The Baseball Thumb Guard Study

Study verdict: the Launchpad baseball thumb guard won every measured metric versus ThumbPro and ProHitter Study verdict: the Launchpad baseball thumb guard won every measured metric versus ThumbPro and ProHitter

Launchpad's protection led the way¹

68% less peak impact force with the Launchpad baseball thumb guard

68% Less Peak Impact Force

61% less thumb loading with the Launchpad baseball thumb guard

61% Less Thumb Loading

29% less palm loading with the Launchpad baseball thumb guard

29% Less Palm Loading

9.5 out of 10 load dispersion rating with the Launchpad baseball thumb guard

9.5 Load Dispersion Rating

Peak Impact Force: The highest impact reading on any part of the palm or thumb — the raw shock your hand takes the instant bat meets ball. The lower it is, the less pounding your hand absorbs on every swing.

Thumb and Palm Loading: The force driven into the thumb and palm, the parts of the hand that take the most abuse. Less loading means less repetitive stress on the spots most prone to injury.

Load Dispersion: How evenly the impact is spread across the hand instead of slamming into one spot, rated out of 10. A higher number means no single part takes the brunt.

Feel the Difference

And it's protection that elevates performance²

22% less bat twist with the Launchpad baseball thumb guard

22% Less Bat Twist

22 millisecond grip recovery with the Launchpad baseball thumb guard

22ms Grip Recovery

31% less vibration with the Launchpad baseball thumb guard

31% Less Vibration

31% more hand-to-bat contact with the Launchpad baseball thumb guard

31% More Hand-to-Bat Contact

Bat Twist: How far the bat rotates in the hands at the moment of contact, especially on balls you don't square up. Less twist means more control through the swing.

Grip Recovery: How quickly the hand re-stabilizes its grip after the jolt of impact, measured in milliseconds. A faster recovery means a steadier, more repeatable swing.

Vibration: The buzz — the bat sting — that travels back through the bat at contact. Less of it means calmer hands and a steadier, more stable bat through the hit — not just a cleaner feel.

Hand-to-Bat Contact: How much of the hand is actually connected to the bat handle at impact. More contact creates a more stable, connected grip and better energy transfer.

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Launchpad baseball thumb guard vs ThumbPro and ProHitter: independent lab results stacked up Launchpad baseball thumb guard vs ThumbPro and ProHitter: independent lab results stacked up

So, Do Baseball Thumb Guards Actually Work?

Short answer: yes. In independent lab testing, all thumb guards tested outperformed the No Guard tests in all metrics. In the professional cohort, Launchpad cut peak impact force from 350 lb bare-handed to just 112 lb, the greatest reduction recorded.

In fact, the reduction was even greater in the youth, high school, and college cohorts. You can view the full details in the study linked at the top of this page.

Launchpad vs ThumbPro vs ProHitter: peak impact force

Professional cohort, measured at contact. Lower is better.

  • Launchpad LOWEST112 lb
  • ProHitter119 lb
  • ThumbPRO131 lb
  • No thumb guard350 lb

Frequently asked questions

Which baseball thumb guard is best?

The best thumb guard for you is subjective! However, based on this study, Launchpad produced the best metric results across the categories tested. It recorded the lowest peak impact force of any guard tested and backed it up with a 9.5 out of 10 load-dispersion rating, plus the best grip recovery, the least bat twist, and the most hand-to-bat contact.

Do thumb guards reduce bat sting?

Yes — bat sting is the vibration and shock that snap back into the hand at contact, and that is exactly what the lab measured. Launchpad cut vibration by 31% and thumb loading by 61%, spreading impact across the hand instead of letting it spike at the thumb. Less concentrated shock reaching the hand means noticeably less sting.

Will a baseball thumb guard slow my swing or hurt my grip?

Increases in bat speed are incredibly difficult to run a controlled study around, and you should be wary of any bat speed claims that don't have strong supporting evidence. This study did not explicitly measure changes in bat speed.

However, it did measure several factors related to swing and grip mechanics, and thumb guards were shown to produce benefits in all of these categories. Launchpad's patented bat-shaped channel locks the hand to the handle — producing 31% more hand-to-bat contact, 22% less bat twist, and faster grip recovery after contact. That means more control and a more connected feel through the swing, and in theory this should produce a faster swing speed.

Are baseball thumb guards worth it for youth players?

Younger hitters feel bat sting the most, and that flinch can quietly wreck a swing. A guard that measurably lowers impact — Launchpad also reduced palm loading by 29% and dispersed force more evenly across the hand — helps them stay relaxed and commit to the swing. And because Launchpad added feel rather than dulling it, it won't build habits they'll have to unlearn.

About RAPID Tech Sports Performance Labs

RAPID Tech Sports Performance Labs is an independent applied-biomechanics organization that objectively measures force, pressure, and impact mechanics for athletic and protective equipment. They have worked with several MLB organizations, collegiate programs, and top equipment manufacturers such as EvoShield and Sqairz.

Footnotes and Disclaimers:

This study was commissioned by Launchpad but conducted by a wholly independent sports science group. Launchpad had no involvement whatsoever in the design, execution, or data analysis of this study. We encourage you to read the full study to understand its methodology and limitations.

¹ The reduction in Peak Impact Force, Thumb Loading, and Palm Loading shown are for the Professional Cohort and are compared to No Guard. Launchpad showed the greatest reduction in these metrics compared to ThumbPro and ProHitter.

² The Bat Twist, Grip Recovery, Vibration Reduction, and Hand-to-Bat Contact shown are also for the Professional Cohort and are compared to No Guard. Launchpad showed the least bat twist and vibration, fastest grip recovery, and most hand-to-bat contact compared to ThumbPro and ProHitter.

³ Professional cohort: 4 athletes, 400 recorded swings (25 per athlete across four tested conditions = 100 each), from an independent biomechanics study (RAPID Tech Sports Performance Labs, 2026). Captured via standardized baseball tee-hitting; live-game results may vary by individual, mechanics, and equipment. Comparison reflects products as tested; third-party marks belong to their respective owners and use implies no endorsement. Not a medical or injury-prevention claim. Lower is better for force, loading, recovery, and rotation; higher for contact area and dispersion. Full data on file.