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%
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%