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Sports Glossary
Learn the language of your game — answer-first definitions across every SwingVantage sport, each with a real example. Free to explore.
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161 terms
- Age vs Level (Scouting)IntermediateAge vs level weighs a player's stats against how old they are for their level. Being young for a level is generally good; being old tempers strong numbers.Baseball
- Ahead vs Behind in the CountBeginnerMore balls than strikes is a hitter's count; more strikes than balls is a pitcher's count. Which side holds the edge reshapes how both of them play the rest of the at-bat.Baseball
- Arm AngleIntermediateArm angle is the vertical orientation of the throwing arm at release — from over-the-top through three-quarter, sidearm, to submarine — and it shapes both the pitch plane and movement profile.Baseball
- Arm Care RoutineBeginnerAn arm care routine is a regular set of general warmup, mobility, and strengthening exercises for throwers. It is usually done before and after throwing.Baseball
- Arm Slot (Fielding)IntermediateA fielder's arm slot is the arm angle at release when throwing. The natural slot produces the most accurate and arm-safe throw for that player's anatomy.Baseball
- 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.Baseball
- Backdoor Breaking BallAdvancedA backdoor breaking ball starts off the plate and breaks back over the outside corner for a called strike. It looks like a ball until the last instant.Baseball
- Backhand FieldIntermediateFielding a ground ball backhand means turning the back of the glove hand toward the ball. The fielder reaches across the body instead of squaring up.Baseball
- Backspin (Batting)IntermediateBackspin is backward rotation on a batted ball from contact slightly below center. Its Magnus effect helps fly balls and line drives carry instead of diving.Baseball
- BalkIntermediateA balk is an illegal or deceptive motion by the pitcher with runners on base. Every runner is immediately awarded one base, and no pitch needs to be thrown.Baseball
- Ball TransferIntermediateBall transfer is the exchange of the ball from glove to throwing hand. Its speed and consistency are among the biggest separators for infielders and catchers.Baseball
- BarrelAdvancedA barrel is a batted ball with both high exit velocity and an optimal launch angle. That combination is the one most likely to produce extra-base hits.Baseball
- Barrel AccuracyAdvancedBarrel accuracy is how reliably a hitter finds the bat's sweet spot rather than the handle or end cap. It differs from the formal "barrel" stat.Baseball
- Barrel PathIntermediateBarrel path is the route the barrel takes through the hitting zone. Matching it to the pitch plane as long as possible gives the best odds of hard contact.Baseball
- Baseball IQIntermediateBaseball IQ is a player's game awareness and decision-making, apart from physical tools. It is knowing where to throw, when to run, and how to position.Baseball
- Baserunning ReadIntermediateA baserunning read is the split-second decision a runner makes based on what the ball does after contact — whether to advance, hold, or retreat.Baseball
- Bat DragIntermediateBat drag is a sequencing fault where the hands race ahead and the barrel trails behind. It costs bat speed and forces contact deep, off the sweet spot.Baseball
- Bat PathBeginnerBat path is the 3D route the barrel travels from load to finish. Its shape through the zone, more than raw bat speed, decides hard or weak contact.Baseball
- 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.Baseball
- Bat-to-Ball SkillBeginnerBat-to-ball skill is the ability to make solid contact reliably. It covers tracking, timing, and getting the barrel to the ball, not how hard the ball is hit.Baseball
- Blocking a Pitch (Catching)IntermediateBlocking is when a catcher smothers a pitch in the dirt with the body and chest protector, not the glove. It keeps the ball in front, preventing a passed ball.Baseball
- Bullpen SessionBeginnerA bullpen session is a pitcher's practice throwing, usually off a mound, working the pitch mix at game-like intent. There are no live hitters or game pressure.Baseball
- Bunt TechniqueBeginnerBunt technique is deadening the ball by absorbing its speed instead of swinging. It uses soft hands, a squared or angled stance, and the bat as a cushion.Baseball
- Called Strike RateAdvancedCalled strike rate is the share of in-zone pitches a hitter takes for a strike. It mirrors chase rate, measuring missed chances instead of bad swings.Baseball
- Called-Strike-Plus-Whiff Rate (CSW%)AdvancedCSW% is called strikes plus swinging strikes (whiffs) as a share of all pitches thrown. It shows how often a pitcher gets a strike without a ball in play.Baseball
- Carry (Throw)IntermediateCarry is how well a throw holds its speed and straight line without tailing, sinking, or losing steam. A throw that "carries" arrives true to the target.Baseball
- Casting (Batting)IntermediateCasting is a swing fault where the hands and barrel arc wide instead of taking a direct path to the ball. It kills bat speed and limits inside coverage.Baseball
- Catcher's Setup TargetBeginnerA catcher's setup target is the glove spot shown before the pitch. It gives the pitcher a clear, steady point to aim at and signals the intended location.Baseball
- Ceiling vs Floor (Scouting)IntermediateCeiling is a player's realistic best-case outcome; floor is the realistic worst case if development stalls. Scouts weigh both, not just the exciting one.Baseball
- Changeup (Pitching)IntermediateThe changeup is an off-speed pitch thrown with fastball arm speed but held deeper in the hand to reduce velocity by 8–15 mph, disrupting timing.Baseball
