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 the hitter pulls the bat back and slaps the ball into the space they left.
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 the slapper pulls the bat back and takes 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. A charging infielder cannot reverse direction fast enough to field a well-placed ground ball.
The move requires real discipline in timing the fake. Showing bunt too early lets the defense recover before the pitch arrives. 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. Those defenses 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. Aggressive infield positioning becomes an advantage for the offense rather than a deterrent. Motion Lab follows only the hitter, so watch the corners' reaction to your bunt show on game video.
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 follows only the hitter and has no bunt motion, so it cannot time the bunt show or the infield's reaction.
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 syncs a slapper's crossover footwork with the pitcher's release. The final step and swing should land together, not early or late.
- Bunt and RunA bunt and run sends the runner on the pitch while the batter is already committed. The defense must choose between fielding the ball and covering the steal.
- Reading the Bunt DefenseReading the bunt defense means checking, before the pitch, how the corners and pitcher are set to field a bunt. That read decides bunt type and placement.
- Left-Side Defense vs SlappersLeft-side defense against slappers adjusts the shortstop's and third baseman's positioning and first-step reads. It covers both a slapped grounder and a bunt.
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