Slugging percentage is the number of bases a batter records per official at-bat. It represents a measure of the batter’s overall power output at the plate and can range from a low of 0.000 to a high of 4.000.

How is slugging percentage calculated?

To calculated a batter’s slugging percentage, add the number of bases he collects from all hits and divide that total by the number of official at-bats he records. In other words:

Slugging Percentage = TotalBases/At-Bats

In this formula, you calculate total bases like this:

TotalBases = 1.0*(number of singles) + 2.0*(number of doubles) + 3.0*(number of triples) + 4.0*(number of home runs)

Or, in a more shorthand form:

TotalBases = 1B + 2*2B + 3*3B + 4*HR

Putting it all together, we have the full formula for slugging percentage:

Slugging Percentage = (1B + 2*2B + 3*3B + 4*HR)/At-Bats

What is a good slugging percentage?

Generally speaking, a slugging percentage (SLG) of .450 or better puts a batter in the upper half of the league in power production.