Taking Pitches (Take Sign)
Also known as: taking a pitch, taking pitches, take sign, when to take a pitch, working the count, take a strike
Take a pitch when it is outside your zone, when it is not the pitch you are looking for early in the count, or when your coach gives the take sign. Taking good pitches early can work the count in your favor. With two strikes, widen your zone and protect the plate instead.
Taking a pitch means letting it go by without swinging. A smart take is just as useful as a good swing. It keeps you out of bad contact and moves the count your way.
Early in the count, many hitters look for one pitch in one area. If it does not come, they take it, even if it is a strike. That can lead to a hitter's count, where the pitcher has to throw a better pitch.
The take sign is a coach's signal not to swing at the next pitch. Coaches often use it on 3-0, after a pitcher has walked batters, or to let a runner steal. With two strikes, most hitters stop taking borderline pitches and swing at anything close.
Tips by skill level
Before each at-bat, decide which pitch you will swing at early. Let the others go until you have two strikes.
Track your takes. Called strikes you could have driven are a sign your early plan is too narrow.
Example
The pitcher has just walked two batters. The coach gives the take sign on the first pitch. The hitter watches a ball go by and is ahead 1-0.
Why it matters
Good takes raise on-base rates and make pitchers work. Swinging at everything helps the pitcher.
Common mistakes
- Taking strikes with two strikes
- Swinging at a pitcher who cannot find the zone
- Missing the take sign
Frequently asked questions
When should I take a pitch?
Take it when it is out of your zone, when it is not your pitch early in the count, or when your coach gives the take sign. With two strikes, swing at anything close.
What is the take sign?
It is a coach's signal not to swing at the next pitch. Coaches often use it on 3-0 or when the pitcher is struggling to throw strikes.
Should I take the first pitch?
Not always. If it is the pitch you are looking for, swing. Many hitters take a first pitch they did not want, but a fastball down the middle is often the best pitch you will see.
Related terms
- Swing DecisionsSwing decisions are the choice a hitter makes on every pitch to swing or take. A good decision is a swing at a pitch you can hit hard, or a take on one you can't, even when the result goes badly. Better decisions come from a plan for each count, early pitch recognition and knowing your own strong zones.
- Plate DisciplinePlate discipline is the ability to tell balls from strikes and swing only at pitches a hitter can do damage on. It is the core mental skill of hitting.
- Ahead vs Behind in the CountMore balls than strikes is a hitter's count; more strikes than balls is a pitcher's count. Which side holds the edge reshapes how both of them play the rest of the at-bat.
- Two-Strike ApproachA two-strike approach is how a hitter adjusts with two strikes. They shorten the swing, cover more of the strike zone, and put contact ahead of power.
- Sitting on a Pitch (Hunting a Fastball)Sitting on a pitch means looking for one pitch type or location and swinging only if you get it. Many hitters sit on the fastball early in the count and take anything else. It works best when the count favors the hitter or the pitcher has a pattern. With two strikes, most hitters widen their plan.
Related guides & benchmarks
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