Different Types of Bunts in Baseball and How to Do Them Right

When learning the sport of baseball, you generally learn that you have two kinds of bunts: sacrifice bunts, and bunts for a base hit. Actually, there are a few more varieties of bunts than merely those two. I like to call these kind of bunts specialty bunts, as they are only utilized in certain cases when a player feels it is appropriate. These kind of bunts are not as easy to carry outthan the basic bunt, but if you do so correctly, it may pay off big time. These kinds of bunts are almost always utilized in really important situations in a game and therefore they have to be learned to make sure that if you are at any time asked to perform, you’ll be able to with certainty.

Drag Bunt: This sort of bunt is generally used by left-handed hitters only because it’s way more effective. Nonetheless, you can certainly use this bunt if you’re right-handed, however it won’t be quite as effective. The purpose of this bunt is to get on base, not to sacrifice a runner to the next base. To perform this bunt, you need to wait until the very last second possible to show your intention to bunt and bunt the ball towards the same side of the field as you bat (left-handed batters to first, right-handed hitters to third). The secret (particularly for left-handed batters) is to start running in direction of first base at the same time as you bunt the ball, that is definitely a lot tougher than it seems! This motion will save you valuable time and may make the difference between you being safe and you being called out at first base on a bang-bang play.

Push Bunt: Typically, when a bunt is revealed, the 2nd baseman will go and cover first base while the pitcher, third baseman, and 1st baseman all charge to field the ball. The objective of a push bunt is to get a hit by bunting or “pushing” the ball hard past the charging fielders towards where the second baseman would generally stand (but remember, he’s over covering first base, not covering his normal location). This leaves nobody to field your bunt in time to get you out at first base if you are a decent runner. To perform this bunt, you need to push the ball as you are bunting it. Usually this is a no-no when bunting because you are supposed to “catch” the ball with the bat, but in this case you need to put some power on the bunt to get it past the mound and in the direction of the second base position.

Suicide Squeeze: The goal of the suicide squeeze is to score a runner from third base, often done with one out. With this bunt, you don’t care if you’re out or safe at first so long as the runner at third scores. With this play, the moment the pitcher commits, the base runner at third needs to break to steal home after which it’s the hitter’s task to get the bunt down and away from home so the runner stealing home can not be tagged out. This bunt is a do-or-die. As the batter, in an effort to protect your teammate from almost certain doom, you will need to get the bunt down, even if it means bunting a bad pitch.

I hope, by learning (and practicing) these different types of bunts, you’ll be able to execute them in a game whenever your team needs you to. Even though bunting isn’t normally the glamorous part of batting, it can be if you perform during the right moments. It is all about doing what you are able to help your team win the game, and bunting is a important component of doing that. Knowing how to bunt properly is a tremendous asset that coaches and scouts search for in a baseball player. Always make sure you don’t slack off and learn how to bunt well, as it’s going to be worth it down the road!