Whiffed

Whiffed is a term commonly used in sports, particularly baseball and softball, to describe a swing at a pitched ball that completely misses the ball. When a batter swings and fails to make contact with the ball, it is called a whiff. This often results in a strike being called against the batter.

The term "whiff" can also be used more broadly to describe a failure or a miss in other contexts. For example, someone might say a business idea "whiffed" if it did not succeed. In a figurative sense, a joke might "whiff" if it doesn't land with the audience. The origin of the word is likely onomatopoeic, suggesting the sound of air moving past without hitting anything.

In baseball, a batter who accumulates a high number of whiffs is often considered to have a high strikeout rate. This can be a disadvantage for a team, as strikeouts do not advance runners or produce hits. However, some players may prioritize power hitting, which can sometimes lead to more whiffs as they swing with more force. The effectiveness of a swing and miss is evaluated in the context of the overall performance of the batter and the game situation.