Bunt data

This table is an analysis of bunt success by distance, direction and trajectory. It was derived from video of three LH hitters with slap skills who played for the same HS team. The video was available for every AB for these players during the 2014 season. For balls in play + K's, these players, as a group, executed bunt 27%, slap 27% and 46% full swing. The bunts were a mix of sneaky and drag. They are a pretty talented group with 60 foot sprint from standing start of about 2.8-2.9 seconds.

In this analysis, "success" is defined as reaching base without an out being recorded. So reaching on an error is a "success" but a sacrifice bunt is a "fail" and a perfect bunt where an out is recorded due to another base runner making a blunder is also a "fail". I could have used other criteria but I felt this was most objective method. Popup is defined as "over the batter's head".

I don't think there is any new revelation in the data but I am posting for young potential LH hitters in hopes of reinforcing the notion that working on your bunting is worth the effort and especially working on bunting softly to the center and right has lots of value.

------------------Out-----On---%Success
>15 ft left..........2.......7.......78%
>15 ft center.....5.......11......69%
>15 ft right.......3.........4......57%
5-15 ft left........5.......18......78%
5-15 ft center...1........13......93%
5-15 ft right.....0.........8......100%
0-5 ft..............2.........7.......78%
Popup..............4.........2.......33%

Total...............22.......70......76%

So with regards to right and left you are based of of the batter (and not the defense)?

GunnerShotgun said:

So with regards to right and left you are based of of the batter (and not the defense)?

Click to expand...

Correct. "Left" is toward 3B and "Right" is toward 1B.

On our just concluded travel ball season, we probably had 6 or so successful bunts all year. The coaches rarely called for them, and we had about a third of the lineup that wasn't making much solid contact, so they would have been great bunt candidates. There were a few girls that tried slapping at the end of the season.

Experienced LH hitters with speed and slap/bunt skills get on base more often. The success factors include: getting to 1b quicker, getting the defense out of position and getting the defenders to move their feet. These contribute to achieving more frequent success on both the solid hits and the mishits. Getting players on base helps the team's other players be more effective hitters by providing opportunities for productive outs, by forcing the defense to divide their attention between stopping the runners as well as the hitter and ,obviously, producing more runs on a good hit.

All this advantage often helps decent players to become very valuable players if they develop LH hitting with slap /bunt skills. This path is not a quick fix however. It takes a lot of effort and some time.

Also with speed on base your power hitter is less likely to see a change up. DD always had a green light on a change up. If your bunter/slapper is good they can also do what we call the duck hit. It is a hit bunched over the head of third or first that are playing in right behind the bag.

Im going to use your data, I think my 11-14 year old team might have even better success with weaker arms and less experience than a high school team. It was difficult to get my AC and players on board last year. I can teach and call the play I want them to value the bunt as much as I do.

Personaly I HATE bunting.

Why?

Over the now-completed total years of TB for DD I would say it was the least payback practiced art in softball for the teams she was on. Sooooooo many just can't do it..... And this is after it seems like 50% of batting is bunt practice.

I always wondered how good at swinging the bat DD's teams could have been if they just gave it up all together. (so many coaches spitefully calling endless bunts, cuz it's the "right thing to do", only to have endless 2 strikes or worse the dredded bunt pop-out)

Note that I have seen teams brutalize other teams with effective bunting - few and far between - I just have never been part of a team that had effective bunting (hampered too by the lack of running speed....)

RubberBiscuit said:

Personaly I HATE bunting.

Why?

Over the now-completed total years of TB for DD I would say it was the least payback practiced art in softball for the teams she was on. Sooooooo many just can't do it..... And this is after it seems like 50% of batting is bunt practice.

I always wondered how good at swinging the bat DD's teams could have been if they just gave it up all together. (so many coaches spitefully calling endless bunts, cuz it's the "right thing to do", only to have endless 2 strikes or worse the dredded bunt pop-out)

Note that I have seen teams brutalize other teams with effective bunting - few and far between - I just have never been part of a team that had effective bunting (hampered too by the lack of running speed....)

Click to expand...

The top teams I have watched hit the crap out of the ball. They do not small ball it. They go up to the plate and swing at anything close to the plate. Very few strikes swinging or looking. The days of a 1-0, 15 inning ballgame are over. It's time to lose the bunt first mentality.