The strike zone in slow pitch softball.

Question
If the strike zone is the front knee and back shoulder, does the ball have to strike below the front shoulder or can it be higher than the front shoulder and/or higher than the back shoulder also?  I have been playing slow pitch for over 30 years, and have heard the the strike is a ball that catches the front shoulder (high point) and front knee (lowest point) and it really does not matter where the ball actually makes contact with the ground.  I know some leagues put a 6-12 foot arc on the ball, but some leagues also play unlimited arc.  My biggest concern is where it crosses the plate at the front knee and front shoulder for the high and low points across the plate.

Answer
Hi Norma,

In ASA 6-12', I have never umpired unlimited arc..

It is the space between the front knee and back shoulder (as you say) when the batter would be standing in a natural hitting stance parallel to the plate.  You judge the ball as it crosses the plate.  It doesn't matter where the ball contacts the ground.  Batters of different heights would have different strike zones (which is why we don't play "mat ball").

Depending on where in the box the batter is standing the ball could land in front of them and be a strike or it could go over their head and still be a strike.

As you know a "deep" pitch is seldom called a strike because it doesn't cut the back shoulder.  It's really a "high" pitch but "deep" has gained a player understanding.  If it's "short" it's usually either illegal or hits the plate.

Mark