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checked swing

American  
[chekt swing] / ˈtʃɛkt ˌswɪŋ /
Also check swing

noun

Baseball.
  1. a swing of the bat in which the batter holds back just after starting to swing, thereby avoiding swinging into a strike.

    It looked like a checked swing to me, but the umpire called him out, saying he swung for the third strike.


Etymology

Origin of checked swing

An Americanism dating back to 1925–30; originally as half-checked swing


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Trayce Thompson strained his oblique on a checked swing Saturday and will likely go on the injured list, according to Roberts.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2023

The Orioles loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth before Dany Jimenez struck out pinch-hitter Ryan McKenna on a checked swing, dropping McKenna to 0 for 5 this year.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 18, 2022

But Adam Duvall popped out to first, and Travis d’Arnaud was unable to stop his bat on a 2-2 pitch, striking out on a checked swing.

From New York Times ● Oct. 29, 2021

Let’s face it Dodger fans, the checked swing call on Wilmer Flores to end Game 5 of the Dodgers-Giants division series was a bad call.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2021

Purists on Thursday night were quick to remind that the checked swing is determined not by where the bat ends but a more subjective “attempt to strike at the ball.”

From Washington Post ● Oct. 15, 2021

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