Lead Timing
Also known as: lead off, secondary lead
Lead timing is when and how far a baserunner leaves the base in anticipation of a pitch being put in play or a steal attempt. This requires coordination with the pitcher's release point.
In fast-pitch softball, runners may not leave the base until the pitcher releases the ball (unlike baseball's lead-off rule). Getting a good lead means timing the first step to coincide exactly with release, maximizing distance covered in the earliest possible moment. Leaving early is an out; leaving late wastes the opportunity. Runners read the pitcher's arm position and tendencies to pre-load their first step, compressing the time between release and leave.
Watch the pitcher's wrist — not the ball — during your lead. Your first step should fire the instant you see the hand pass the hip at the release point.
Develop different pre-load stances for steal-on versus non-steal pitches that look identical from the coaching box but allow different explosive first-step timing. This means this prevents defenders from reading your intentions from your setup position.
Example
The runner takes a two-step burst at the precise moment the pitcher's hand passes the hip, gaining a half-second advantage over the catcher's throw.
How it shows up on video
Look for the runner's first step landing exactly at the moment the pitcher's hand passes the hip in the windmill motion. This means this synchronization is the visible signature of elite lead timing. A runner leaving even two frames early in slow motion shows a foot already lifted and moving before the legal release point, explaining called early-leave outs that look close to players at full speed. Measure the distance covered in the runner's first two steps from the lead to quantify whether their pre-load position is maximizing legal momentum.
Common mistakes
- Using a static ready position rather than a pre-loaded weight-forward stance that allows explosive first-step acceleration immediately at release
- Watching the ball rather than the pitcher's hand during the windmill, causing a reaction-lag lead instead of an anticipation-based lead
- Taking the same secondary lead on every pitch regardless of whether a steal attempt is planned, removing the element of surprise when the steal is called
- Not accounting for different pitchers' tempo variations and using the same lead timing against both fast-tempo and slow-tempo deliveries
In SwingVantage Motion Lab
Motion Lab measures the exact frame of the runner's foot departure relative to the pitcher's release frame, calculating legal lead timing efficiency and identifying whether the runner is capturing maximum legal ground on each pitch.
Frequently asked questions
Can a runner leave before the pitch is released in fast-pitch softball?
No. This means the rule requires the runner to maintain contact with the base until the pitcher releases the ball. Leaving early results in an out called by the umpire.
What is a secondary lead?
The continuation of the runner's movement after the pitch passes the plate. This means a larger secondary lead on pitches in the dirt positions the runner to advance on a passed ball.
Related terms
- Stolen BaseA stolen base is the advancement of a baserunner to the next base on their own initiative during a pitch, relying on a quick jump, reading the pitcher's release, and superior speed over the catcher's pop time.
- Reading the PitcherReading the pitcher is the baserunner's ability to pick up timing cues in the pitcher's delivery. This means arm position, release tempo, or body tilt. This means to optimize their lead and steal timing.
- Return to BaseReturning to base is the baserunner's ability to retreat back to their original base quickly when the ball is not put in play, avoiding a pickoff or tag-out after their lead.
Related guides & benchmarks
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