A batter's dry spell is a period of time in which a batter has difficulty hitting the ball. It is also known as a 'SLUMP, ' which is the five-letter answer to the crossword puzzle. During a batter's dry spell, they may have difficulty making contact with the ball or may not be able to hit the ball with any power. This can be a frustrating experience for a batter, as it can lead to a decrease in their batting average and a decrease in their team's chances of winning.