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Originally Posted by MajorDave
Several of my partners this past high school season hammered and one of my evaluators suggested that I use the hammer even though he doesn't. For some reason he thinks my voice, presence, etc. needs the hammer. I tried it one game but I am old school and went back to pointing for strikes one and two and then hammering/pulling the bow for called strike three. I simply say strike three without any extra emphasis and then hold up the hammer and say batter's out except on a swinging strike three that is dropped then I say strike three without any visual signal at all until there is a tag or a throw then I say in command voice "batter's out" and hold out hammer for a tag. I say nothing more than the "strike three" for a dropped third strike on throw to first unless base umpire does not signal-it sometimes does happen- then I say batter's out and hammer for the throw beating the runner.
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Guys,
It's not that hard. There is only ONE way to correctly signal a third strike not leagally caught. It's been this way for atleast the last 10 years and hasn't changed - unless ofcourse you umpire at the MLB level where they make up their own mechanics according to personal style.
As Garth already explained, the strike three mechanic is pointed out to the side while verbally saying "strike 3". The mechanic is held out to the side until the catcher and/or batter make some type of movement. If needed, you can say "no catch" and give the safe mechanic to force the catcher to make a tag or throw as well as let the batter know that he is not yet out.
This is the ONLY correct mechanic taught and used at pro schools. You can do it other ways, but it will not be the correct way. The reason this gets screwed up is because people watch MLB guys (ie Doug Eddidngs) use their senseless, personlized mechanics that cause big problems. By the way, Eddings no longer does that horsesh!t karate chop to the side mechanic - somebody must have informed him that it is totally useless. Now if only they would tell Hunter Wendlestat the same thing (he does another f*ck*d hand raising mechanic like his old man used to do).
Now that we all can AGREE what the right way is, this thread can now be closed. Ofcourse, I'm sure it will still continue because people post "but I was told to do this...." or "I was taught this...." or "I think it should be....