Foul Ball With Two Strikes (Slow-Pitch)
Also known as: two strike foul, foul with two strikes, foul ball with two strikes, two-strike foul rule, courtesy foul, foul ball third strike, USSSA foul rule, USSSA courtesy foul, foul with one strike USSSA, how many fouls do you get in USSSA
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.
USA Softball's 2026 rules make every slow-pitch foul a strike, including the third strike. Rule 7, Section 4G says so directly. Rule 7, Section 6N lists a foul ball hit after two strikes as a way the batter is out. In adult slow pitch other than seniors, and in several youth divisions, each batter also starts at one ball and one strike. One foul then puts the batter at two strikes. The next foul ends the at-bat.
The phrase "courtesy foul" does not appear in the USA Softball rule book. Some local leagues write in their own extra foul. Other associations set their own counts and foul rules. Read your league's rules before the season, or ask the umpire at the pregame meeting.
USSSA counts differently. Batters start at 0-0, walk on three balls and are out on two strikes (Rule 7, Sections 2 and 3D). A foul ball that is not caught is a strike only when the batter has no strikes (Section 4E). A foul tip is always a strike, so a foul tip with one strike is strike two and an out (Section 4D). The rule on a second foul hit with one strike (Section 3D-1) is worded unclearly. As a result, ask the umpire at the pregame meeting how it is called.
Fast pitch works differently. In USA Softball fast pitch, a foul ball is a strike only when the batter has fewer than two strikes. A foul bunt after the second strike is still an out. Players who switch between the two games need to remember which rule applies.
The rule changes how a slow-pitch hitter handles the count. You cannot spoil a tough pitch by fouling it off. With two strikes, many hitters shorten up and aim for the middle of the field. A ball driven to center is less likely to hook or slice foul than a hard pull down the line.
Tips by skill level
Before your first game, ask whether your league allows a courtesy foul. If it does not, treat every foul with two strikes as an out.
With two strikes, aim for the middle of the field and the gaps. A hard pull near the foul line can hook foul, and with two strikes that foul is an out.
Example
A hitter steps in at 1-1 in a USA Softball league. She fouls the first pitch back to go to 1-2. On the next pitch she pulls a hard line drive just foul down the third-base line, and the umpire calls her out.
Why it matters
Treating a two-strike foul as harmless costs outs. Knowing the rule helps a hitter choose pitches she can keep fair.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a foul with two strikes keeps the at-bat alive, as it does in baseball
- Taking big pull swings with two strikes and hooking the ball foul
- Assuming every league allows a courtesy foul
- Mixing up the fast-pitch and slow-pitch foul rules
Frequently asked questions
Is a foul ball with two strikes an out in slow pitch?
Under USA Softball rules, yes. Every slow-pitch foul is a strike, including the third. A foul with two strikes ends the at-bat. Some local leagues and other associations use different rules.
Is there a courtesy foul in slow pitch softball?
Not in the USA Softball rule book. Some local leagues add one as a house rule. Check your league's rules before you count on it.
Why is a foul an out in slow pitch but not in fastpitch?
The two games have different rules. In USA Softball slow pitch, every foul is a strike, including the third. In fast pitch, a foul with two strikes is not a strike unless it is a bunt.
How do foul balls work in USSSA slow pitch?
Batters start at 0-0 and are out on two strikes. An uncaught foul is a strike only when you have no strikes, and a foul tip with one strike is an out. The wording on a second foul with one strike is unclear, so ask the umpire how it is called.
Sources
- USA Softball, Official Rules of Softball 2026, Rule 7 Sec. 4G (slow pitch: each foul ball is a strike, including the third strike) and Sec. 4F (fast pitch), p. 84
- USA Softball, Official Rules of Softball 2026, Rule 7 Sec. 6N (slow pitch: batter out on a foul hit after two strikes) and Sec. 6I, pp. 86–87
- USA Softball, Official Rules of Softball 2026, Rule 7 Sec. 3B (one ball, one strike starting count), p. 82
- USSSA Slowpitch Rule Book and By-Laws, 2026 Edition, Rule 7 Sec. 2 (0-0 count) and Sec. 3D with 3D-1 (out on a second strike; "He hits first foul after one strike, then the ball is live"), p. 38; Sec. 4D–E (foul tip is a strike; uncaught foul is a strike with no strikes), p. 39
Related terms
- 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.
- Three-and-Two Count StrategyThree-and-two count strategy is a batter's full-count approach, one pitch from a walk or strikeout. It protects the plate instead of hunting a perfect pitch.
- Plate DisciplinePlate discipline is the ability to identify pitches outside the strike zone and choose not to swing. This allows the count to work in the hitter's favor or earning a free base.
- 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.
- Opposite-Field HittingOpposite-field hitting sends the ball away from the pull side: right field for a righty. The key is letting the ball travel deeper into the contact zone.
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