- Charging a Ground BallBeginnerCharging a ground ball means running at a slowly hit ball instead of waiting. It shortens the throw and keeps a bunt or slow roller from becoming a hit.Baseball
- Chase ContactAdvancedChase contact rate is the percentage of swings at pitches outside the strike zone that make contact. It shows how well a hitter survives a swing at a bad pitch.Baseball
- Chase RateIntermediateChase rate is the percentage of pitches thrown outside the strike zone that a hitter swings at. A core plate-discipline metric where lower is almost always better.Baseball
- Check SwingIntermediateA check swing is a swing the hitter stops before the bat crosses the plane of contact. It counts as a swing if the bat and wrists broke toward the ball.Baseball
- Circle Changeup GripIntermediateThe circle changeup grip forms a circle with the thumb and index finger on the side of the ball. It is built to cut velocity without changing arm speed.Baseball
- Coachability (Intangibles)BeginnerCoachability is taking feedback without defensiveness and adjusting based on it. Scouts and coaches weigh this "intangible" alongside physical tools.Baseball
- Collapsing Back SideAdvancedCollapsing the back side is when the back knee and hip buckle and drop instead of staying stacked. It robs ground force and leaves the arms to do the work.Baseball
- Command vs. ControlIntermediateControl means throwing enough strikes to avoid walks; command means locating a pitch to a precise spot within the zone. A pitcher can have one without the other.Baseball
- Contact Point (Batting)IntermediateContact point is where the bat meets the ball, relative to the body and plate. It shifts with pitch location, and a fixed one is a common cause of weak contact.Baseball
- Crow Hop (Throwing)BeginnerA crow hop is a small skip-step a fielder uses after fielding a ball to gather momentum and line up the body. It comes before a long or off-balance throw.Baseball
- CurveballIntermediateThe curveball is an off-speed breaking pitch with topspin that makes it arc downward, often sharply, as it crosses the plate.Baseball
- Cut FastballAdvancedThe cutter is a fastball with late glove-side movement — harder than a slider, smaller break than a slider — that jams or cuts away from hitters.Baseball
- Cutoff ManBeginnerThe cutoff man is the infielder who sets up in a direct line between an outfielder and the base under threat, ready to intercept the ball and redirect it if the original target is no longer the best play.Baseball
- Defensive RangeIntermediateDefensive range is how much ground a fielder can cover and convert into outs. It combines first step, speed, reads, and athleticism.Baseball
- Diving Catch TechniqueAdvancedDiving catch technique is how a fielder extends fully, glove-first and parallel to the ground. It is a last resort for a ball just out of running range.Baseball
- Double Play PivotIntermediateThe double play pivot is a middle infielder's footwork at second base to catch a throw and fire it to first. It must be quick and avoid the sliding runner.Baseball
- Down-and-In Swing PathIntermediateA down-and-in swing path has the barrel dropping and cutting toward the body instead of staying on the pitch's plane. It yields weak pull-side grounders.Baseball
- Drag BuntAdvancedA drag bunt is a bunt started while already moving toward first base, usually by a lefty. It aims to beat out a hit, not sacrifice an out.Baseball
- Drop Step (Outfield)IntermediateA drop step is an outfielder's first move on a ball hit over their head or into a gap. The back foot pivots, opening the hips on the most direct running angle.Baseball
- Dropping the Back ShoulderIntermediateDropping the back shoulder is a fault where the rear shoulder tilts down during the swing. It steepens the bat path and often causes an uppercut and pop-ups.Baseball
- Eephus PitchAdvancedThe eephus is a very slow, high-arcing pitch thrown with little arm speed, often 30-40 mph slower than a fastball. It is built to disrupt a hitter's timing.Baseball
- Effective VelocityAdvancedEffective velocity is the idea that how fast a pitch feels depends on location, not just the radar gun. Inside pitches feel faster, outside and low ones slower.Baseball
- 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.Baseball
- Extension at ContactIntermediateExtension is the arms straightening through and just past contact, not folding in. At impact the rear arm usually keeps some bend, especially on inside pitches.Baseball
- Fielding FootworkBeginnerFielding footwork is how a player positions and moves their feet to field a ball cleanly. Good footwork also sets up a strong, accurate throw right away.Baseball
- Fielding Position (Ready Stance)BeginnerThe fielding position is a pre-pitch stance for moving quickly in any direction. Knees are bent, feet shoulder-width, and weight on the balls of the feet.Baseball
- First StepIntermediateFirst step is how quickly a fielder starts movement toward a batted ball — often the largest separator between good and great defenders.Baseball
- First-Pitch Swing RateIntermediateFirst-pitch swing rate is how often a hitter swings at the first pitch (0-0) of a plate appearance. It is a simple measure of early-count aggressiveness.Baseball
- First-Step QuicknessIntermediateFirst-step quickness is how fast a fielder's first move reacts off the bat. It is widely seen as the biggest factor in range, more than sprint speed.Baseball
- Five-Tool PlayerIntermediateA five-tool player is a position player rated above average in all five scouting tools. The tools are hitting for average, power, speed, arm, and fielding.Baseball
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