Strikeout Pitch
Also known as: put-away pitch, out pitch
A strikeout pitch is the specific pitch a pitcher goes to in two-strike counts to finish the at-bat. This means 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. This means 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 game situation. It's typically the pitch built to over the course of an at-bat by setting it 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. This means having one dominant strikeout pitch is more effective than having three average ones.
Develop a secondary strikeout pitch for a different hitter profile. This means for example, a rise ball for hitters who swing up and a drop ball for hitters who level out. This means. As a result, 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. This means 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 identifies your two-strike pitch selection patterns and compares swing-and-miss rate by pitch type and location to surface which combination is your true strikeout weapon.
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. This means 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. This means 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 BallA rise ball is a fast-pitch pitch thrown with backspin that causes it to flatten or climb late in its path, arriving higher than expected and causing hitters to swing under it.
Related guides & benchmarks
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See a sample Fast-Pitch Softball report first