Strike Zone Meaning in Softball

The strike zone is the invisible box where a pitcher must throw for a strike. This area extends from the knees of the batter to the middle of the chest. The width of the zone matches the seventeen-inch wide white home plate on dirt. An umpire judges every pitch based on this specific spatial volume for each batter. A pitcher throws a ball that crosses over the plate at the waist level. The umpire calls a strike because the ball was within the legal hitting zone. This zone changes slightly based on the height and the batting stance of hitter. Understanding the limits of the strike zone helps hitters decide when to swing the bat. Pitchers use the edges of this zone to make the ball difficult to hit.