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. This means 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. This means 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. This means 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. The fielder must touch the bag, and release a throw to first in one continuous motion. At the same time, 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. This means 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. This means 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. This means timing, bat path, contact point, or body position. Instead of 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.
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