Skip to main content
Slow-Pitch Softball Glossary
Learn the language of Slow-Pitch Softball — answer-first definitions with real examples, beginner to pro.
12 terms
- Back-Side MechanicsAdvancedBack-side mechanics refer to how the trail hip, knee, and foot fire through the swing. The "engine" side that drives rotational power from the ground up through the barrel.
- BPF (Bat Performance Factor)AdvancedBPF (Bat Performance Factor) measures how much energy a bat's barrel returns to the ball compared with a perfectly rigid wall. A higher BPF means more trampoline effect and greater exit velocity from the same swing.
- COR (Coefficient of Restitution)AdvancedCOR (Coefficient of Restitution) measures how much of a ball's impact energy is returned as rebound energy. A 0.52 COR ball rebounds at 52% of its incoming speed off a rigid surface — the higher the COR, the livelier and farther the ball flies.
- Defensive ShiftAdvancedA defensive shift is an unconventional repositioning of fielders toward one side of the field to take away a pull hitter's most likely batted-ball zone.
- Double Play Turn (Slow-Pitch)AdvancedThe double play turn is the pivot footwork a middle infielder uses at second base to receive a throw, touch the bag, and release a throw to first in one continuous motion while avoiding contact with the sliding runner.
- Double-Wall BatAdvancedA double-wall bat has two concentric layers of barrel material that flex together at contact to produce greater trampoline effect — returning more energy to the ball and increasing exit velocity compared with a single-wall design.
- Down-and-In Swing Path (Slow-Pitch)AdvancedA down-and-in swing path brings the barrel into the hitting zone from slightly above and outside the ball before flattening through contact. A path advanced slow-pitch hitters use to cover the whole plate and drive the ball to all fields.
- Glove-Side BackhandAdvancedA glove-side backhand is fielding a ground ball hit to the fielder's glove-hand side by reaching across the body with the glove turned outward, rather than shuffling the feet to field it squarely.
- Lineup StrategyAdvancedLineup strategy is the deliberate construction of the batting order to maximize run production — pairing on-base skills at the top with power at the middle spots and reliable contact throughout.
- Mis-Hit Diagnosis (Slow-Pitch)AdvancedMis-hit diagnosis is the process of tracing a weak or poorly directed batted ball back to its specific mechanical cause — timing, bat path, contact point, or body position — rather than treating every bad swing the same way.
- Slow Roller ChargeAdvancedA slow roller charge is an infielder's aggressive sprint toward a weakly hit ground ball, often fielding it bare-handed on the run, to have any chance of throwing out a batter-runner before they reach the base.
- Uppercut OvercorrectionAdvancedUppercut overcorrection is when a hitter, trying to add loft or correct a history of topped balls, swings with a bat path noticeably steeper than the pitch's own descent angle, trading ground balls for pop-ups.
See these terms in your own swing
SwingVantage analyzes your swing against these benchmarks — free to start.
Analyze My Slow-Pitch Softball Swing Free