Baseball Glossary
Learn the language of Baseball — answer-first definitions with real examples, beginner to pro.
12 terms
- Attack Angle (Batting)AdvancedAttack angle in batting is the vertical angle of the bat path through the hitting zone. A slightly upward attack angle (+5° to +15°) matches the pitch plane for hard contact.
- BarrelAdvancedA barrel is a batted ball with both high exit velocity and an optimal launch angle at the same time — the combination most likely to become an extra-base hit.
- Bat SpeedIntermediateBat speed is how fast the barrel is moving at contact, in mph. It contributes to exit velocity alongside bat path and where on the barrel you make contact.
- Exit Velocity (EV)IntermediateExit velocity is how fast the ball comes off the bat, in mph. It is a ceiling metric — the harder you hit it, the farther it can go.
- Hard-Hit RateAdvancedHard-hit rate is the percentage of batted balls hit above a set exit-velocity threshold (typically 95 mph in MLB, adjusted by level). It is a better measure of contact quality than batting average.
- Hip-Shoulder SeparationProHip-shoulder separation is the difference in rotation between the hips and the shoulders during the swing. The hips fire first while the shoulders stay back, creating stored torque that whips the bat through.
- Launch Angle (Batting)IntermediateLaunch angle in batting is the vertical angle the ball leaves the bat. Roughly 10–25° produces the hardest, most productive contact.
- LoadBeginnerThe load is the small backward gathering of the hands and weight before the swing starts, storing energy to fire into the ball.
- On-Plane SwingAdvancedAn on-plane swing keeps the barrel traveling along the pitch’s incoming plane through the hitting zone, so the bat and ball stay aligned for a longer window and margin for error.
- Pitch RecognitionIntermediatePitch recognition is reading a pitch’s type and location early — out of the pitcher’s hand and from spin — so the hitter can decide to swing or take before it’s too late.
- Spray AngleIntermediateSpray angle is the horizontal direction the ball travels off the bat, measured from the middle of the field. It reveals whether a hitter is pulling, going up the middle, or hitting the other way.
- Two-Strike ApproachIntermediateA two-strike approach is the adjusted, contact-first mindset a hitter adopts with two strikes — choking up, shortening the swing, and widening the zone to protect the plate and avoid the strikeout.
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