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I fully support, and practice the concept of "flattening" the strike zone (pull it down, and up, and widen).
A ball that touches the top part of the strike zone can be coming across the neck or even chin, and is technically a strike, but you dont want to call that. I want to see all of the ball below the arm pits, and all of the ball above the knees. A typical softball pitch drops. Typical knees are 14"-16" off the ground. A ball through or below the knees across the front of the plate may be near the catcher's ankles - which is what the fans see. Then give a couple inches inside/outside as a strike.
When you have flattened your strike zone I suggest that you cut off the four points of the rectangle and visualize your strike zone as pear or oval shaped. You dont want to call a strike on a pitch that is a little high and a little outside. You have two negatives (high, outside) and one of them will get you an argument. If a pitch is a little high, but over the center part of the plate you will get away with that strike call. Likewise, if the pitch is a little off the plate, but through the middle (beltline plus or minus 8) youve got strike.
WMB
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