Bunting A Baseball (Learn When And How To Do It)

Bunting a baseball may not sound like a very professional move, but when it is executed perfectly, baseball bunting can play an integral part in winning the game.

You can help your team score runs and get base by bunting baseball. A bunt ball will catch your defense team off guard and can allow your team to move forward.

However, you have to know the fundamentals to achieve proper bunts in baseball. Understanding your reason for bunting, maintaining proper bat and body position, and hitting speed and velocity are important during baseball bunting. 

As a former baseball player and a coach, I have made my students practice bunting with the same importance as I did with other baseball drills. And trust me, learning baseball bunting has come in handy many times in my baseball career. 

If you are wondering how you can acquire the basic knowledge of bunting a baseball, you have come to the right place. We will discuss the perfect way to bunt ball and when and how to do it. 

What is Bunting a Baseball?

Bunting a baseball means making soft contact with the pitch by the bat by slightly tapping the ball with it. The main purpose is to hit the pitch hard enough that it lands in the fair territory away from the fielders. 

When you attempt a bunt, you do not swing the bat as you would normally do. You will hold the bat at a certain angle on home plate and hit the ball. This makes it difficult for the defensive players to make a quick move. 

If you can successfully hit a bunt, the ball will not go further than 20 feet. When this happens, the fielder needs to move from their position to field the ball, which gives the runner enough time to steal a base. 

However, baseball bunting can be done for other reasons as well. A proper bunting technique is a selfless move that is executed to earn a run for the team.

There are several techniques to achieve a baseball bunt. Below we will discuss further how to bunt in baseball, proper bunting technique, bunt drills, and more. Continue reading to cover the topic in depth. 

Want to know more about baseball drills? Take a look at this article- 7 Youth Baseball Hitting Drills – Hit To Stars Like A Pro!

When to Bunt in Baseball? 

Some coaches I know to frown upon bunting a baseball and do not think it can be an important trick to advance the game. However, baseball bunting can become vital in order to win a game. 

For example, if the runner is in second base with no outs and the hitter is struggling to hit on the right side to advance the runner to third, then bunting is the only option. 

Practicing bunts in baseball is equally important for the players, which can help them in crucial times. You can catch your defense team off-guard by executing a good bunt. However, if bunts are not performed correctly, it can negatively impact your team. 

How to Bunt in Baseball?

If you are planning to play on the college team or consider yourself a professional-level player, you have to know how to bunt in baseball.

Although it is not necessary, if you know the proper bunting technique, you will be able to execute the move when your team requires it. So without further ado, let’s see how to bunt in baseball-

Step 1- Feet Position

Pivot your feet away from the home plate and face second base. Remember to never step onto the home plate, and if you step on the home plate and hit the ball, you will be out of the game instantly. 

Additionally, if you are directly facing the pitcher, it puts you in a defenseless position. So if the pitcher decides to throw a fastball outside the spot, it can hit you directly instead of the bat.  

You can prepare and hold your bunting position before the pitcher arrives. Showing late while bunting is not a necessary step. There is no harm in showing the opposing team that you are trying to exchange an out to move the runner. 

Step 2- Set Angle

Set your bat horizontally from side to side, balancing on both your hands, and hold it steadily. Depending on the baseline you are aiming for, the angle of your bat will change slightly. Again, you do not have to push hard or swing your bat to get a perfect baseball bunt. 

To aim for the third base line, keep the head of your bat at an angle where it points towards the first base. Keep the knob held from the end on your other hand without imposing any force on it. 

If you are aiming for the first base, keep the knob of your bat facing perpendicular parallel to the third base. If you stand too close to the batter’s box, move slightly forward to get more room to bunt in front of the batter’s box. 

Step 3- Strike

Start from the top of the strike zone. If your pitcher throws a pitch above your hands, you have to pull back your body with the bat and let the ball go without bunting it. 

If you are thrown a low pitch, do not position the bat lower or move the bat; rather, kneel down with the bat in a squat position and act like you are catching the ball with the bat. 

I have seen players trying to push or impose force onto the bat while striking. Well, it will not benefit you if you are trying to bunt a ball. Move your body with the bat and act like you are catching the ball, and smoothly touch the ball with the bat. 

Step 4- Grip

The way you grip a bat is also important for bunting a baseball. Do not hold it too hard but use your index finger and thumb and hold the bat as if you are pinching it. Keep your other three fingers folded behind the bat. 

