Strike mat
 

I searched but didn't find much except proposed rule changes.

One of our men's slow pitch league will be having a 1 week trial run with a strike mat. I don't suppose that's such a big deal.

I think the bigger deal is that they still want a ball that hits the plate to be called a ball. I find this to be counter-productive. Don't leagues that use the mat typically have anything that hits the combination of plate/mat called as a strike [assuming height requirements are met]?

I'd say they are looking for more consistency in how our guys are calling pitches, particularly deep balls.

I still think the slow pitch strike zone is just the goofiest thing... Hit the dang ball, Bubba!

The most enjoyable adult softball league I've ever been in was a 3-pitch league. You pitch to your OWN team - and you get 3 pitches. No need to judge strikes. No needless watching hitters wait until after they've gotten a strike. 3 pitches. Hit one Bubba.

Interesting. The dynamics of hitting back through the box might change. What if the pitcher, after fielding a hard one-hopper, throws the ball over the dugout?

Look at the rules for senior slow pitch as the mat is used in that division.

Not sure I follow... if you're referring to the person (from the offensive team) who pitched the ball, he doesn't field anything - if the batted ball hits him (or he for some reason fields it), dead ball, batter's out. If you are referring to the defensive player positioned near the rubber - then throwing the ball out of play would be like any other infielder throwing it out of play.

Oh, "defensive player positioned near the rubber ", like t-ball! :rolleyes: :p :D

All the divisions of our local adult SP league use the strike mat.... and we start with a 1&1 count. Easiest SP umpiring I've ever worked as an umpire.

Downside....now in my fourth season of working games with the mat, my skills as an effective SP PU have eroded to the point that I'd be clueless behind the plate. I wouldn't have anything resembling an accurate and consistent strike zone. As such, this is the only SP I work, everything else is FP.

I've worked a few different leagues with the strike mat and all of them included the plate as a strike. Believe it or not, you'll still get arguments over strikes. AAs like to argue about anything.

My one slow pitch ejection was the result of a strike mat strike I called.

Possible issues - Strike zone for 5' player same as that for a 6'4" player
Great pitch comes across the plate, you call it a strike and it misses the mat.
Guarantee you will lose more strikes, legitimate strikes than is worth the mat.

Played in an intramural league at PJC (Larry's knows what that is) and they allowed two pitches from you own player. Real simple, hit or sit. No count, no walks, no strike outs.

The games were great and competition good even for an intramural league.

Defense would put a player behind the pitcher, if they wanted. Pitcher couldn't touch the ball or get in the way, automatic out. Loved it!

Here in Sacramento and surrounding areas
 

Mat is a strike. Plate is a ball. Mats used are 19- 21 inches wide and fit around plate starting a point where plate angles to triangle. In senior play, both SSUSA and NCSSA a single mat is used and plate area is considered a strike. Why the difference, I have no clue.

I've played "One-Pitch" where your own guys pitches. Now this is a fast game. You can get most games in in 45 minutes.



mat for slowpitch - Bing Images

:cool::cool: PJC is now PSC. All over the Panhandle kids leave high school and head off to "Pen State."

Because of the pitcher trying to aim for the mat?

No, because the mat does not properly reflect the strike zone

Meaning the shoulder to knee strike zone the pitcher would be pitching to in a game played without the strike mat?

Yep. Nothing as depressing as a nice 7' pitch crossing the batter's belt buckle standing at the plate only to be a ball because it didn't hit the mat.

More like coach pitch, but yes.

I played in a similar league, geez it's been 30 years ago. (That can't be right! 30? Really?!) 2 pitches, pitch to your own. Anything hit over the fence was an out, so you had to put the ball in play.

Interesting concept. Is there a player from the defensive team that plays near the pitching position?

All of the SP leagues that I have worked call a strike if the ball hits the plate or the mat.

I agree with KJ....easiest games to call, but can certainly lead to lazy umpiring.

Well, it's been 35/36 for me, so it couldn't have been the same.:D

Well, after one night of play with the mat, and a ball hitting the plate being called a ball, it changed.

Now we are using the plate/mat combination as the called strike area. Pitch hits dirt is a ball; if it hits any part of plate or mat, it's a strike.

Also amended pitch height to 6 to 12 feet. Guess the pitchers feel threatened with balls coming back at them if the restriction is 10 feet. But most of them don't live in the 10 to 12 foot range consistently. They throw as many flat pitches as they do over 12 feet. But if they feel safer, so be it.

I love this part. For chrissakes, it's slowpitch softball. It isn't the pitch that causes the ball to come back up the middle. :rolleyes: