Softball Strikezone vs Baseball Strikezone

[JeBa]

:oops:
Maybe it's just me, but does anybody else find it difficult to be the PU switching between baseball and good fast-pitch softball?
I don't get the chance to do much LL Jr or Sr softball during the regular season but once tournament season starts, I may get a plate assignment.

Happened last summer, no upper level softball all season but I was given the plate for an allstar game. It might have been my worst strike zone of all time. Just could not get used to that ball coming up from down under (with speed!). Pitch looked like it was skimming the ground until it rose up to the catcher!

I spend alot more plate time with baseball. Trying to get more regular season softball plate time would help, but we don't have many teams in our district. Any suggestions for softball strikezone mechanics?

Jeff

[shickenbottom]

Watch the ball all the way from the pitchers release to the catchers glove. See if you can't read the manufacturers label. Then call the pitch.

Most of the time you can get away with calling the glove, except in the rare instance you have a catcher that likes to "pull", "rake", "roundhouse" the ball a great distance back into the zone.

[killdump]

I do them both, and I don't have any problems distiguishing the two.

[johnnyV]

You probably just need more experience doing SB games. Like killdump, I too umpire both with no problems with the strike zone. Good luck.

[gos0170]

You might want to look at your plate mechanics in general. If good softball is causing problems you might have tracking or timing issues to address. Try this and see if it works, track the ball from release all the way into the glove before you decide if it is a ball or strike. When the ball pops the glove then decide what the pitch was making sure you have a separation of the decision and the signal. This will cause a slower call but also a more consistant timing in both baseball and softball. Many of the baseball people at my primary complex are surprised by the movement of the ball in fastpitch the first time they work a good game but are able to quickly adjust by remembering the basics of calling balls and strikes.

[patrick s]

Here's a novel idea, don't accept assignments in sports you aren't familiar with! Just because someone is a good baseball umpire, doesn't mean they can just walk on a softball field and be good.

[heyblue26]

Here's a novel idea, don't accept assignments in sports you aren't familiar with! Just because someone is a good baseball umpire, doesn't mean they can just walk on a softball field and be good.

Yep and the same for a softball umpire coming and doing baseball. I have seen some that said they do both and come to find out they use softball mechanics doing baseball. Then again you have some on this site that do both very well and know the rule differences.

[patrick s]

I maybe do twenty LL (boys) games a year. I assign three local little leagues and a Cal Ripken league, and if I can't get someone else I do it. When it comes to all stars, I feel it would be a cheat to the participants if I accepted that assignment, and to the Baseball umpires who have worked hard to get it.