BUNTING TECHNIQUE
BUNTING TECHNIQUE Set up—position yourself as if you’re going to hit away. Then, slide your back foot up to your front foot and move the front foot up in the box. Next, move in so that you’re closer to the inside line of the batter’s box. (By moving up and in, you can cover both sides of the plate). Open your stance slightly—this will help you maintain better balance. Watch the pitcher’s windup. As she brings her pitching hand straight up in the air (12 o’clock), rotate on the balls of your feet, bend your knees, and hold the bat at a slight upward angle. (If you wait until the pitcher releases the ball, you will be too late and not be able to get the bat into the proper position). Stay balanced on both legs—don’t lean forward.
As you’re rotating your feet, slide your top hand up the bat and grip the bat using your index finger and thumb, as if you’re pinching the bat. Make a “thumbs up” fist. The bat can also rest on your middle finger (look at the picture). You want to grasp the bat below the barrel, where the thin part of the bat meets the wider part of the bat.
Note: you should be able to control the bat with only your upper hand. Release your lower hand and check that you have control of the bat. (Do this at practice only and not during a game).
Make sure that you hold the bat in front of your body. Your top hand elbow will be held at a 90° angle, or, in an “L” shape. Also, keep the bat at the top of the strike zone. Remember, any pitch that goes above the bat and hands will be a “ball”, so pull the bat back. Never move the bat up.
Angle the bat so that it points towards the first base line (and not back over the plate). Use your legs to help move the bat up and down—minimize up and down arm movement. And, get your eyes close to the top of the bat so that you can look over the bat to watch the ball coming in (“smell the bat”). This will make it easier to track the ball once it’s released by the pitcher.
“Catch” the ball with the bat. This will help deaden the speed of the ball and prevent it from traveling too far out in the infield. Do not push out at the ball, as this will allow the infielders to make an easy play on you. Try to make contact on the upper half of the ball, forcing it down to the ground. Drop the bat and run!!
Dave Moir/Fastpitch 101
As you’re rotating your feet, slide your top hand up the bat and grip the bat using your index finger and thumb, as if you’re pinching the bat. Make a “thumbs up” fist. The bat can also rest on your middle finger (look at the picture). You want to grasp the bat below the barrel, where the thin part of the bat meets the wider part of the bat.
Note: you should be able to control the bat with only your upper hand. Release your lower hand and check that you have control of the bat. (Do this at practice only and not during a game).
Make sure that you hold the bat in front of your body. Your top hand elbow will be held at a 90° angle, or, in an “L” shape. Also, keep the bat at the top of the strike zone. Remember, any pitch that goes above the bat and hands will be a “ball”, so pull the bat back. Never move the bat up.
Angle the bat so that it points towards the first base line (and not back over the plate). Use your legs to help move the bat up and down—minimize up and down arm movement. And, get your eyes close to the top of the bat so that you can look over the bat to watch the ball coming in (“smell the bat”). This will make it easier to track the ball once it’s released by the pitcher.
“Catch” the ball with the bat. This will help deaden the speed of the ball and prevent it from traveling too far out in the infield. Do not push out at the ball, as this will allow the infielders to make an easy play on you. Try to make contact on the upper half of the ball, forcing it down to the ground. Drop the bat and run!!
Dave Moir/Fastpitch 101