Do not grip the bat with all five fingers because if you miss the ball, the ball will hit directly at your fingers, and you will suffer a huge accident. 

Nevertheless, if you are willing to know how to hold a baseball bat for maximum speed, here is an article to help- How to Hold a Baseball Bat for Maximum Speed and Power?

Fundamentals of Bunting in Baseball

As discussed above, bunting a baseball has some different categories, and each has a different motive. Now that you know how to bunt in baseball and what is bunting a baseball let’s see what are the different bunts and fundamentals of bunting in baseball-

Sacrifice Bunt

The sacrifice bunt is one of the most common bunts in baseball. It is executed to get the runner over to the second or third base. You have to try and bunt the ball anywhere down the lines inside the fair territory. But keep in mind never to bunt the ball back at the pitcher.  

In a sacrifice bunt, you can prepare yourself before the pitcher throws the ball. As this bunt does not need the ball to travel far, not much movement or force is needed. 

Push Bunt

Push bunts have to be hit firmly to the second baseman. Unlike the sacrifice bunt, here you have to push the ball away from your position into the second base. Here you can square around later than the sacrifice bunt since you want the ball to reach the second base. 

Drag Bunt

The motive of the drag bunt is to try and deceive the infielders. And to perfectly carry it out, you have to square around very late, unlike the other two bunts. Show the pitcher you are making a proper hit and bunting it when they are least expecting it. 

You have to pick a line before hitting a drag bunt and strike hard enough so that the ball reaches right where you aimed for it. Here you can either hit a perfect bunt or a foul bunt. No matter what you do, always try to hit the ball three-quarters away from the pitcher. 

Squeeze Bunt

The squeeze bunt is known as the most fun bunt in baseball. Here the batter will square around a little after the pitcher gathers his momentum and hits the ball anywhere in the fair territory, preferably away from the pitcher. 

The bunter executes a squeeze bunt when the runner is on third base and trying to steal on the pitcher’s motion to the plate. 

Bunting drills Baseball

Here are some bunting drills for you to become a better hitter-

1. Practice bunting a baseball first with a glove. Since bunting is basically catching the ball with the bat, you need to practice first with a glove in your dominant hand. 
2. After you think that you have excelled at catching practice, continue with your practice, but this time including a bat. Rest the barrel of your bat in your glove and follow the same catching form as your bat.
3. The final drill is to practice without the glove on. Keeping the same catching technique, square around your bat and pretend you are catching the ball with your bat. 
4. You can practice with a Pitching Machine to get maximum productivity. You will not have to rely on anyone to keep your practice sessions going. 

So to summarize the drills for you, what you have to do is-

• Practice catching with a glove,
• Add the bat and hold it with the barrel in the same hand with the glove on,
• Remove the glove and practice baseball bunting with your bat. 

Bunting in Youth Baseball

Bunting in youth baseball is equally as important as in an MLB match. Bunting a baseball will do the same tricks, and it can help your team gain benefit. If you are a player yourself, then practice bunting baseball from the early days of your career. 

If you are a coach, help your students capture the fundamentals of bunting from a young age. Like every other skill, bunts in baseball will be polished with hard work and practice. 

Other than bunting, if you want to know other important baseball skills, here is an article to help- How To Play Baseball | Everything You Need To Know

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q. Is Bunting still allowed in Baseball in 2022? 

A: Yes, bunting is still allowed in Baseball as of September 2022. Until April 2022, there had been 38 sacrifice bunts recorded. 

Q. When can you Not Bunt in Baseball? 

A: Although there is no prohibition on bunting in baseball, however, if there are two outs in a single inning, bunting is not appreciated at such moments. 

Q. What is the Bunting Rule? 

A: You do not strike the ball to make a hit in bunting. Bunting requires tapping the ball with the bat without swinging so that the ball lands within the infield. 

Final Word

Whether in MLB or in college baseball, bunting a baseball can save the game at any required moment. Sacrificing for the team so that the team can advance in the scoreboard is all a good bunting will do. 

No matter how much the technique is frowned upon, there is no dispute over the fact that bunting has been saving teams in crucial moments. To build a complete team, the players have to know and perceive all the baseball techniques, and the rule is indifferent to bunting. 

We hope our take on Bunting in Baseball will be helpful to you. You can check out our other

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