SLUGGING AVERAGE Meaning and
Definition
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The term "slugging average" is a statistical measurement primarily used in the field of baseball, designed to evaluate a player's effectiveness in hitting for extra bases. Slugging average, also known as slugging percentage (SLG), is calculated by dividing the total number of bases a player has earned by the total number of official at-bats they have taken.
To determine the total number of bases, each type of hit is assigned a specific value: singles are counted as one base, doubles as two, triples as three, and home runs as four. These values are then summed for every hit. This total is then divided by the number of at-bats to calculate the slugging average. In essence, slugging average reveals the average number of bases a batter has reached per at-bat.
The purpose of slugging average is to provide valuable insights into a player's power-hitting capabilities. Players with high slugging averages tend to hit for more extra bases, indicating their ability to drive the ball deeper into the outfield and score more runs. It complements the batting average (AVG), which only considers the number of hits divided by the number of at-bats, regardless of their base-value. Therefore, while a high batting average signifies consistent contact with the ball, a high slugging average reflects a greater likelihood of producing runs through power hitting.
Overall, slugging average serves as a significant indicator of a player's overall offensive performance in terms of hit quality, power, and run production abilities in baseball.
Common Misspellings for SLUGGING AVERAGE
- alugging average
- zlugging average
- xlugging average
- dlugging average
- elugging average
- wlugging average
- skugging average
- spugging average
- sougging average
- slygging average
- slhgging average
- sljgging average
- sligging average
- sl8gging average
- sl7gging average
- slufging average
- sluvging average
- slubging average
- sluhging average
- sluyging average
Etymology of SLUGGING AVERAGE
The term "slugging average" has its etymology rooted in the sport of baseball.
The word "slug" in this context refers to a powerful, forceful hit. In baseball, when a batter strikes the ball with strength and speed, it is often described as a "slug". The term "slugger" is also used to describe a player known for their powerful hits.
"Average" refers to a statistical value used to measure a player's performance. In baseball, batting average is one such measure that calculates the ratio of a player's hits to their total number of at-bats.
In the early 20th century, the concept of "slugging average" was developed to provide a more comprehensive measure of a player's hitting ability. It calculates the total number of bases a player reaches (including singles, doubles, triples, and home runs) divided by their total number of at-bats.
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