There’s always three strike zones:
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Your strike zone
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The rulebook strike zone
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The umpire’s strike zone.
Too many times a player thinks their strike zone is the right one. They’ll argue, whine, complain, fight and fail.
The truth is that while a player may want to believe they know what the strike zone is, they’re always wrong.
The only strike zone that matters on game day is the strike zone that the umpire chooses to enforce.
Your goal as a hitter or pitcher is a simple one: Figure out the umpire’s zone as quickly as you can and then figure out how to turn it into a strength rather than an excuse.
Most hitters want to blame the umpire for calling strikes that they can’t hit but the truth is, they can hit them, they just choose not to. Most pitchers choose to get frustrated by pitches they want called strikes rather than figuring out how to use the umpire’s zone as a tool for success!
I tell hitters all the time that blaming the umpire because you can’t hit is a victim move!
Don’t be the bug, be the windshield!!
About the Author: Tory Acheson brings a wealth of knowledge to the Fastpitch Prep staff. He has coached at all levels of the game, including the last 25 years at the college level at the University of Wisconsin – Parkside, Tennessee Tech and Kennesaw State. He began his coaching career at the high school level spending 9 years Whitnall High School in Greenfield, Wis. and is now working as a professional softball instructor.
