The best examples of examples of bunting techniques and drills

Real examples of bunting techniques and drills that actually work

Let’s skip the theory and jump straight into real examples of bunting techniques and drills you can run at practice tonight. We’ll start with basic form, then build up to game-like pressure and decision-making.

Example of a simple “stance and angle” bunting technique drill

This is the starting point for any player who’s still flinching at inside pitches or stabbing at the ball.

Set a coach or teammate about 25–30 feet away with a bucket of balls. The hitter steps in the box with a bat but doesn’t move their feet once they’re set. The focus is on:

• Getting into a proper bunt stance: pivoting the feet slightly open, bending the knees, and bringing the bat out in front of the plate.
• Keeping the bat at the top of the strike zone, barrel slightly above the hands.
• Using the legs to adjust height, not the arms.

The thrower starts with easy tosses, then gradually adds inside, outside, high, and low locations. The hitter tracks each pitch and freezes at contact point instead of actually bunting. This gives the coach a clean look at bat angle and body position.

This is one of the best examples of a low-stress drill that teaches players that bunting is about quiet, controlled movement, not panic and lunging.

Best examples of sacrifice bunt drills for youth and high school teams

The classic sacrifice bunt is still the foundation. Here are a few examples of examples of bunting techniques and drills that focus on the sac bunt.

1. Cone target sacrifice bunt drill

Place two cones or flat markers in fair territory:

• One cone halfway between home and third base, about 10–15 feet up the line.
• One cone halfway between home and first base, also 10–15 feet up the line.

The hitter’s job: deadening the ball so it stops near the cone, not just anywhere fair.

You can turn this into a scoring game:

• Ball stops within 3 feet of the cone: 3 points.
• Ball fair but outside the 3-foot circle: 1 point.
• Foul ball or pop-up: 0 points.

Run 8–10 bunts per round, alternating sides. This drill gives concrete, visual feedback and is one of the best examples of how to teach placement instead of just “get it down.”

2. Sacrifice bunt with live baserunner

Now add a runner at first base. The pitcher throws at about 70–80% speed. The hitter must:

• Square early (as the pitcher starts the motion).
• Get the bunt down toward first or third.
• Hold the bat still through contact—no stabbing.

The runner reads the bunt and practices a hard secondary and aggressive read, either advancing safely or retreating on a pop or foul.

This gives players real examples of how bunting and baserunning work together, not as separate skills.

Examples include drag and push bunt drills for speed players

Speed players and left-handed hitters need more than just a basic sac bunt. Here are examples of bunting techniques and drills that build drag and push bunt skills.

3. Lefty drag bunt footwork drill

This drill is all about timing the crossover step out of the box.

• The hitter starts in a normal stance (lefty or righty, but it shines with lefties).
• On the coach’s verbal cue ("Go"), the hitter:
  • Squares late.
  • Angles the bat toward the first-base line.
  • Takes their first step out of the box as they bunt.

No pitch needed at first; they simply simulate the motion and sprint through 20–30 feet. Once the footwork feels natural, add soft toss or front toss.

Best examples of coaching cues:

• “Bunt and run as one motion.”
• “Don’t stop your feet when the bat moves.”

This is a great example of how to teach bunting as an offensive weapon, not just a sacrifice.

4. Push bunt lane drill

Set two cones on the right side of the infield:

• One about 10–15 feet in front of first base.
• One closer to the pitcher’s mound, forming a lane between them.

Hitters practice pushing the ball through that lane, past the pitcher but before the second baseman. This is ideal against teams that shift or crash the corners hard.

You can add a fielder at first and at pitcher. If the ball gets past both of them and stays in the lane, it’s a “win.” This is one of the best examples of a situational bunt drill that teaches players to read defensive positioning.

Advanced examples of bunting techniques and drills for competitive teams

Once players can handle the basics, you can layer in more game-like pressure.

5. Bunt–slash decision drill

Modern defenses know bunting is coming. The answer? Teach hitters to threaten the bunt and then slash.

This drill needs a pitcher (or machine), a hitter, and a full infield.

• The hitter squares early as if to bunt.
• The coach calls “BUNT” or “SLASH” mid-pitch.
• On “BUNT,” the hitter executes a normal sacrifice bunt.
• On “SLASH,” the hitter pulls the bat back and takes a controlled swing.

This gives real examples of how to punish defenses that overcommit to the bunt. It also trains the hitter’s eyes and body to stay calm while changing plans mid-pitch.

6. Pressure inning bunting scrimmage

Create a mini-scrimmage with a scoreboard and a specific situation, such as:

• Bottom of the 7th, tie game.
• Runner on first, no outs.

Divide your team into offense and defense. The offense’s first hitter must lay down a bunt. Score the inning normally and switch after three outs.

You can keep a running tally over the week to track which group executes better. This is one of the best examples of blending strategy, bunting technique, and mental toughness.

