Hi all, just checking to see if there is anything new on bunting. I found a post from 2010 in here teaching pivot and tilt the bat, which is what I do. Is this still correct?
thanks.
thanks.
bunting
- Thread starter cvsoftball
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Big thing for Bunting IMO is start the bat at the top of the zone, bat never goes up always down.
- Oct 27, 2015
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What's your thoughts of tilting your bat more at a 45 angle to start verses more flat like the girls above?
DD looks like a pretzel if she trys to get the bat level, I am OK and teach an angle.
The angle changes as they move down the zone, mostly knees but hands move too.
The angle changes as they move down the zone, mostly knees but hands move too.
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I will say this for bunting, and this is probably more for the younger girls (10u, 12u) but may still apply to older girls:
Whatever technique you settle on, remember that practicing in a controlled environment (cage, BP, etc) is completely different than a game situation. There are two major variables that happen in a game that usually do not make an appearance in practice, especially the pregame cage sessions. First, usually in practice a coach is grooving the ball in there right down the middle and telling the batter to bunt. In a game, the pitch may be high, low, in, out, etc. So don't just groove them down the middle and expect their success in practice to translate to success in games. They need to learn to lay off the balls, but also be able to adjust if something is in the top, bottom, inside or outside of the strike zone.
Second, in practice the primary focus usually is on bunting the ball. In a game the batter's focus becomes fragmented - they want to get the bunt down, but also want to reach base. Also, somewhat related, they may have a girl charging from third or first and that motion may affect them. Biggest mistake I see with bunting is batters worrying too much about running before getting the bunt down. You can't get to first if you don't bunt it fair. Bunt first, run second.
In practice, especially in the cage, the batter is almost always getting a strike to bunt, and 100% focused on getting the bunt down. In a game, those other variables come into play. You need to discuss them and practice for them. How many times have you had a girl that gets all three, four or five of the "bunts" down in pregame batting cage session, then looks completely different and either pops one up or gets to two strikes in the game 30 minutes later?
Whatever technique you settle on, remember that practicing in a controlled environment (cage, BP, etc) is completely different than a game situation. There are two major variables that happen in a game that usually do not make an appearance in practice, especially the pregame cage sessions. First, usually in practice a coach is grooving the ball in there right down the middle and telling the batter to bunt. In a game, the pitch may be high, low, in, out, etc. So don't just groove them down the middle and expect their success in practice to translate to success in games. They need to learn to lay off the balls, but also be able to adjust if something is in the top, bottom, inside or outside of the strike zone.
Second, in practice the primary focus usually is on bunting the ball. In a game the batter's focus becomes fragmented - they want to get the bunt down, but also want to reach base. Also, somewhat related, they may have a girl charging from third or first and that motion may affect them. Biggest mistake I see with bunting is batters worrying too much about running before getting the bunt down. You can't get to first if you don't bunt it fair. Bunt first, run second.
In practice, especially in the cage, the batter is almost always getting a strike to bunt, and 100% focused on getting the bunt down. In a game, those other variables come into play. You need to discuss them and practice for them. How many times have you had a girl that gets all three, four or five of the "bunts" down in pregame batting cage session, then looks completely different and either pops one up or gets to two strikes in the game 30 minutes later?
Work on the Suicide Bunt.... throw them everywhere... remember when its called the runner is going... you have to lay it down from anywhere. 
Here is one way DD is learning to go after anything....
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4kuM2Sh_zHk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Here is one way DD is learning to go after anything....
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4kuM2Sh_zHk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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I love this place! thank you all.
I find kids have a MUCH greater success rate with bunting if they are taught that knob of the bat NEVER gets higher than the barrel.
