Verbal strike call

[spiffdawg7]

This was my first season umpiring High School baseball and a veteran I worked with told me that saying "strike" as my verbal strike call sounded like a rec ball umpire.  He used more of a grunt as his verbal.  What do you use?  Do you think "strike" is too rec ball to be used in high school or college?  I worked with a college umpire soon after and he said "strike" for his verbal.  Thanks.

[Majordave]

Like your called K3 mechanic. You've got to make it personal. Eff him and the horse he rode in on for judging your verbal like that.

I've worked with former professional umpires who nonchalantly say strike and nonchalantly call K3. And D1 guys who burn the house down with their loud and demonstrative calls. Practice in a mirror and decide what works for you. I've modified mine over the years by stealing from partners I've worked with or umpires I've watched and liked.

Just do what works best for you.

My .02......others opinions may vary.

[maven]

Meh. I say, "Strike 1," "Strike 2," and "Strike 3." Pro instruction is to say "strike."

 

That said, IMO this is 100% personal preference. As a state clinic instructor and an observer for the state tournament, I would never ding an umpire for how he verbalizes strikes, except for volume and clarity of communication.

[umpire_scott]

I think it is more about how you say it versus what you say.  I don't know how I would spell what I say?  I guess it would be "hiiiike!" But whatever you say make it loud and distinctive so that there is no doubt it's a strike.  And I think you should keep it consistent.  If you waiver in your delivery it might indicate you are unsure of your call.  I personally don't like the "HA!" that seems to be very popular.

[bam]

I worked with one guy this year that said "steeeee-rike".  Hated that.  

[JaxRolo]

Do what you want!

[StrikeDavis]

I work with a guy that says "YEEAAHH".  He is a very good umpire.  The kids usually find it amusing for a while.

[goody14]

I have found the "st" sound made my throat hurt after a game (and in the days when I did 10-12 games/week I would lose my voice by week's end).  So, I am now more of a "riiike!" guy.

 

Do what feel good.

[BaltimoreUmpire]

I have found the "st" sound made my throat hurt after a game (and in the days when I did 10-12 games/week I would lose my voice by week's end). So, I am now more of a "riiike!" guy.

Do what feel good.

I've found that same problem so mines a "HEEE-RIKKKEEEEEE" never had any throat pain with that call, its hard to "ring 'em up" with a sore throat.

[GreyhoundAggie]

Mine's pretty much a "HIIIIKE"! in a loud call. But yeah, there is no one way to skin a cat.

[BigUmpire]

Have your self videoed.

[MikeSafari]

I'm like @Majordave in that what I use at the beginning of the season versus what I use at the end seems to change a bit. But I'm generally one of two things: "Striiiiiike!" or "Strike one!" At the lower levels I'll generally call the strike number, but for the older guys there's no reason to as we can all count.

 

My K mechanic is "Strike! Three!" So basically the same as my lower level mechanic with a bit of a pregnant pause halfway.

[noumpere]

Without regard to any specific poster(s), I would caution against a drawn out two-syllable approach.  It sounds too much like you are yodeling.  But, there is lots of personal leeway on this.

[zm1283]

Just don't sound like you're singing. "Steeeerrrriiiike"

[LMSANS]

Every year I think I'm going to change my strike call and every year I get on the field and forget about it.  It just comes natural.  The kids at the LL-Jr league used to call me the pirate (not to my face).  I guess it sounds like an arghhhh.  F8 was the one that told my partner, so I guess I was loud enough.

 

I was working a frosh softball game and called a strike that scared the catcher into dropping the ball.  

 

I am actually saying strike...just sounds different.

[MidAmUmp]

The actual verbiage or enunciation doesn't really matter.  Loud enough and emphatic enough to be convincing, combined with a strong mechanic is all that is necessary.

[Mike Prince]

Hell, just call lots of them. Who cares how you do it? 😄

[Pete Peterson Sr]

I know of very few guys who haven't altered their strike call at some point during their careers. Do what you are comfortable with, because you don't need to be thinking about it mid-game.

[Majordave]

What Mike Prince said........

Very good advice.

[grayhawk]

Hard to pinpoint how mine sounds. It's definitely a variation of the word "strike" but the "s" is not annunciated. I also call it using a deeper voice than is my normal conversational voice.

Had one partner tell me this year that I should change it to "haw" but I just politely listened his advice and then ignored it.

[KenBAZ]

I'm a grunter and I'm loud. It's one of the few things I learned when I started 40+ years ago I haven't seen the need to change. Worked some HS games this spring with a partner that growled just like an angry bear. He was really loud.

[Jocko]

Mine is, "Hiiiiiiiiiike!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Very loud and definitive. They can hear me in the shirtsleeves. I tried to tone it down a bit, but it messed me up. So I stick with what works for me. My K3 is, "Hiiikkkee! THREE!" But that's the only one I say the number on.

[Pete Peterson Sr]

I have literally seen batters and catchers flinch when @Jocko calls a strike, lol.

[Jocko]

@Pete Peterson Sr - builds character

[noumpere]

The closer you get to the guy in the videos in the other threads, the more likely you are to have gone too far.  But, where to draw the line is a personal choice.