help with verbalizing strike call

[shipwreck]

At my last evaluation for college ball, I was told that my verbal strike call was a little weak. I simply say strike and come up to a hammer. On the day I was evaluated, it was real windy and they told me I wasn't loud enough. What has anyone found to be a good sound to make for a strike, that has sound that can really be heard without yelling it? Along with that, how do you end with a strike three to put more emphasis on it? Just trying to improve. Dave

[NCASAUmp]

Ever watch NFL? You know the sound you hear for the quick "hike hike!" during the snap? That's the sound I make. One quick call that sounds more like "rike!" Quick, sharp, heard by everyone on the field. It's also not terribly hard on the vocal chords. Well, at least it isn't hard on mine, but my singing voice went "bye bye" a long time ago.

[NCASAUmp]

Well, that was for SP. Other calls I've heard for FP that have worked well were more along the lines of "riiiiiike."

[Rachel]

I have always said "Haa" If I said strike in my female voice it would sound too high. The NCAA wants it pretty loud. For a ball I just say "ball" so the batter, catcher and on deck batters can hear me. I have not been dinged on that, plenty of other stuff but not that.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Rachel

I have always said "Haa"

As in "Ha! Did you miss a helluva opportunity to hit a good pitch."

[whiskers_ump]

Originally Posted by Rachel

I have always said "Haa" If I said strike in my female voice it would sound too high. The NCAA wants it pretty loud. For a ball I just say "ball" so the batter, catcher and on deck batters can hear me. I have not been dinged on that, plenty of other stuff but not that.

Yeppers, that's Rachel. No, she has a good strike call, everyone that needs
to can hear it.

Mine, they hear on the other three fields of the 4 field pod.

[jwwashburn]

Try this one: Strike

[Skahtboi]

Project from the diaphragm. If you do that, it doesn't matter whether you say strike, high. he yah, or anything else. Personally I say the word "strike" on the first two, and then on the third I use a "hah" kind of call.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

Well, that was for SP. Other calls I've heard for FP that have worked well were more along the lines of "riiiiiike."

I did the same in fast pitch and dare I say.... baseball. It really sounds like a grunt, quick and sharp. "IKE!" Kind of like I'm rooting on Eisenhower.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by Welpe

I did the same in fast pitch and dare I say.... baseball. It really sounds like a grunt, quick and sharp. "IKE!" Kind of like I'm rooting on Eisenhower.

I've sometimes been asked "so what is it you're saying when you're calling the strike? Is it English?"

My response: "No, it's Umpirese."

"What's Umpirese?"

[SC Ump]

Originally Posted by Rachel

I have always said "Haa" If I said strike in my female voice it would sound too high. The NCAA wants it pretty loud. For a ball I just say "ball" so the batter, catcher and on deck batters can hear me. I have not been dinged on that, plenty of other stuff but not that.

I do the same as you since I feel that "strike" is too high even in my manly man voice.

I use the same HAAAH for my ki-yap in my karate, when I'm punching or breaking boards. For third strike, I just yell like I'm breaking two boards instead of one.

[CajunNewBlue]

Originally Posted by whiskers_ump

Yeppers, that's Rachel. No, she has a good strike call, everyone that needs
to can hear it.

Mine, they hear on the other three fields of the 4 field pod.

thats true.... its kinda fun when your strike calls match up with mine... i just have to throw the hammer.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by CajunNewBlue

thats true.... its kinda fun when your strike calls match up with mine... i just have to throw the hammer.

I used to have that same reputation. Then I went to the NUS. We were indoors in the gym (weather wasn't cooperating), and practicing our strike/ball calls. Everyone else gave a solid strike call when their turn came up, and then it was my turn. I gave my strike call, and I realized I was WAY too loud! All conversations were completely drowned out by it, and a number of heads turned to find out "what the HELL was that?!" The instructors never said anything, but I don't think they had to.

It was after that day that I switched to a simple, "rike!"

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

I used to have that same reputation. Then I went to the NUS. We were indoors in the gym (weather wasn't cooperating), and practicing our strike/ball calls. Everyone else gave a solid strike call when their turn came up, and then it was my turn. I gave my strike call, and I realized I was WAY too loud! All conversations were completely drowned out by it, and a number of heads turned to find out "what the HELL was that?!" The instructors never said anything, but I don't think they had to.

It was after that day that I switched to a simple, "rike!"

Luckily we dont play softball in a gym.


Add me to the list of Loud Strike Calls.. and I throw the hammer.

The goal is to send em to the dug out crying.

I've never been dinged on my strike call, and I've been dinged on everything. Hell I've been dinged for doing stuff I got dinged for not doing, but never heard "your strike call is too loud".

[Andy]

Like a couple of others - my strike call is similar to a loud HAAAA!

For a called stike three - I use something that sounds like FREEEEEEE! with a big bow and arrow.