Launch Angle shows the vertical angle at which the player’s bat leaves the ball after being struck. Although the launch angle may vary for different types of balls, the broad optimal range of launch angles is between 15 and 20 degrees. If a batter does not strike the pitch at the recommended launch angle, the strike will not be good.
The perfect launch angle can vary slightly for each hitter, depending on their unique skills and strengths. We examine the launch angle and its effectiveness in predicting a hitter’s success. Read on to learn about Launch Angles and why they are important in baseball.
Use Launch Angle Data to Improve Performance
Launch angle data can identify if a player is hitting the ball too high or low to be successful. They will only have a little success in the game if they keep hitting ground balls and pop-ups. Take a look at the 2018 MLB season and how different hit profiles fared:
Line drives and fly balls are the most beneficial outcome to a batted ball, as they slug and hit for the highest average of any batted ball type. This is not to say that everyone should try to hit the ball extremely high in the air because some players need to possess the power necessary for this type of swing.
At a minimum, players should aim for the line drive (10-25 degrees) range with every swing to maximize their chances of success. Launch Angle is the angle in the vertical direction that the ball leaves the bat after being hit. To find the Average Launch Angle (aLA), divide the total number of Launch Angles by the total number of Batted Ball Events.
To give you an idea, here are the Launch Angles for the following types of contact:
- It’s less than 10 degrees for a ground ball.
- Line drive: -10 to 25 degrees
- 25 to 50 degrees for a fly ball
- Plus, more than 50 degrees for pop-up
How Do Launch Angles Affect A Hit?
It is said that the average Launch Angle tells us about hitters’ tendencies. A high average Launch Angle indicates a fly-ball hitter, and a low average Launch Angle indicates a ground-ball hitter. The ideal Launch Angle for Home Runs in softball is about 26 degrees.
A good line drive swing with a little swing power attached to it (63mph+) = more home runs. As hitters understand that their focus should be on line drives, not home runs, they’re on the right path.
We also do the same significance tests with the following standard measures that give us a better idea of how well a hitter is doing his performance:
- Home runs
- Batting average
- Slugging percentage
Optimize Launch Angle for Experience and Hitting Style
Bat and ball exit velocity, also known as (EV), average attack angle, and average launch angle are important variables for batter evaluation. With this data, a customized program can match their performance to their hitting style.
Learning to use the launch angle that suits your style helps hitters of all levels find their optimal swing plane and develop a strategy that matches their strengths and goals. Aspiring and experienced hitters can improve their performance and versatility by working on these fundamentals. In today’s competitive baseball landscape, finding the right swing plane can help high school and college players succeed.
Sure, hitting a home run doesn’t always mean smashing the ball at high speeds. Most of the best home run hitters I work with typically hit with a max speed of 76-82 mph and an average speed of at least 64 mph. Surprisingly, a ball hit at just 63 mph and 31 degrees can barely clear a four-foot, 200-foot fence under normal conditions with no wind or extreme humidity. But tweak the launch angle to 3 degrees and watch the same ball fly even farther.
Exit velocity tells the player how high they can hit the ball and still have a good chance of getting a double or better. This is true whether they are in Major League Baseball or middle school. Pitchers who can limit their Launch Angle (keeping the ball on the ground) are more successful because they are the most adept at avoiding home runs and extra-base hits, which come almost exclusively via fly balls and line drives.
Advanced Metrics and Common Myths About Launch Angle in Baseball
Hitting a baseball is often considered among the most difficult feats to perform in sports. Consequently, many coaches and players have advocated various approaches to hitting over professional baseball decades. Players have put much effort into improving their launch angle in recent years. MLB Statcast states, “The vertical angle at which the ball leaves a player’s bat after being struck is called the launch angle.”
In other words, the launch angle is made by the path of the hit baseball and the plane parallel to the ground and passing through the point of contact. A fly ball would have a high launch angle, while a grounder would have a low one.
The correlation between a batter’s launch angle and the following advanced measures used to judge their “quality of contact” is looked at in terms of statistical significance. Here are the 3 groups in which you can categorize batters based on launch angles:
Average Exit Velocity
The velocity at which a hit ball leaves the batter’s bat. Higher exit speeds are linked to better contact, making the ball more likely to hit the target.
Hard Hit Percentage
The percentage of batted ball events (BBE) a hitter produces with an exit velocity of more than 95 miles per hour.
Batted Ball Distance
The amount of horizontal distance, measured in feet, is covered by a BBE before it contacts the earth.
Conclusion for What is Launch Angle in Baseball?
Hitting is often the most important thing to do in baseball. Over the years, the hitting technique has gotten much attention from players and teachers. These days, hitting launch angle has become a thing that’s hard to ignore.
What is the launch angle in baseball? It’s the point at which the ball leaves the bat. The ground is used to measure it. Baseball is expensive nowadays. If you hit the ball at a high launch angle, it will go farther and higher into the air. If you hit the ball at a low launch angle, it will go lower and not as far.