Bunt For Hits Tidbits

Right-Handed Drag Bunt to 3rd Base 1. The batter should move up in the batter’s box to get a better angle for bunting the ball 2. Show the bunt as late as possible to surprise the defense. 3. It should be predetermined that the batter is bunting down the 3rd base side. Some batters wait to see where the is located to see where they are going to bunt the ball. This is much too difficult. 4. If the pitch is an outside located ’s strike let it go, as many times it will be bunted back to the pitcher. 5. Drop the right foot and bring the bat over the top to get the bat angle lined up with the back foot and 1st base. 6. Get the elbows in front of your body, but not fully extended. 7. Bunt strikes. This sounds basic, but it’s one of the biggest problems in bunting for hits. 8. Bunt and then . This is another common mistake. Don’t start running until the ball is bunted 9. Bunt the baseball down the line or foul. Again, this puts added pressure on the defense. And there is nothing worse than wasting an by bunting the ball back to the pitcher. 10. If the 3rd baseman is playing deep an automatic base will happen if the batter bunts the ball down the line, even with slow runners. Don’t let 3rd baseman play deep all the time against the top power hitters. It gives them much more range for fielding hard hit ground balls and line drives. 11. Coaches can give verbal signs to batters that the drag bunt is open, so the batter doesn’t have to peek down at the 3rd baseman. 12. Even if you have players’ that aren’t great bunters they can “show” a fake bunt for a hit to keep the defense honest. 13. If the 3rd baseman is playing even or in the batter has to have speed. 14. If the pitcher fields the baseball make sure the ball is located down the line.

Right Handed Hard Push Bunt to 1st Base 1. Only players with good speed should try this bunt even if the defense is playing deep, unlike if the 3rd baseman is playing deep for a drag bunt. 2. Get deeper in the batters box to give a better angle and more room to get some momentum and power into the push bunt. 3. Push the ball past the pitcher, so the 2nd baseman or 1st baseman has to field the ball. 4. To get power on the bunt lean back and keep the bat close to the chest. Push the bat out and take a step forward at the same time to get the power. The main problem with the push bunt is not getting the ball past the pitcher. 5. Bunt strikes and high strikes and leave the low strikes alone, as it’s more difficult push bunting lower pitches. 6. Get the upper working with your lower body to create the necessary power to get the ball bunted past the pitcher. 7. Don’t run out of the batter’s box, but get some momentum by stepping forward with your back foot. By starting deeper in the batter’s box the batter will still be in the box.

Right-Handed Soft Short Bunt to 1st Base 1. The batter needs to have speed for this bunt for a hit as well. 2. The batter should be moved up in the box to shorten the distance for him to run to 1st base. 3. Try to locate the ball right down the 1st base line about 15-20’ down the line, so the defensive player has to throw it over your head. 4. A is not a bad bunt. It puts pressure on the defense. 5. Make your initial bunt movement as late as possible to surprise the defense. 6. Have your bat angle set so the baseball can only go down the 1st base line. Left-Handed Push/Drag Bunt to 1st Base 1. The batter should have some speed, but if the 1st baseman is playing extremely deep a player with average speed can successfully drag bunt to 1st base. 2. As the pitch is coming the batter should take a step directly to the pitcher and at the same time extend the elbows and make contact with the ball in front of the plate. This will provide the necessary power to get the ball past the pitcher. 3. The batter should push the ball past the pitcher, so the 2nd baseman or 1st baseman has to field the ball. 4. If the pitch is an outside located pitcher’s strike let it go, as many times it will be bunted back to the pitcher. 5. Get the elbows out in front of your body getting them almost fully extended right before contact. 6. Bunt strikes. This sounds basic, but its one of the biggest problems in bunting for hits. 7. It should be predetermined that the batter is bunting down the 3rd base side. Some batters wait to see where the pitch is located to see where they are going to bunt the ball. This is much too difficult. 8. Coaches can give verbal signs to batters that the drag bunt is open, so the batter doesn’t have to peek down at the 1st baseman. 9. Even if you have players’ that aren’t great bunters they can “show” a fake bunt for a hit to keep the defense honest.

Left-Handed Short Bunt to 1st Base 1. The batter has to have very good speed to execute this bunt. 2. The ball should be bunted about 15-20 feet right down the 1st base line, so when the pitcher or fields the ball they also have to throw the ball over the runner's head. 3. The batter should move up in the batter’s box to get a better angle for bunting the ball 4. Show the bunt as late as possible to surprise the defense. 5. It should be predetermined that the batter is bunting down the 3rd base side. Some batters wait until to see where the pitch is located to see where they are going to bunt the ball. This is much too difficult. 6. If the pitch is an outside located pitcher’s strike let it go, as many times it will be bunted back to the pitcher. 7. Bunt strikes. This sounds basic, but its one of the biggest problems in bunting for hits. 8. Bunt and then run. This is another common mistake. Don’t start running until the ball is bunted 9. Bunt the baseball down the line or foul. Again, this puts added pressure on the defense. And there is nothing worse than wasting an at bat by bunting the ball back to the pitcher.

Left-Handed Push Bunt to the 1. This is a more difficult bunt to execute, but it can be very effective with a good bunter. 2. This bunt should be attempted when a 3rd baseman and/or a pitcher is charging hard to home plate and is out of position. 3. To get the ball past the pitcher and 3rd baseman the batter has to take a "chopping" action to the ball as he's not getting much power from his legs like the push bunts. 4. It's very important to again bunt strikes and to leave the inside strike, as it will be more difficult to control that pitch.

Left-Handed Drag Bunt to 3rd Base 1. The same tips of moving up in the batter's box, bunting strikes and bunting the ball down the line hold true for this bunt for a hit as well. 2. If the 3rd baseman is playing in the batter has to have speed. However, if he's playing deep or playing to pull the left-handed hitter it is an easy bunt base hit for the batter. 3. Show the bunt as late as possible to surprise the defense. 4. As the pitch is approaching the batter should lean back on this left foot and get his bat angle set so the ball can only go down the foul line. 5. One of the biggest faults is running out of the batter's box as the bunt is being made. This usually results in the bunt going directly to the pitcher.