Check Swing

[Stk004]

Can anyone cite a rule or interpretation that defines when a batter actually "offers" at a pitch? At what point "does he go?" 

[Replacematt]

1 hour ago, Stk004 said:

Can anyone cite a rule or interpretation that defines when a batter actually "offers" at a pitch? At what point "does he go?" 

No, because there is none (except a partial one in NCAA, which says if the bat crosses the hip, it's a swing--and that doesn't mean that if it doesn't, it isn't.) It's all a matter of judgement if he attempted to hit the pitch.

[JSam21]

The criteria is easy... do you feel that the batter was attempting to strike at the ball? If so, there is your swing.

[Stk004]

21 minutes ago, JSam21 said:

The criteria is easy... do you feel that the batter was attempting to strike at the ball? If so, there is your swing.

Just to play devil's advocate, once he starts the swing he's attempting to strike at the ball, yet we still allow batters to "hold up." 

[ricka56]

If a batter can't stop swinging (forward) before the pitch arrives, i'm probably getting a strike. 

[Senor Azul]

Here are the guidelines given for NFHS in two case book plays and the pertinent rule:

7.2.1 Situation B:  B1 starts to swing at the pitch but attempts to hold back on it or it appears as though he attempts to bunt the ball. In either case, B1 misses the ball. How does the umpire determine what to call the pitch?  RULING:  A call of that nature is based entirely upon the umpire’s judgment. Therefore, the umpire must, in order to be consistent, have criteria to guide him in making the decision. The rule that most umpires follow is that if the bat is swung so it is in front of the batter’s body or ahead of it, it is a strike…

10.1.3 Situation:  B1, attempting to check his swing at a pitch, carries the barrel of the bat past his body.  RULING:  The umpire should note whether or not the batter’s movement carried the barrel of the bat past the batter’s body in an attempt to strike the ball.

Federation rule 10-1-4a. The umpire-in-chief sometimes asks for aid from the base umpire when there is a question as to whether a batter’s “half swing” is such as to be called a strike. As an aid in deciding, the umpire may note whether the swing carried the barrel of the bat past the body of the batter, but final decision is based on whether the batter actually struck at the ball.

[JSam21]

7 hours ago, Stk004 said:

Just to play devil's advocate, once he starts the swing he's attempting to strike at the ball, yet we still allow batters to "hold up." 

Because he is no longer striking at the ball...

[noumpere]

I think his point is that you can't "unswing" -- so if you buy the premise that a "start" is an "attempt" then there's no "holding up."  The question then moves from how do you determine "attempt" to determine "start" -- and, honestly, it's the same answer.