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.

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Etymology

Origin of checked swing

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

Example Sentences

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

Ryan Brasier retired three straight batters for his first save since June 17, 2019, ending a 4-hour game by getting Aaron Hicks on a full-count checked swing strikeout called by third base umpire Jim Reynolds.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 15, 2022

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

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