Expert: John Priest - 3/27/2008

Question
What is the correct position of the batters feet when squaring to bunt? Referring to 9 and 10 year old boys starting to learn bunting.

Answer
Vernon,

Here is a portion of the bunting section of the fundamentals book I am currently writing.  Let me know if you need me to explain anything further.
Thank You,
John Priest
Nokona Batman

       
       The three bunting situations are the sacrifice bunt, bunting for a base hit, and the squeeze bunt.  To execute a bunt in the three bunting situations, there are two different ways to lay down the bunt.  The hitter can either pivot or square around.  The pivot method is recommended because you will be in a position similar to hitting and their will be a lot less movement.  The pivot method also puts the hitter in a better position to run than squaring around does.  Squaring the feet around puts you in an altered position. This squared position causes the feet, head, and eyes to move giving you a different view of the baseball.
       To bunt the baseball the hitter starts with his feet to get a good base.  This is similar to hitting because the batter should take a short step toward the pitcher and rotate his backside the same way he rotates during his hitting approach.  The weight distribution will be opposite of hitting.  The weight while bunting should be 60 to 70 percent on the front leg.  The forward weight will ensure that the hitter gets his hands out in front of him.  
  Once the batter’s feet are set, the batter will bring his arms forward to the pitcher.  The bottom hand can stay at the bottom of the bat or move slightly up the handle.  The top hand should move up the bat to the point where the barrel starts or to the balance point of the bat.  The grip of the top hand should be with the thumb and the first finger.  The thumb should be in an upright position and no fingers should be around the bat and risk getting hit by the baseball.  
  The hands and arms should be out in front of the body, keeping the barrel of the bat at the top of the strike zone and the angle of the bat at 45 degrees.  The barrel of the bat needs to be at the top of the strike zone.  The batter should pull back on anything above his hands unless the batter is in a situation where he has to bunt like the squeeze play.  A 45 degree angle is desired with the bat to make sure the barrel stays above the ball and the bunt is directed toward the ground and not up in the air.
If the baseball is thrown in the strike zone but low, the hitter should not go after the ball with his hands.  The hitter should keep the hands as close to the 45 degree angle as possible but bend with the knees to get the low strike.  The elbows need to be relaxed in order to help the upper body cushion the ball.  During a sacrifice or a squeeze bunt, the hitter should think about the ball hitting the bat not the bat hitting the ball.
       While bunting, the batter can control where the baseball goes by pushing or pulling the bottom hand.  The top hand is like a hinge and should never move during a bunt other than to aid in cushioning the ball.  If a right handed hitter pulls the bottom hand toward themselves the barrel will angle the ball toward the third base side.  If the right hand hitter pushes the barrel toward the pitcher the ball will be angled toward the first base side.
The only difference between the three types of bunts is the timing in which the batter shows the bunt.  The sacrifice bunt is shown the earliest to insure the batter is set and ready to bunt the ball.  The squeeze bunt is next because the runner at third will start to run as the pitcher becomes committed to home plate at the same time the batter will show bunt.  A hitter bunting for a base hit has to have very good timing.  Because he wants the base hit, he should show the bunt at the last possible second.  If shown too early the defense will adjust.  If shown too late the ball will not be bunted as desired.  Even though the timing of these bunts is different the mechanics of the bunt should remain the same.

SACRIFICE BUNT                                                         The sacrifice bunt is used to advance runners into a position in which they can easily score.  Usually the hitter gives himself up to advance the runner.  The sacrifice bunt needs to be on the ground and in fair territory.  

BASE HIT BUNT
  Bunting for a base hit is similar except the hitter wants to wait longer to show bunt.  The batter should bunt the ball barely fair or foul down the baselines.  The batters other choice would be to bunt toward the second base position.  If the situation calls for the first baseman to charge on a bunt the second baseman will move to cover first base.  If the batter can bunt the baseball hard enough to get the ball between the pitcher and the charging first baseman toward where the second baseman was originally playing no one will be able to field the baseball resulting in a base hit.  This bunt situation is very effective off of a left handed pitcher who falls off the mound toward third base on his follow through.  

SQUEEZE BUNT
  The squeeze bunt has to be executed with perfect timing.  If the runner leaves to early the pitcher can change the pitch location.  The runner needs to wait until the pitcher has committed his delivery to the plate and cannot change the pitch location.  The lead will be executed better if the pitcher pitches from the full wind up.  If the pitcher goes to the full wind up it will allow the runner to get a walking lead.  The squeeze bunt does not have to be perfect, but it needs to be in fair territory and on the ground in order to score the run.  Even on a poor pitch the batter needs to try to get the bat on the ball and bunt the ball on the ground.  If the batter doesn’t bunt the baseball the runner will not have a chance at scoring.   

Thank You,
John Priest
Nokona Batman