Hhaa! or Strike!

[DaveASA/FED]

All have given good advice, use what you are comfortable with. The only "reason" I have heard for teaching the "HUH"(more what my strike call sounds like) or "HAH" instead of the full strike is the way your voice tends to raise and crack on the "ike" part of strike. It was told to younger umpires and even older ones as the game goes on and the throat gets dry at times you tend to sound weaker or have a pitchy (ok that sounds like Simon on American Idol) and they want more solid call every time. Again not saying that is a reason to change what works for you, but I will say that prior to changing a few people at the last clinic I attended I did hear some squeaky calls that made you look accross the gym.

On other comment on Henry's "oot" call, I attended a clinic with him also, good time by the way, he said that he calls everything the same verbally on close plays, meaning sell safe and sell out is the same verbal. He started that when he had a big game with large crowd and he gave a big sell safe signal but said "oot". The fielder asked which it was, you said out but signalled safe......Henry's response?? "Son, your right, but only you and him heard oot, all the rest of these people saw safe, he's safe!" I have noticed this with a few umpires I have worked with there sell safe and sell out are the same verbal, "Haaaaaa" or "HuuuuuH" but then a strong signal for safe and the run, jump punch out.