checked swing: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
lowtechnical/specialist (sports)
Quick answer
What does “checked swing” mean?
In baseball or softball, a swing of the bat that the batter attempts to stop or check before completing a full swing.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
In baseball or softball, a swing of the bat that the batter attempts to stop or check before completing a full swing.
More broadly, any action that is begun but deliberately restrained or not fully carried out, often implying hesitation or a change of decision mid-action.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is primarily an American sporting term. In UK sports contexts (e.g., cricket), the concept does not have a direct, commonly used equivalent term.
Connotations
In US contexts: carries immediate, specific meaning for sports fans. In UK contexts: likely to be understood only by those familiar with baseball, or used as an Americanism.
Frequency
Common in American sports media; rare to non-existent in general UK English.
Grammar
How to Use “checked swing” in a Sentence
The batter [verb] a checked swing.The umpire [verb] it a checked swing.It was ruled a checked swing.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “checked swing” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The cricket batter attempted a shot but checked his swing at the last moment.
American English
- The hitter checked his swing on a borderline pitch.
adverb
British English
- He swung checkedly, hoping to make contact without committing.
- The batsman played the ball check-swingingly.
adjective
British English
- He was given out on a questionable checked-swing call.
- A checked-swing single is a rare occurrence.
American English
- The checked-swing appeal went to the first base umpire.
- It was a classic checked-swing strike.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorical: 'The CEO did a checked swing on the merger proposal after seeing the market reaction.'
Academic
Rare. Could be used in sports science or kinesiology papers analyzing batting mechanics.
Everyday
Very rare outside of baseball discussions or deliberate metaphorical use.
Technical
Specific term in baseball/softball rules and commentary.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “checked swing”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “checked swing”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “checked swing”
- Writing as 'check swing' (though common in informal writing, the standard compound is 'checked swing').
- Using it to describe any careful or slow swing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In baseball/softball, if the umpire judges the batter did NOT commit to a full swing (often based on whether the bat 'broke the plane' of the plate), it is not counted as a strike from swinging. If the pitch was in the strike zone, it can still be called a strike as a 'called strike'.
Yes. Typically, the catcher or manager will appeal to the first or third base umpire for a ruling on whether the batter went around (completed the swing).
In informal sports journalism and commentary, 'check swing' is frequently used. However, formal rules and most dictionaries list the compound as 'checked swing'.
Cricket does not have an exact equivalent rule or common term. A batter might 'withdraw the bat' or 'leave the ball', but this is a decision before playing a shot, not an action stopped mid-swing.
In baseball or softball, a swing of the bat that the batter attempts to stop or check before completing a full swing.
Checked swing is usually technical/specialist (sports) in register.
Checked swing: in British English it is pronounced /tʃɛkt swɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /tʃɛkt swɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He performed a checked swing on his career plans.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CHECKED (stopped) + SWING (of the bat). The batter 'checks' or stops the swing before it's complete.
Conceptual Metaphor
BEGINNING AN ACTION BUT RESTRAINING IT = A CHECKED SWING
Practice
Quiz
In which sport is the term 'checked swing' a specific, official term?