Small-ball trends: how bunting is used in 2024–2025

If you look at MLB bunting stats over the last decade, you’ll see a clear drop in sacrifice bunts as power and analytics have taken over. Public data from sources like Baseball Savant and FanGraphs show that big-league teams bunt far less than they did in the 1990s and early 2000s.

But that doesn’t mean bunting is dead.

At the college, high school, and youth levels, bunting remains a big part of winning baseball and softball, especially in:

• Tournament play, where one run can decide everything.
• Programs that emphasize speed and contact over raw power.
• International play, where small ball is still a major strategy.

If you watch recent NCAA tournaments or top high school programs, you’ll see real examples of teams using drag bunts, squeeze bunts, and pressure bunts to force errors and move runners. The analytics conversation has shifted from “never bunt” to “bunt when the defense gives you something.”

Indoor and off-season examples of bunting techniques and drills

Bad weather or limited field time doesn’t mean bunting work stops. Here are some examples of examples of bunting techniques and drills you can run indoors.

7. Wall angle and deadening drill

In a gym or cage, stand 8–10 feet from a padded wall or net. The hitter:

• Takes a bunt stance.
• Receives soft toss or front toss.
• Tries to kill the ball so it hits the wall or net and drops quickly.

The goal is minimal rebound. This gives instant feedback on how well the hitter is deadening the ball with soft hands and proper angle. It’s one of the best examples of a drill that works in tight spaces.

8. Vision and tracking dry reps

Without a ball, the hitter sets up in the box and tracks an imaginary pitch from release to the plate. At the “contact point,” they freeze in bunt position.

Coaches can:

• Check eye focus: are they watching the imagined ball into the barrel area?
• Check head and spine: are they balanced and quiet?
• Check bat angle and hand position.

You can pair this with video feedback so players see their body control. While this sounds simple, it’s a great example of building confidence in players who are nervous about getting hit.

For general information on vision, reaction, and motor learning in sports, resources from organizations like the National Institutes of Health and Harvard University often highlight how repeated, low-pressure reps help athletes build consistent movement patterns.

Coaching tips to get more out of these examples of bunting techniques and drills

You can run all the drills in the world, but how you coach them matters just as much.

Here are some practical ways to squeeze more value out of these examples of bunting techniques and drills:

• Start slow, then speed up. Begin with soft toss or coach pitch. Only move to live or machine speed when players show good form.
• Reward intent, not just results. A well-executed bunt that goes foul is still better than a lucky fair ball with bad mechanics. Praise the right process.
• Rotate positions. Let infielders and catchers bunt too. Position players often surprise you with how quickly they pick up bunting when given attention.
• Track success rates. Even a simple chart—attempts vs. successful bunts—can motivate players. Over time, you’ll see real examples of improvement.
• Tie bunting to health and safety. Teach players to turn away from inside pitches, keep the fingers behind the bat, and wear proper protective gear. For broader sports safety guidance, organizations like the CDC and Mayo Clinic offer helpful information on injury prevention and safe training habits.

Putting it together: how to build a bunting segment into practice

If you want a practical template, here’s how a 20–25 minute bunting block might look using the best examples from above:

• 5 minutes: Stance and angle drill (no bunting, just freeze at contact).
• 5–7 minutes: Cone target sacrifice bunt drill with scoring.
• 5–7 minutes: Drag or push bunt lane drill for your speed players.
• 5 minutes: Pressure inning bunting scrimmage or bunt–slash decision reps.

Mix in different examples of bunting techniques and drills across the week, but keep the structure predictable so players know bunting is a regular part of your identity, not a random afterthought.

FAQ: Short answers about bunting drills

Q: What are some good examples of bunting drills for beginners?
For brand-new players, start with a stance and angle drill (no live bunts at first), then add soft toss with a focus on deadening the ball in front of the plate. Simple cone target drills are another beginner-friendly example of how to teach direction and soft contact.

Q: Can you give an example of a situational bunt drill for advanced players?
A great example is the pressure inning scrimmage: set up a late-game scenario with a runner on first, no outs, and require the offense to execute a bunt. Keep score, switch sides, and track which group handles the pressure better over time.

Q: How often should teams practice bunting during the season?
Many competitive programs touch bunting in some form 2–3 times per week, even if it’s just a short station. You don’t need huge chunks of time, but consistent reps matter.

Q: Are there examples of bunting techniques that work better for left-handed hitters?
Yes. Drag bunts up the first-base line and push bunts past the pitcher are especially effective for lefties, since they’re already closer to first base and can turn bunts into hits more often.

Q: Is bunting still worth teaching with today’s focus on power hitting?
Absolutely. Even as home runs dominate highlight reels, bunting still wins tight games at the youth, high school, and college levels. Having a few players who can execute these examples of bunting techniques and drills under pressure gives your team options when you need just one run.