Calling pitches too fast...

[AmackNH]

I have found myself all the sudden calling pitches to quickly.  I KNOW I am doing it cause I have called strike three and punched out 3 guys on right down the middle belt high pitches and then had the ball on the ground...not good.  It was never an issue before.  It might be that the last 3 games I have done were Pony level, not real well played games and I am struggling to focus.  What tricks do you guys use to slow down your ball and strike calls?

[tldavis19]

I don't make my call until the catcher has started his motion to return the ball to the pitcher. That allows me to see everything that happens should the ball be dropped and gives me time to mentally process the pitch.

[guyinaredhat]

when the pitch comes in, I decide what it's going to be turn the dial on my indicator and then call it.

[johnnyg08]

It's not as much of a "trick" as it is proper use of the eyes.  

 

Track the ball from the pitcher's hand to the catcher's mitt, using only your eyes.  Stay down, decide the pitch in your head, then announce your decision.

[grayhawk]

Agree with johnny.  See the pitch all the way.  Tell yourself that on THIS pitch, come hell or high water, you are going to track it all the way.  Try not to use "false" timing mechanisms as those simply address the symptom, not the cause.

 

I have to remind myself to track the pitch all the way several times a game, especially in pressure situations like 3-2 with bases loaded.  After a while, proper timing becomes a habit.

[HeadHunterLA]

I follow the pitch all the way in with my eyes, then take a quick glance at the MILF behind the VT bench, then make my call

[Dannytheman]

I have had this problem various times over the years. I always blamed it on doing various field sizes, swwitching from 60 to 90, and maybe a 70 thrown in.

 

I think all the other answers are correct. I am a huge 1 mississippi guy.  Ball hits glove, count 1 mississippi and call it loud and proud!

[johnnyg08]

 

I think all the other answers are correct. I am a huge 1 mississippi guy.  Ball hits glove, count 1 mississippi and call it loud and proud!

 

If you're getting your pitches right, that's what matters, but the "1 Mississippi" method is often referred to as "false timing"

[MB_Ump]

It's not as much of a "trick" as it is proper use of the eyes.  

 

Track the ball from the pitcher's hand to the catcher's mitt, using only your eyes.  Stay down, decide the pitch in your head, then announce your decision.

I exhale before the ball gets there, track it, and take my breath before calling/signaling.

[AmackNH]

When I recognized the issue (middle of the third game in a row i did it) I tried to go back to bearing down, tracking the pitch and saying internally "that pitch was a Strike" before calling out STRIKE!!!  Seemed to get better.  Guess its just something you constantly have to be aware of.

[umpstu]

Track, track, track. Also, who is the manufacturer of your catcher's gloves. Could help you track better.

[JHSump]

I follow the pitch all the way in with my eyes, then take a quick glance at the MILF behind the VT bench, then make my call

Now that's what I call "proper use of your eyes" and using all the available information!

[bam]

I have found myself all the sudden calling pitches to quickly.  I KNOW I am doing it cause I have called strike three and punched out 3 guys on right down the middle belt high pitches and then had the ball on the ground...not good.  It was never an issue before.  It might be that the last 3 games I have done were Pony level, not real well played games and I am struggling to focus.  What tricks do you guys use to slow down your ball and strike calls?

yeah.  that's fast.

 

what stance do you use?

[carolinablue]

I have had this problem various times over the years. I always blamed it on doing various field sizes, swwitching from 60 to 90, and maybe a 70 thrown in.

 

I think all the other answers are correct. I am a huge 1 mississippi guy.  Ball hits glove, count 1 mississippi and call it loud and proud!

 

I think it does make it hard when you work a wide range of talent/levels. I rarely have an issue when working Varisty or JV when the pitchers are popping the mitt at 75MPH plus but when I go do a little kid game I have to remind myself to slow down and track all the way to the mitt almost every game. I will eventually get into a grove and be fine. Like you said, it's something you need to be aware of always and make adjustments when necessary.

[HokieUmp]

I follow the pitch all the way in with my eyes, then take a quick glance at the MILF behind the VT bench, then make my call

 

It's all about the 'proper use of eyes,' baby!

[johnnyg08]

I think it does make it hard when you work a wide range of talent/levels. I rarely have an issue when working Varisty or JV when the pitchers are popping the mitt at 75MPH plus but when I go do a little kid game I have to remind myself to slow down and track all the way to the mitt almost every game. I will eventually get into a grove and be fine. Like you said, it's something you need to be aware of always and make adjustments when necessary.

I think your quick timing just catches up with you when the velocity is slower. You're probably still quick at 75+.

[sdix00]

With JV catchers and below, I tell them what I am looking for. "Stick the good ones for a beat, get rid of the bad ones." They nod and do it. Then I wait for the catcher to do just that before I make a final decision on the pitch.

If the pitch looks good, F2 puts leather near the zone, and F2 let's me snap a picture, THEN he gets his treat.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[Umpire in Chief]

I marked Johnny's response as the best answer but I also went into the way-back machine (This was the 144th post to this site) to dig out a great post made by one of our members that you may find useful. I know it did for me.

 

 

This may sound a little weird, but I've applied some of the principles of rifle shooting to plate umpiring...

 

Breathe- Pay attention to your breathing. You don't want to be tense.

 

Relax- When he's winding up you want to be properly relaxed w/ your position locked in.

 

Aim- You're locked into your position. Your eyes should be naturally lined up at the top of the zone instead of forced to be there. Your stance should give you a "natural point of aim" rather than having to force it.

 

Stop- Just before the ball leaves the pitchers hand you stop breathing at the BOTTOM of your exhale. This is esssential to keep you from blinking. If you stop at the top of your breath or part way in between, then you're tenser than you need to be and much more apt to blink.

 

Shoot- Well, not really "shoot." But this is where the pitcher pulls the trigger, and you watch the ball come down range. If the ball is hit or if the 2 seam fastball explodes in your face and you blink or flinch hard, then you didn't relax enough.

 

Follow Through- This is the timing that you guys all talk about. Watch the ball into the mitt, and take a breath in and make your call.

 

BRASS-F is the acronym.

 

I'm still fine tuning the analogy and my own timing.

 

[coachump4]

I use the scissors stance so I watch the ball into the mitt and stay down until the catcher is removing the ball then stand up and let everyone know it was a "Strike".  Slower the better as your making sure its inside your zone.

[Jglopez7]

At the clinic I attended some guys had this issue. They recommend not getting in the slot too early. The longer you are squatting waiting on the pitch the more impatient and anxious you may get. Wait till the pitcher is in the set position or starting his wind up before getting set. It helped me track the pitch, read it then call it.

[AmackNH]

 

I have found myself all the sudden calling pitches to quickly.  I KNOW I am doing it cause I have called strike three and punched out 3 guys on right down the middle belt high pitches and then had the ball on the ground...not good.  It was never an issue before.  It might be that the last 3 games I have done were Pony level, not real well played games and I am struggling to focus.  What tricks do you guys use to slow down your ball and strike calls?

yeah.  that's fast.

 

what stance do you use?

 

Box. setup in the slot

[AmackNH]

It's not as much of a "trick" as it is proper use of the eyes.  

 

Track the ball from the pitcher's hand to the catcher's mitt, using only your eyes.  Stay down, decide the pitch in your head, then announce your decision.

Best thing that could have happened, did last night...I got a cal ripken majors game and was able to focus on just tracking and timing without having to worry about too high a level of play.  Feel much better about my timing today than I did yesterday.  Track Track Track.

 

Track, track, track. Also, who is the manufacturer of your catcher's gloves. Could help you track better.

For whatever reason this comment resonated with me and helped me track.  thanks.