On the message board I found discussion on this topic, but the last discussion was in 2012. This is approx. the time that The ASA changed their rule for a foul tip to be ruled an out even if it was not over the batters head. The rule states that the ball must go directly to the catchers glove. In our umpire meeting, we interpreted that if the ball would bounce off the catchers body or equipment, then the ball did not go directly to the catchers glove and the batter would not be out in that case. Has senior softball adopted this rule or does the foul need to go over the batters head?

basically yes it has to have loft....a caught foul tip is just considered a strike and only an out if it's a 3rd strike

randall....if the ball DOES NOT go straight back to the catcher...it can be considered just the same as a pop-up......and is considered an out......doesn't matter if it does bounce off the catcher or if it is 1st,2nd strike....it will still be an out...just can't hit the ground.......

Straight from the Senior Softball USA rule book.

1.29 - Foul Tip

A foul tip is a batted ball that goes directly from the bat, not higher than the batter's head, to the catcher's hand(s) or glove and is legally caught by the catcher. NOTE: Any batted ball that goes directly from the bat, not higher than the batter's head to any part of the catcher's body or equipment other than the hand(s) or glove is a foul ball and a dead ball. EFFECT: The ball is dead on all foul tips and the batter is out if it is the third strike.

I believe that T.C. Sr. has the proper ruling. That is that it would be an out regardless of the count if the ball is caught with the hands or give and the use of no other equipment. It is in the rule book but a gentlemen in our league says that he spoke to an official of the USSSA and was told that the rule book is wrong. Any input from anyone?

rule book wrong......???????......ASA it is anything but a straight back to the catcher directly....is considered a foul out if caught....it was basically fashion after the fastpitch rule.....also it eliminates the over the head rule.....

Ranall this is not a USSSA site..or an ASA site...it is a SSUSA site.... 3 different organizations....TC does have the correct rule for a foul tip....to answer your OP yes the ball has to go over the batters head and then can be caught with or without a bobble as long as it is caught with the glove or hands for an out

I inadvertently listed the USSSA, but I intended to list SSUSA.

What about this scenario, which recently happened in a tournament; batter hit a foul tip slightly over his head which bounced off the umpire and was then caught by the catcher in the air.

the umpire is considered to be part of the field....and is treated as such if a ball hits him it's just like the ball hitting the ground....no catch and just a foul ball strike....unless the batter already had 2 strikes on him...then he would be out

umpire is in foul territory

In the same game, a ground ball between 1st & 2nd hit the base umpire & was then fielded by the 2nd baseman who threw to 1st for an out. The ball was considered a live ball and the umpire was no different than a ball hitting 2nd base.
Correct call?

DC.....yes