Slide
Also known as: feet-first slide, headfirst slide, pop-up slide, hook slide
A slide is the technique a baserunner uses to reach a base below a tag, to stop momentum from overrunning the base, or to avoid a collision.
The feet-first slide (bent-leg or straight-in) is the safest option for youth players: the runner sits, extends one leg, tucks the other, and slides into the base. The pop-up slide adds a forward momentum redirect — the runner uses the base to pop back upright, ready to advance again. The hook slide avoids the tag by angling away from the fielder's position. The headfirst slide is faster on close plays but increases hand and wrist injury risk. Technique matters for safety: a bent-leg slide with the knee upward toward the fielder increases collision risk.
Example
She felt the outfield throw coming in and hit the dirt in a clean hook slide, grabbing the corner of the bag as the tag swept past her hip.
Related terms
- Baserunning ReadA baserunning read is the split-second decision a runner makes based on what the ball does after contact — whether to advance, hold, or retreat.
- Jump (Stolen Base)The jump on a stolen base attempt is how quickly and decisively a runner breaks toward the next base on the pitcher's first movement — the single biggest predictor of stolen base success.
- Tag UpTagging up means a baserunner returns to and touches their current base as a fly ball is caught, then takes off toward the next base — the legal method of advancing on a caught fly.
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