5 Hole

The 5 Hole Area

Also called the 5-6 hole, the 5 hole in baseball refers to the area between the shortstop and the third baseman. On the other hand, the 4 hole that is also sometimes called the 3-4 hole is the open space that lies between the first baseman and the second baseman. These two are the only areas or spaces that are called this way.

The 5 Hole in Ice Hockey

The term “5-hole” is more known among hockey players and enthusiasts. The term was originally created by David Neal, a sports journalist from the Miami Herald. He wrote an article documenting a hockey match between the Panthers and the Canadiens, and the victory was sealed when the Panther player Pavel Bure scored “through the 5 hole”.

Like in baseball, 5 hole in hockey refers to a space, only in hockey, it’s between a player’s legs. When a player successfully shoots a puck way the legs of the goalie, the action is referred to as scoring through the 5 hole.

In hockey, if there’s a 5 hole, then it can be expected that there would be a first, second, third, and fourth hole. The 1st and 2nd holes are the areas that over a player’s left and right shoulders. The areas underneath a player’s left and right arms are referred to as the 3rd and 4th holes. Still, in hockey, the main place to make a score is to get a puck past the goalie’s legs, the so-called 5 hole.

The 5 hole in Basketball and Softball

There is also a 5 hole in basketball. When a player throws a pass bounce and it goes under and through an opposing player’s legs, it’s called a 5-hole.

When the term is used is softball, it means hitting the ball up the middle or straight at the pitcher. When someone says “she hit the ball through the 5 hole or the 5-6 hole”, it means the batter successfully hit the ball and it flew towards the direction of the third baseman and the shortstop, in the area that lies between the two positions. The 5 hole – or more appropriately in this case the 5-6 hole – is a hit that should be caught by the third baseman or the 5, and shortstop or the 6.