What is the difference between a batted ball and a foul ball?

What is the difference between a batted ball and a foul ball?

• A. A batted ball is struck by the bat; a foul ball is outside fair territory.
• B. A batted ball is caught by a fielder; a foul ball is inside fair territory.
• C. A batted ball is pitched over the plate; a foul ball is outside the strike zone.
• D. A batted ball is a ground ball; a foul ball is an infield fly.

Answer: (A)

When you hit the ball, that ball is called a batted ball because it was struck by the bat. A foul ball is specifically a batted ball that ends up outside fair territory, meaning it lands beyond the two foul lines. The fair territory is the area between and including the lines; everything outside is foul. So the distinction is simply that a batted ball refers to contact with the bat, while a foul ball describes where the ball goes relative to those boundary lines.

When you hit the ball, that ball is called a batted ball because it was struck by the bat. A foul ball is specifically a batted ball that ends up outside fair territory, meaning it lands beyond the two foul lines. The fair territory is the area between and including the lines; everything outside is foul. So the distinction is simply that a batted ball refers to contact with the bat, while a foul ball describes where the ball goes relative to those boundary lines.