bunting techniques to improve your game

bunting techniques and equipment for all ages

Good bunting techniques and properly executed situational hitting are a few of baseball's finer points that can prove to be the difference in close ballgames.

Teams who can fully maximize their bunting and situational hitting potential in the right situations will see their productivity increase, and their reliance on the power game decrease. This takes some of the pressure off the big hitters, who aren't necessarily able to carry the team on their backs, every game.

Losing its importance, but should it?

In recent years, in thanks to a greater emphasis on hitting home runs in the major leagues, a shift toward a more power-oriented game has taken place throughout the baseball world. Situational hitting, and in particular bunting, is no longer used with as much regularity as they once were.

However, don't lose sight of what these techniques can do to help your team win ballgames.

Strong bunting techniques provide a resourceful tool for either moving a runner over, getting on base via an infield hit, or by keeping the defense honest by showing a willingness to attempt a bunt base hit. Keeping the defense "honest" pulls the defense in at the corners in anticipation of a bunt, opening spaces in the infield for a sharply hit ground ball or liner.

Aspects of situational hitting.

Situational hitting refers to several different techniques. For example, hitting the baseball to the right side of the infield with a runner on second and fewer than two outs. Or, with no outs, hitting a deep fly caught by an outfielder in order to sacrifice the runner home from third base. Or, instituting the very common practice of a hit-and-run play.

A hit-and-run requires you, as the hitter, to make contact first and foremost. But in the best case scenario, the hit and run also requires that you hit the baseball through a hole in the infield created in thanks to a base runner running in what appears to be a stolen base attempt.

Proper bunting techniques can give you the upper hand.

The old saying, "You have to learn to walk before you can run" applies to baseball, and many sports. Mastering bunting techniques and situational hitting fundamentals may have a bigger effect on your team's play than you might imagine.

Take time to learn and respect the "small-ball" aspects of baseball. If you're not up to par with your bunting techniques because you want to focus solely on the power game, you're likely to find yourself at a big disadvantage.

Your opponents are probably practicing small-ball techniques themselves, and won't hesitate to use those baseball skills to their advantage against you . in addition to bringing their power game!