Foul Tip

[Martin T.]

The key to understanding the foul tip rule is (like so many of the poorly understood rules) why the rule is there in the first place.

In fastpitch it is relatively common to have the ball 'tip' the bat and go straight back into the catcher's glove and be caught with no effort at all by the catcher, apart from closing her glove. Not having an out which is not really deserved is one theory.

A second theory is that it takes away the uncertainty of wheter the ball tipped the bat or not. In modern times, with alloy bats, it is common to hear it rather than see it. Perhaps with wooden bats it was often impossible to tell - so lets just call it a strike and stop the arguing coach!

I wasn't around when the rule was introduced so I ask "are there any historical buffs out there that can add to the origin and lessen the confusion?"

Martin
p.s.
Ball goes to hands - foul tip
Hand goes to ball - out (but it's a judgement call - but the lower the player skills & speed of pitch the more difficult it gets...)