point mechanic

[Welpe]

I think the hammer out in front or lower and off to the side. The one you see in the NCAA Women's tournament looks like somebody trying to grab something off of the very top shelf. Couple that with the "crapping in the woods" stance and it gets pretty silly.

[RichMSN]

I think the hammer out in front or lower and off to the side. The one you see in the NCAA Women's tournament looks like somebody trying to grab something off of the very top shelf. Couple that with the "crapping in the woods" stance and it gets pretty silly.

Looks like they're picking apples off a tree.

[umpire_scott]

I used to point to the side when I first started umpiring (and back then I was mostly doing baseball). What I liked about pointing the side is that it gives, to me at least, a better set-up for a strike 3 punch out. After the point with the right with my verbal "hike", then punch with the left, while bringing the right back in a fist with a verbal "3".

After doing a lot of softball and being continually reminded of the softball mechanic I tried to develop a mechanic that would sort of work for both. That way I don't have to adjust as much. When I do softball I try to verbalize quicker, and then stand and do the punch in front of me. I just can't stand do the arm punch so high as I think it looks really stupid.

[Jocko]

It does

[mstaylor]

The high softball strike is what I call poking the cloud. I like the hammer to be in front and below the chin. The pro school hammer is a handshake and pound the nail, which means coming up along your side and closing your fist as you bang the nail beside your ear. Personally I point on the first two strikes and hammer a third strike swung at.

[csabo17]

The high softball strike is what I call poking the cloud. I like the hammer to be in front and below the chin. The pro school hammer is a handshake and pound the nail, which means coming up along your side and closing your fist as you bang the nail beside your ear. Personally I point on the first two strikes and hammer a third strike swung at.

Wow, i do the same. Always point unless its strike 3 swinging. Then i just give a crisp little hammer about ear high. I changed to this when i started working the knee stance.