Glossary
Quality at-bat (QAB)
A quality at-bat (QAB) is a coach's measure of a good trip to the plate, whatever the result: a hit, a walk, a hard-hit ball, a long at-bat, a productive out. It is not an official stat; each team sets its own list.
Batting average only rewards hits, and a hitter can do everything right and still line out. A quality at-bat gives credit for the process instead. Most coaches count an at-bat as quality when it ends in one of these: a hit, a walk or hit by pitch, a ball hit hard anywhere, an at-bat of six pitches or more, a sacrifice bunt or fly, a ground ball that moves a runner up with fewer than two outs, or two strikes fouled off and the at-bat kept alive.
The number that matters is the percentage: quality at-bats divided by plate appearances. Many teams aim for half their trips to the plate, and a hitter whose QAB percentage stays high through an 0-for-8 stretch is usually hitting the ball well and not finding holes. It is also the stat that young hitters can control, which is why coaches like it.
The scorekeeper needs a way to mark it. On a paper score sheet, a small check or a Q in the corner of the batter's box does the job, and a hard-hit ball can get an H or a line under the play. Counting pitches matters too: the pitch boxes in each square show at a glance which at-bats went six pitches or longer.
Write the team's list down and share it before the first game, so the players know what earns the check. Post the totals after each game or each week. Younger teams do best with a short list (put the ball in play, take a walk, move the runner); older teams can add hard contact and long at-bats.
Examples
- A line drive caught by the shortstop: a quality at-bat (hard-hit ball), no hit.
- A seven-pitch walk: a quality at-bat twice over, but it counts once.
- Runner on second, nobody out, a ground ball to the right side moves the runner to third: a quality at-bat.
- First-pitch pop-up with a runner on third and one out: not a quality at-bat.
Put it on a card: Score sheets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a quality at-bat?
Each team sets its own list. The usual one is a hit, a walk or hit by pitch, a hard-hit ball, an at-bat of six pitches or more, a sacrifice, a ground ball that moves a runner with fewer than two outs, and fouling off two-strike pitches.
What is a good QAB percentage?
Many coaches aim for 50% of plate appearances. Use your own team's numbers as the baseline and watch the trend through the season.
Is QAB an official stat?
No. It is a coaching stat, not part of the official scoring rules, so the definition varies from team to team.
How do you track quality at-bats on a score sheet?
Mark each quality at-bat with a check or a Q in the corner of the batter's box, and count the pitches in the pitch boxes so long at-bats are easy to spot. Total them after the game.
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