1. What is Slugging Percentage?

Slugging Percentage (SLG) is a baseball statistic that measures the power of a hitter by calculating total bases per at bat. Unlike batting average, it gives more weight to extra-base hits.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Slugging Percentage formula:

Where:

• \( TB \) — Total bases (1 for single, 2 for double, 3 for triple, 4 for home run)
• \( AB \) — At bats (plate appearances that count as official at bats)

Explanation: The formula divides the total number of bases a player has achieved by their number of at bats.

3. Importance of Slugging Percentage

Details: SLG is important because it measures a hitter's power and ability to produce extra-base hits, which are more valuable than singles in generating runs.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter total bases (sum of all hits weighted by base value) and at bats (official at bats excluding walks, sacrifices, etc.). Both values must be positive numbers with AB > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good slugging percentage?
A: In MLB, .450 is good, .550 is excellent, and .650+ is elite. League average is typically around .400-.420.

Q2: How is SLG different from OPS?
A: OPS (On-base Plus Slugging) combines on-base percentage and slugging percentage, while SLG focuses only on power hitting.

Q3: Can SLG be higher than 1.000?
A: Yes, though rare. This would mean a player averages more than one base per at bat (e.g., 4 total bases in 3 at bats = 1.333 SLG).

Q4: Why not use isolated power instead?
A: Isolated power (SLG - BA) measures pure extra-base power, while SLG includes all hits. Both have value in different contexts.

Q5: How is total bases calculated?
A: TB = (1B) + (2B × 2) + (3B × 3) + (HR × 4), where 1B = singles, 2B = doubles, 3B = triples, HR = home runs.