What Is Launch Angle in Baseball? The Sweet Spot and Batted Ball Types

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Launch angle is the vertical angle at which the ball leaves the bat, measured in degrees by Statcast. Zero degrees is a ball hit straight out, negative angles are hit into the ground, and higher angles climb into the air. Balls hit between about 8 and 32 degrees, the so called sweet spot, produce the best results, especially when they are hit hard.

Statcast explained
Launch angle at a glance
Vertical angle off the bat
Ground ball
Below 10 degrees
Line drive
10 to 25 degreesThe most productive batted ball type
Fly ball
25 to 50 degreesHome run territory when hit hard
Pop up
Above 50 degreesAlmost always an out
Sweet spot
8 to 32 degreesStatcast’s best range for results
Home run window
About 25 to 35 degreesPaired with high exit velocity
Barrel
At least 98 mph, starting at 26 to 30 degreesThe window widens as exit velocity rises
Batted ball categories as defined by Statcast.

How Angle and Speed Work Together

Launch angle Soft contact Hard contact
Below 10 degrees Easy grounder Grounder through the infield, sometimes
10 to 25 degrees Bloop single Line drive, often a hit
25 to 35 degrees Routine fly out Home run or extra bases
Above 50 degrees Pop up Pop up

The Launch Angle Revolution

Once Statcast made the data public, many hitters rebuilt their swings to lift the ball, trading ground balls for fly balls and more home runs. Hitting coaches still teach that a line drive swing matters more than a single number, but the lesson stuck: hard hit balls in the air do the most damage. Pair this with exit velocity to see the full picture of contact quality.

Related

Exit velocity · Spin rate · What is a sweeper

Definitions from Baseball Savant.