Push bunt drill

Description
The push bunt, when combined with the element of surprise, can be a great way to catch a defense on its heels, to break out of a hitting slump, or to get a speedy runner on base to lead off an inning.

Age Appropriate
10 and up

Problem 1
It's a tight game and the opposing pitcher has been especially good at striking your batters out. Your hitters have only managed a few weak bloopers into the outfield, and it's getting late in the game. You need to jump-start your offense by getting a man on-base, and one of your fastest players is leading off the inning. As a right-handed hitter, the push bunt can draw the first baseman off the bag and open the door for an infield hit that is sure to frustrate the defense and spark your offense.

Problem 2
One of your hitters has fallen into a slump. He can't buy a hit. You've worked with him in practice and can't find anything wrong with his swing; he's just not connecting in the game. Call for the push bunt - sometimes all a hitter needs is to see the ball come off the barrel and to leg out an infield hit. Conquering a slump can be that simple sometimes.

Drill Objective
Work on pushing the ball into "no man's land" - the area on the infield beyond the pitcher's mound and between the second and first basemen. This isn't the traditional bunt, where the hitter is trying to deaden the ball so runners can advance. On the push bunt, the hitter wants to push the ball just past the pitcher.

Draw a triangle using the pitcher, second baseman, and first baseman as your three corners. A great push bunt rolls right to the middle of that triangle - where the pitcher, second baseman and first baseman all think they have a shot at fielding the ball. When executed to perfection, the three defenders find themselves staring at each other as the ball rolls to a stop between them. All the while, the hitter crosses the undefended bag at first.

Set-up
Blend push-bunts into traditional batting practice or simulated games.

Executing the Drill
A lot of coaches will ask their hitters to lay down a couple of bunts before swinging away in batting practice. Don't just go through the motions. Instead, focus on executing each style of bunt to develop fully-rounded hitters.

Make your hitters progress through a series of bunts. Start each hitter with a drag bunt and a push bunt (trying to bunt for a base hit). Then, each hitter should execute a couple sacrifice bunts (trying to advance runners). Finally, ask the hitter to commit to the bunt after the pitch is released and execute a squeeze style bunt (trying to score a runner).

Then, let the hitter swing away. Only advance from one bunting phase to the next when the hitter has properly executed the current bunt. Work your hitters through this routine on a consistent basis and you'll be able to call for bunts confidently during games, knowing that all of your hitters are capable of executing properly.