooled by a good pitch. A strike out doesn't bother her at all - she just figures she will get the pitcher next time. Travel pitchers/travel hitters - sometimes you get them, sometimes they get you.

Second - if you can intentionally 'foul off 2 strike pitches' then you might as well intentionally square the ball up and hit it fair. Fouling off 2 strike pitches are just you trying to hit what you think is a strike. That is just hitting. Fouling it off just means you didn't get the contact you wanted 99% of the time.
 

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