Ok, I know the basics and I practice them.

Hustle. Get into a good postition. etc.

But what are some tips you vets might have and use for giving yourself the best chance of getting the close calls right.

Anyone?

TYIA.

watch closely, concentrate on whats going on, and listen..

kinda lame and simple, but thats my advice

Watch the play.... truly watch it before making the call. Replay it in your mind once and hesitate on the call. When I'm watching other umpires, almost eveyone I see that I think they missed, is because they rushed it, possibly having made up their mind a second too early.

Listen, Listen, Listen.
When I can hear the call as well as I see the call, I am much more confident in my decision. When you make a close call, really sell it!!

Give yourself space between you and the play. I find most umps hustle themselves too close to the play. By giving yourself a few extra feet the whole play comes into view. I preached this long and hard at our clinics this spring.

I hear an echo...
 

Get a good angle, get as close as possible without smothering the play, but get set/stopped before the play happens.

Replay it in your head once, maybe twice if you can.

Think: was it ball/foot or foot/ball?
Was it tag/bag or bag/tag?

Call what you see, not who yells loud enough!

Make your call, and be sure to sell it.

Bang-bang plays are why we umpire. They are so much fun!

Would just echo the sentiments of everyone else about getting the bangers right.

Seems to me that pretty much all of the arguments I have gotten over calls have been ones I have brought upon myself by either not being in a good position or being too quick with the call.

Get in postition, get good timing, sell the call.

I'll echo a couple said here, in my order of importance.

1) Get position.
2) Get set - you can't make a good call while moving.
3) Don't get too close - a lot of bangers are missed because the umpire is too close.
4) Listen (and learn to recognize what your audible clues sound like).

sloooooow down
 

Timing is key on every play. One of the most common mistakes made is making calls too quickly...balls, strikes, safes, outs. If you take your time all the time, that will help you with every call you make.

I agree with the slow down philosophy.
It is much more important to be right than to be fast.
I have had my embarassing moments when I called a quick out on a tag at 2nd base, only to see the ball trickle away from the bag after the dust has cleared. Or call a catch of a fly ball only to see it drop to the ground because Willie Mays didn't hold on to it.
Slow and precise will invariably help you to make the right calls on the bang bang plays as well.

Here in Seattle we have the ultimate tool to getting everyone to slooooooow down and not make those calls so quickly.

A double call costs you $1, payable in cash. It has cut down on those safe/outs and has turned into a pretty good learning tool and a fun thing. Streamdoc, SRW and moi have contributed, as have many others.

It ain't nothing til ya call it. Timing is everything and can save you the embarassment of having that good old 90 degree hammer up there as the ball rolls along the ground...

Some of us have contributed more than others... :P