Chopper and Other Softball Slang
Also known as: what's a chopper, chopper in softball, softball slang, frozen rope in softball, walk-off in softball, what is a bomb in softball, corndog bat
A chopper is a ground ball that hits the dirt hard near the plate and bounces high, so a fielder has to wait for it. In slow pitch, a chopper off a normal swing is legal. A deliberate downward chop is not, because USA Softball calls the batter out for chopping the ball. Other slang: a bomb is a home run, a frozen rope is a hard line drive, and a walk-off ends the game.
Softball borrows much of its slang from baseball. A few words matter more in slow pitch because the rules treat them differently.
A chopper is any high-bouncing ground ball. It is legal when it comes from a normal swing that tops the ball. USA Softball defines a chopped ball as a downward chopping motion of the bat. In slow pitch, the batter is out for bunting or chopping the ball, and the umpire decides which it was.
A bomb is a long home run, often over the fence. A frozen rope, or rope, is a line drive hit so hard it seems to travel straight. A walk-off is a hit or play that wins the game for the home team in its last turn at bat. As a result, everyone walks off the field.
A few words are slow-pitch favorites. A rover is a short fielder who roams between the infield and outfield. Some players call composite bats corndogs, a word one wood-bat tournament uses in its rules.
Tips by skill level
If you hear a word you do not know, ask. Most slang describes how a ball was hit.
Swing level and hit line drives. A chopper off a good swing is fine, but chopping on purpose is an out.
Example
A new player hears a teammate say he hit a chopper and a rope. She learns the first was a high-bouncing grounder and the second a hard line drive. She also learns not to chop down on purpose, since that is an out.
Why it matters
Knowing the slang helps new players follow the dugout talk. Knowing which chop is legal keeps them from making a free out.
Common mistakes
- Chopping down on purpose to get a high bounce
- Thinking any high bouncer is an illegal chop
- Confusing a rover with a regular outfielder
- Using slang for rules without checking the rule
Frequently asked questions
What is a chopper in softball?
A chopper is a ground ball that hits the dirt hard and bounces high. It is legal off a normal swing, but chopping down on purpose is an out in slow pitch.
What is a frozen rope in softball?
A frozen rope is a line drive hit so hard it looks like it travels in a straight line.
Sources
- USA Softball, Official Rules of Softball 2026, Definitions, Chopped Ball (slow pitch: batter strikes downward with a chopping motion), p. 17; Rule 7 Sec. 6J (slow pitch: batter out for bunting or chopping the ball), p. 86
- Incline Village General Improvement District, Your Tahoe Place, Softball in Paradise Wood Bat Tournament (composite "corndog" bats not allowed)
Related terms
- Bunting and Chopping Rule (Slow-Pitch)No, you cannot bunt or chop the ball in slow pitch. Under USA Softball and USSSA rules, a batter who does either is out, and the ball is dead. A chop is a downward chopping swing meant to pound the ball into the ground, and the plate umpire decides whether a swing was one.
- Chopping Down on the BallChopping down on the ball is an exaggerated, near-vertical bat path. It hacks down instead of rotating, usually giving weak, high-bouncing grounders.
- Short Fielder (Rover)The short fielder, or rover, is slow-pitch softball's 10th defensive player. As a fourth outfielder or extra infielder, they fill gaps the arc creates.
- Topped BallA topped ball is contact on the ball's upper half instead of at or near its center. It drives the ball sharply into the ground, however hard the swing.
- Home Run LimitA home run limit caps how many over-the-fence home runs a team may hit in a game. Under USA Softball rules, the cap depends on the division: 1 in Class E/Rec, 3 in Class D, 5 in Class C, 7 in Men's Class B, 8 in Coed Open, 10 in Class A and 12 in Class AA. A home run over the limit is an out, the ball is dead and no runners advance. USSSA and local leagues set their own limits, so check yours.
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