Drag Bunt

A sacrifice bunt prioritizes advancing a runner, even at the cost of the batter's own out. A drag bunt is different: it is an offensive weapon aimed at reaching base safely. The hitter begins moving out of the box toward first base as the pitch arrives. They square or angle the bat late and softly redirect the ball into a gap while already several steps into their sprint. The target is often up the first-base line or toward a charging infielder's backhand side. The technique favors left-handed hitters, whose stride toward first is a smaller adjustment from their swing setup than it is for a right-handed hitter.

Successful drag bunting depends heavily on disguise and timing. Showing the bunt too early lets the defense react and charge. Showing it too late leaves no time to get the bat on the ball while already moving. The best drag bunters keep their hands soft and their bat angle adjustable through the very last instant. They read the pitch's location before committing to where they place the ball.

A drag bunt requires foot speed to be a genuine threat, so it is usually a tool for a specific type of hitter. That hitter is fast, often left-handed, and comfortable enough with the technique to execute it under the pressure of live pitching, not only in practice.