Fake Bunt Slap
Also known as: bunt fake and slap, butcher boy slap
A fake bunt slap has the hitter show bunt to draw the corner infielders in, then pull the bat back and slap the ball into the space the defense just vacated.
The fake bunt slap is a timing weapon as much as a bat-control one. The slapper squares or shows bunt early enough that the first and third basemen commit to charging, then withdraws the bat and executes a normal slap swing while the corners are still moving forward and out of position. Done well, it turns two of the defense's best fielders into non-factors on the play, since a charging infielder cannot reverse direction fast enough to field a well-placed ground ball.
The move requires real discipline in timing the fake, since showing bunt too early lets the defense recover before the pitch arrives, and showing it too late doesn't draw the corners in far enough to matter. It is most effective against defenses that have already been burned by bunts earlier in the game or season and are primed to overreact to any bunt look.
Save the fake bunt slap for counts and situations where the defense has already shown it will crash hard on a bunt look — the deception only works if the corners actually bite.
Example
The slapper squares to bunt as the pitcher releases, pulling both corner infielders in several steps, then pulls the bat back and slaps a hard grounder past the charging third baseman.
Why it matters
A fake bunt slap punishes defenses for overcommitting to bunt defense, turning aggressive infield positioning into an advantage for the offense rather than a deterrent. SwingVantage reviews corner-infielder first-step reaction on bunt shows to help hitters judge when a fake will actually draw them in.
Common mistakes
- Showing the bunt too early, giving the defense time to recover before the real swing
- Pulling the bat back too late, rushing the slap swing and producing weak contact
- Using it against a defense that has not been aggressively charging bunts, wasting the deception
In SwingVantage Motion Lab
Motion Lab can time the interval between the bunt show and the bat withdrawal against the infield's first-step reaction, though defensive positioning itself is read from footage rather than measured mechanically.
Frequently asked questions
Is a fake bunt slap a legal play?
Yes — showing bunt and pulling back into a full swing is a legal and common offensive tactic in fast-pitch softball.
What defense beats a fake bunt slap?
Corner infielders reading the hitter's hands and hips rather than just the bat angle, and holding their positioning a half-step longer before committing, reduces the play's effectiveness.
Related terms
- Slap Approach TimingSlap approach timing is the coordination between a slapper's crossover footwork and the pitcher's release point, so the final step and swing land together instead of racing ahead of or lagging behind the pitch.
- Bunt and RunA bunt and run sends a baserunner on the pitch while the batter is committed to bunting, forcing the defense to choose between fielding the bunt and covering the advancing runner.
- Reading the Bunt DefenseReading the bunt defense means identifying, before the pitch, how the corner infielders and pitcher are positioned to field a bunt, and using that read to decide bunt type and placement.
- Left-Side Defense vs SlappersLeft-side defense against slappers adjusts the shortstop and third baseman's positioning and first-step reads to cover both a slapped ground ball and a bunt from a left-handed slap hitter.
Related guides & benchmarks
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