Foul Tip Baseball

A foul tip is a unique situation in baseball that happens when a catcher catches a poorly hit ball. Foul tips are uncommon, and the rules governing them are different from foul balls. Keep reading to learn how foul tips work in baseball.

Definition

A foul tip is a batted ball that is barely hit by a batter and which goes sharply and directly to the catcher and is immediately caught. Foul tip rules apply only to batted balls caught by catchers, and the ball must be caught for it to count as a foul tip.

Result

A strike will be called on a foul tip, and unlike a standard foul ball, if the foul tip occurs on the third strike, it will count as an out rather than another foul ball. The ball remains live following a foul tip, meaning that runners may attempt to steal.

Restrictions

A foul tip is an uncommon occurrence when a baseball makes contact with the bat, then goes sharply into the catcher's glove. For a strike to be called, the catcher must catch the ball directly after the ball hits the bat. If the ball hits the bat and then bounces on the ground before landing in the catcher's glove, it is not a foul tip.

Foul Tip Rules

• A foul tip is a sharply hit ball that is directly caught by the catcher.
• The batted ball must be caught to count as a foul tip, and only a catcher can catch a foul tip.
• A foul tip results in a strike, even if it is the third strike that gets a player out.
• The ball is live following a foul tip, so runners may attempt to steal.

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