Sr Slow Pitch

Question
We have been told that there is a new rule this season which makes a coucht foul tip an out.  There is no requirement that the foul tip go higher than the batters head. Is this true. Here in Yuma, AZ we have umps calling it bouth ways!!!! What is the ASA rule?

Answer
Hi Joe,

Sorry for the delay in answering your question, here in MI we're having a winter storm and my dsl has been up and down all weekend.

Beginning in 2006 a foul tip was defined as a batted ball that goes sharply and directly from the bat to the catcher's hand(s) or glove and is legally caught by the catcher.  Gone is wording about not higher than the batter's head.    In SP a caught or uncaught foul tip is just a strike. You would be out on a foul tip, foul ball etc. with 2 strikes.

Now here's the change from strike to possible out.....because of the change in the definition of a foul tip                                                                                                                                                                        

we can now call a foul ball regardless of it's height.  If it's not a foul tip it is a foul ball and the batter will be out if it is legally caught.  
Now an umpire should use some guidelines...is there a perceptive arc?  Does the catcher have to move his glove? etc.

So to summarize...a caught FOUL TIP in SP (with less than 2 strikes)is not an out.  A legally caught FOUL BALL is.

Mark