noun
pitch selection; serve variation
Sports term for the strategic mixing of different types of pitches (baseball) or serves (tennis, volleyball) to keep the opponent off balance.
彼の巧みな配球が打者を翻弄した。
His clever pitch selection baffled the batters.
テニスでは配球が勝敗を分けることもある。
In tennis, serve variation can sometimes decide the match.