Fast-Swing Rate
Also known as: fast swing rate, fast-swing rate, fast swing, fast swings, 75 mph swing, percentage of fast swings, statcast fast swing
Fast-swing rate is the share of a hitter's swings with a bat speed of 75 mph or more. Statcast picked 75 mph because that is about where production per swing reaches league average. It shows how often a hitter swings hard, not just how hard their fastest swing is.
Statcast measures bat speed at the sweet spot of the bat, about six inches from the end, at contact or where contact would have been. Fast-swing rate counts swings of 75 mph or faster and divides them by all swings.
The 75 mph line is a big-league marker, not a target for every player. Youth and high school hitters swing slower, and that is normal. The idea still works at any level. Track how many game swings come close to your best practice swings. A hitter with a high top speed but few fast swings may be holding back, or may be cutting the swing short to make contact.
There are two ways to raise it. One is getting stronger and faster. The other is swinging with full intent more often, such as in hitter's counts. Many hitters shorten and slow the swing with two strikes on purpose.
Tips by skill level
Compare your game swings with your best practice swings. If games are much slower, work on swinging with intent in good counts.
Split your fast-swing rate by count. A big drop early in counts can mean you are giving away hitter's counts with defensive swings.
Example
A minor league hitter's best swings reach 78 mph, but only a small share of his game swings top 75. His coach notices he cuts the swing short early in counts. He starts swinging with full intent when ahead, and his fast-swing rate rises without more strikeouts.
Why it matters
Bat speed only helps when it shows up in games. Fast-swing rate tracks how often a hitter actually uses it.
Common mistakes
- Using the 75 mph line as a goal for youth hitters
- Swinging all-out on every pitch to raise the number
- Judging bat speed by one best swing
- Ignoring how count and pitch type change swing speed
Frequently asked questions
What is fast swing rate?
It is the percentage of a hitter's swings with a bat speed of 75 mph or more. Statcast uses it to show how often a hitter swings hard.
Why is 75 mph considered a fast swing?
Statcast chose 75 mph because that is about where production per swing reaches league average in the majors. Faster swings tend to produce more damage, up to a point.
How do I increase my fast swing rate?
Build strength and speed, then swing with full intent more often in good counts. Keep your swing under control so contact doesn't drop.
Sources
Related terms
- Bat SpeedBat 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.
- Bat Speed by AgeBlast Motion, a bat-sensor maker, publishes practice-swing ranges of about 30–45 mph for 8- to 10-year-olds and 40–52 for 11- to 12-year-olds. For older players its ranges are about 46–62 mph at 13–14, 55–65 at 15–16 and 60–70 at 17–18. Treat them as rough guides from one sensor in tee and toss work. In MLB, Statcast's average swing was about 72 mph when bat tracking launched in 2024.
- Blast (Bat Tracking)A blast is a Statcast bat-tracking term for a swing that is both fast and squared up. A swing counts as a blast when its squared-up percentage times 100, plus its bat speed in mph, is at least 164. It rewards hitters who combine bat speed with solid contact.
- Swing LengthSwing length is how far the barrel travels from the start of the swing to contact. A shorter path generally needs less time, at some cost to peak bat speed.
- Overswinging (Swinging Too Hard)Overswinging is swinging so hard that body control breaks down. The head pulls off the ball, the front shoulder flies open and the swing gets long. Misses and weak contact follow. Many hitters do better swinging hard under control, and saving their biggest swings for pitches they are sitting on.
Related guides & benchmarks
Work on the cause
Video shows how you move, not the ball itself. Film one swing to find the movement behind this result — free to start.
See a sample Baseball report first