Slow-Pitch Hit-by-Pitch Rule
Also known as: hit by pitch in slow pitch, hit by a pitch in slow pitch, hit by the pitch in slow pitch, slow pitch hit by pitch, slowpitch hit by pitch, hit by pitch in slowpitch, hit batter in slow pitch, hit by a pitch a strike, hit by pitch rule, hit by a pitch rule
Under USA Softball and USSSA rules, you do not get first base for being hit by a pitch in slow pitch. The ball is dead. Under USA Softball rules, the pitch is a strike if you swung or it hit you in the strike zone, and a ball otherwise.
Baseball and fast pitch send a batter hit by a pitch to first base. Slow pitch does not, at least under the two largest rule books. USA Softball's 2026 rules give that award only in fast pitch (Rule 8, Section 1F).
In USA Softball slow pitch, a pitch that touches the batter is still called. It is a strike if the batter swung at it (Rule 7, Section 4H) or if it hit the batter while in the strike zone (Section 4K). If you did not swing and it never entered the zone, it is a ball (Section 5B). Either way the ball is dead and runners do not advance. With two strikes, a pitch that hits you in the zone is strike three.
USSSA's rule book makes the ball dead when a pitch touches the batter (Rule 9, Section 3F; Rule 7, Section 6). Its list of ways a batter is awarded first base names walks, intentional walks and catcher obstruction, not a hit batter (Rule 8, Section 3). The pitch is called by the usual rules. A swing is a strike (Rule 7, Section 4B), and a pitch you did not swing at that never entered the strike zone is a ball (Section 5A).
Leaning into a pitch earns nothing in slow pitch. Local leagues can write their own rule, so check your league's sheet if it seems different.
Tips by skill level
If a pitch hits you, stay at the plate and check the count with the umpire. You do not get first base in slow pitch.
With two strikes, a pitch that hits you in the strike zone is strike three under USA Softball rules. Do not stand in on a borderline pitch hoping for a ball.
Example
With a 1-1 count, a pitch drops onto a batter's back foot outside the zone. She does not swing. The umpire calls it dead and a ball, the count goes to 2-1, and she stays at the plate.
Why it matters
Players coming from baseball or fast pitch often expect a free base. Knowing the slow-pitch rule saves an argument and keeps you focused on the count.
Common mistakes
- Jogging to first base after being hit by a slow pitch
- Leaning into a pitch to try to earn a base
- Forgetting that a swing at a pitch that hits you still counts as a strike
Frequently asked questions
Do you get first base if you get hit by a pitch in slow pitch?
Not under USA Softball or USSSA rules. The ball is dead, and the umpire calls a ball or a strike instead. Some local leagues may set their own rule, so check yours.
Is getting hit by a pitch a strike in slow pitch?
Under USA Softball rules, it is a strike if you swung or if the pitch hit you in the strike zone. Otherwise it is a ball.
Can you strike out by getting hit by a pitch in slow pitch?
Yes, under USA Softball rules. With two strikes, you are out if you swing and the pitch touches you, or if it hits you while in the strike zone.
Sources
- USA Softball, Official Rules of Softball 2026, Rule 8 Sec. 1F (only fast pitch awards first base to a batter hit by a pitch), p. 90
- USA Softball, Official Rules of Softball 2026, Rule 7 Sec. 4H and 4K with Effect (strike when a pitch swung at touches the batter or hits the batter in the strike zone; ball dead), and Sec. 5B (ball), p. 84; Sec. 6A (third strike), p. 85
- USSSA Slowpitch Rule Book and By-Laws, 2026 Edition, Rule 9 Sec. 3F (ball dead when a pitch touches the batter), p. 52; Rule 8 Sec. 3 (when the batter is awarded first base), p. 42; Rule 7 Sec. 4–6 (strike, ball, pitched ball dead when it strikes the batter), pp. 39–40
Related terms
- Strike Zone – Slow-PitchThe slow-pitch strike zone (USA Softball) is the space over home plate between the batter's back shoulder and front knee. A strike is a legal, properly arced pitch that passes through that zone in flight. Senior play replaces the zone with a strike mat: a pitch that lands on the plate or mat is a strike.
- One-and-One Count (Slow-Pitch)The one-and-one count is a common slow-pitch rule variation where every at-bat starts 1-1, not 0-0. It shortens at-bats to keep games moving.
- Foul Ball With Two Strikes (Slow-Pitch)Under USA Softball slow-pitch rules, a foul ball with two strikes is strike three and the batter is out. Every slow-pitch foul counts as a strike, and the rule book has no courtesy foul. USSSA is different: batters start at 0-0 and are out on two strikes, and an uncaught foul is a strike only with no strikes. Local leagues can differ too, so check your league's rules.
- Illegal PitchAn illegal pitch is any delivery that breaks the pitching rules. Most commonly, it is a pitch outside the legal arc window, a pitch thrown too fast, or a start or release from an illegal position.
- 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.
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