How do balls and strikes work in softball?
B · Beginner · The game · 2 of 4Each pitch the batter does not hit fairly is a ball or a strike. A strike is a pitch swung at and missed, a pitch through the strike zone that the batter leaves, or a foul ball with fewer than two strikes. Three strikes and the batter is out. Four balls and the batter goes to first base.
How it works
- The strike zone: the space over any part of home plate "between the bottom of the batter's sternum (chest plate) and the bottom of the batter's kneecap" in their natural stance.
- Called strike: any part of the ball enters the zone before touching the ground and the batter does not swing.
- Swinging strike: a pitch struck at and missed.
- Foul balls: a strike when the batter has fewer than two strikes. With two strikes, a foul leaves the count as it is.
- Foul tip: a ball that goes sharply from the bat into the catcher's glove and is caught. It is a strike and the ball stays live.
- A ball: a pitch outside the zone that is not swung at, or one that touches the ground or home plate first.
- Four balls: a base on balls. The batter goes to first base and the ball is live.
- Intentional walk: the defence tells the plate umpire. No pitches are thrown and the ball is dead.
- Hit by a pitch: first base, unless the batter swung, the pitch was in the strike zone or the batter made no attempt to avoid it.
- Ten seconds: the batter must be in the box within 10 seconds of "Play ball", or a strike is called.
- Balls without a pitch: an illegal pitch, the pitcher taking more than 20 seconds and each extra warm-up pitch.
- Both feet in: the batter's feet must be inside the lines of the box before the pitch starts.
The glossary has the strike, the ball, the walk, the strikeout, the foul ball and the dropped third strike.
Tricky cases
A pitch bounces in the dirt and the batter swings and misses. Ball or strike?
A strike. Any legally pitched ball struck at and missed is a strike.
A pitch in the strike zone hits the batter on the elbow. Do they get first base?
No. A strike is called and the ball is dead.
With two strikes, the batter bunts the ball foul. What happens?
The batter is out. A foul bunt after the second strike is the exception to the rule that a foul cannot be strike three.
A batter stands still and lets an inside pitch hit them. First base?
No. If no attempt is made to avoid being hit, the umpire calls a ball and does not award first base.
Why the rule exists
The count is the contest between pitcher and batter. Strikes force the batter to swing at good pitches, and balls force the pitcher to throw them. Counting only the first two fouls as strikes lets a batter fight off hard pitches without being put out by a ball they did hit.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fast pitch | Zone from the bottom of the sternum to the bottom of the kneecap | WBSC Softball Rule 5.1.43 |
| Modified pitch | Zone from the armpits to the top of the knees | WBSC Softball Rule 5.1.43 |
| Intentional walk | By telling the umpire, with no pitches | WBSC Softball Rule 5.5.1 c |
| World Cups | The 10 seconds run on a visible clock | WBSC Softball World Cup Regulation C7.5 e |
From the rule book
World Baseball Softball Confederation, Official Rules of Softball: Fast Pitch (2026-2029), Rules 5.1.1, 5.1.21, 5.1.22, 5.1.43, 5.4.2, 5.4.3 and 5.5.1. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: WBSC Official Rules of Softball, Fast Pitch, 2026-2029 (PDF).