BATTING
- Batters begin with 1 strike (0-1 count)
- A batter is awarded position based on where the ball was hit in play. There is no actual baserunning (with one exception below).
- Single
- A ground ball that travels through the infield and is played by an outfielder.
- A fly ball that lands in the outfield (and does not hit the wall or roll out of play).
- Double
- A ground or fly ball that bounces before hitting the back wall.
- Triple
- A fly ball that hits the back wall in the air.
- Home Run
- A fly ball that clears the back wall in the air.
- Single
FIELDING
- To record a ground out at “first base”, a fielder must throw the ball into the backstop, strike zone, or batter (in the air) within 5 seconds of contact.
- Fielders may tag second and/or third base within 5 seconds to record a force out where applicable.
- On a single, runners may be held to a single base by delivering the ball to the appropriate “base” in under 5 seconds (see complete rules for specific examples).
SACRIFICE FLIES
- The only time that actual baserunning occurs is the sacrifice fly or “tag-up” rule.
- With less than two outs, a runner on third may “tag-up” and run for home after a fly ball has been caught. If ball is thrown to the backstop, in the K zone, or hits the runner, before the runner tags home plate, he is out. It is important to note, that the throw may touch the ground before hitting the backstop.
- There is a “commit” line painted 18 feet down the third baseline. If the tagging runner crosses this line (touches it in any way) he has “committed” and cannot return to third base.
PITCHING
- Pitchers may throw any speed, however, a called strike must read 55 mph or lower on the radar and hit the strike zone in the air.
- The pitcher’s back foot must stay connected with the pitching rubber during delivery.
- The pitcher’s front foot must land on the pitching mat.
- A pitch that hits the batter is a ball unless it hits the batter’s hands.
- A pitcher is ineligible to pitch for the remainder of a game after having walked 2 batters.
- In a 3-game series, a different pitcher must start each game
- In a 3-game series, a pitcher may appear (throw a pitch) in no more than 9 innings total.
GENERAL
- Games are 6 innings in length.
- Each team is required to have a minimum of 6 players.
- Players on defense are not permitted to use gloves of any kind. Bare hands only.
- If a team leads another by 10 runs or more after 3 complete innings, the game shall end in a mercy rule.
- If a team scores a 15th run , the game shall end instantly in a mercy rule (Must win by 2).
- Only official original yellow Wiffle brand bats may be used.
- Game balls are new, or like new (clean and unscuffed) official Wiffle brand balls.
This is an informal list of basic PLW rules. CLICK HERE for the complete official rule book.
