Push Bunt
Also known as: push bunt down the line
A push bunt uses a firmer, more deliberate bat push rather than a soft catch-and-give. It drives the ball past the pitcher, between first and second base.
Most bunts aim to deaden the ball with a soft, absorbing bat angle. A push bunt does the opposite. The batter angles the bat and adds a small forward push through the ball at contact. That sends it with more pace than a typical drag or sacrifice bunt. The target is usually the no-man's-land between a charging pitcher and the first baseman covering the bunt. Another target is up the first-base line, hard enough that the second baseman covering first cannot get there in time.
The push bunt carries more speed than a soft bunt. That makes it especially effective when the pitcher fields bunts aggressively and the first baseman is already breaking toward home. A firmly pushed ball can get through that vacated space before anyone recovers. It requires more precise bat control than a soft bunt. Too much push turns it into a weak ground ball that is easy to field. Too little leaves it as a standard soft bunt without the added benefit of pace.
Save the push bunt for counts and situations where you have already seen the pitcher and first baseman crash hard on earlier bunt looks.
Example
With the pitcher and first baseman both charging hard, the batter pushes the bunt firmly up the first-base line, past the pitcher and beyond the reach of the covering second baseman.
Why it matters
A push bunt exploits exactly the defensive aggression that a soft bunt would reward. It is the counter to a defense that crashes hard and leaves the base paths open. Motion Lab has no bunt motion and does not track the ball, so judge placement and pace against the defense on video.
How it shows up on video
Look for a small forward extension of the arms through contact rather than the still, absorbing bat angle of a soft sacrifice bunt. The bat should be moving slightly toward the pitcher at the moment of contact.
Common mistakes
- Pushing so hard the ball becomes an easy, firmly fielded ground ball instead of getting past the charging fielders
- Aiming the push bunt without first reading whether the defense is actually crashing hard enough to leave the space open
- Squaring too early, tipping off the push bunt and letting the defense adjust its angle of approach
In SwingVantage Motion Lab
Motion Lab has no bunting motion and does not see the bat meet the ball. As a result, it cannot tell whether you pushed it past the charging corners.
Frequently asked questions
When is a push bunt better than a soft bunt?
A push bunt works best against a defense that charges hard, since the added pace can get the ball past fielders who have already committed to crashing.
Related terms
- Bunt PlacementBunt placement is choosing exactly where to send the ball: down a line, at a certain fielder, or into a soft spot. It goes beyond simply making contact.
- First Baseman Bunt CoverageFirst baseman bunt coverage is the job of charging bunts toward the first-base line. The second baseman covers first base in her place.
- Drag BuntA drag bunt is a bunt for a base hit. A fast runner, usually a left-handed slapper, starts running toward first before contact to beat the throw.
- Sacrifice BuntA sacrifice bunt is a soft tap into play, made on purpose to advance a baserunner. The batter trades their own out for a runner moving into scoring position.
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