Strikeout Pitch
Also known as: put-away pitch, out pitch
A strikeout pitch is a pitcher's go-to pitch for finishing two-strike at-bats. It is their most reliable swing-and-miss weapon, given the batter's tendencies.
Elite fast-pitch pitchers know exactly which pitch they lean on to put hitters away. It is often a rise ball high and tight, or a drop ball off the outside corner. The strikeout pitch is chosen based on scouting (does the hitter chase up?) and the game situation. It is usually the pitch the at-bat builds toward, set up with other locations and movement types. Having a dominant strikeout pitch changes how opponents approach the entire at-bat.
Pick your single best swing-and-miss pitch and commit to developing it to elite command — having one dominant strikeout pitch is more effective than having three average ones.
Develop a secondary strikeout pitch for a different hitter profile — for example, a rise ball for hitters who swing up and a drop ball for hitters who level out — so you have an answer for every batter type.
Example
After two fastballs to set up a hitter's timing, the pitcher goes to her rise ball high and in — her strikeout pitch — for a swing-and-miss.
How it shows up on video
On video you can confirm a pitcher's strikeout pitch by tracking which pitch type appears most frequently in two-strike counts and comparing it to swing-and-miss rate by pitch. The hitter will show the most exaggerated swing path deviation on the strikeout pitch. An uppercut on a high rise ball or a roll-over on a low drop ball confirms the pitch is working. Look for the catcher setting a more decisive, confident target on the two-strike pitch compared to earlier counts.
Common mistakes
- Using the strikeout pitch too early in the count before establishing it with location work, making it hittable because the hitter isn't yet guessing wrong
- Defaulting to the same strikeout pitch regardless of the hitter's tendencies rather than selecting based on scouting data
- Throwing the strikeout pitch in a location that leaks over the heart of the zone in two-strike counts when stress is highest
- Hitters over-protecting the zone in two-strike counts without identifying which specific pitch the pitcher uses to finish at-bats
In SwingVantage Motion Lab
Motion Lab does not log pitch types, locations or swing results, so it cannot find your strikeout pitch.
Frequently asked questions
Can a changeup be a strikeout pitch?
Absolutely — when a pitcher's changeup has identical arm speed to their fastball, it is one of the most reliable two-strike offerings in fast-pitch.
How do I know what my best strikeout pitch is?
Track swing-and-miss rate and called strike rate for every pitch type over multiple games. The pitch with the highest combined rate in two-strike counts is your strikeout pitch.
Related terms
- Pitch SequencingPitch sequencing is the deliberate ordering of pitches across an at-bat — using pitch type, speed, location, and movement to set up and exploit a hitter's reactions.
- Count AdvantageCount advantage describes which side the current ball-strike tally favours, and how each should adjust because of it.
- Rise BallIn fast-pitch, a rise ball is a pitch thrown with backspin that makes it flatten or climb late. It arrives higher than expected, so hitters swing under it.
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